Athletics: Adams continues preparation for world indoor champs

Valerie Adams of New Zealand reacts after a throw in the shot put. Photo / Getty Images

Olympic and World Champion Valerie Adams headlines a group of 11 New Zealand athletes competing in the Sydney Track Classic on Saturday.

Adams, having competed in Christchurch and Hamilton over recent weeks, will use the meeting as part of her preparations for the world indoor championships in Istanbul on March 9-11.

She should notch up another comprehensive victory this weekend on her way to another showdown with arch rival Nadezhda Ostapchuk in Turkey. The Belarusian, the defending indoor champion, has had a good start to the year and will make it tough for Adams to regain the indoor title next month.

High jumper Elizabeth Lamb is out to reproduce her outstanding form from last weekend's Porritt Classic, where she set an Auckland record and added 4cm to her previous best in clearing 1.90m. Just ahead of her lie two significant marks, the New Zealand record of 1.92m and the Olympic standard of 1.95m.

Andrea Miller heads three New Zealanders to contest the 100m hurdles against the world champion and IAAF female athlete of the year Sally Pearson. Miller, who trains with Pearson, ran 13.48s last weekend in Perth and will be keen to start edging closer to her New Zealand record of 13.10s and the London Olympic standard of 12.96s.

The two other Kiwi hurdlers, Sarah Cowley and Veronica Torr have shown very good form in recent heptathlons and will be looking to run under 14 seconds.

Hamish Carson, who ran a sub-four minute mile in Wanganui three weeks ago, will be running in the 1500m in Sydney. His personal best of 3.40.52 was set at the Sydney Track Classic last year and saw him finish sixth in a strong field.

Shot putter Tom Walsh, 800m runner Angie Smit, Discus thrower Marshall Hall, 1500m runner Lydia Marshall and hurdler James Mortimer are the other Kiwis to take part in Sydney.

Sydney Track Classic New Zealand entries:

Women: Valerie Adams, shot put; Sarah Cowley, 100m hurdles; Elizabeth Lamb, high jump; Andrea Miller, 100m hurdles; Lydia O'Donnell 1500m; Angie Smit, 800m; Veronica Torr, 100m hurdles, long jump.

Men: Hamish Carson, 1500m; Marshall Hall, discus; James Mortimer, 400m hurdles; Tom Walsh, shot put.