Athletics: Adams heads classy field

Valerie Adams. Photo / Getty Images

Valerie Adams will make her traditional appearance in the shot put at the Porritt Classic meeting in Hamilton tomorrow.

Fresh from her opening performance of the season in Christchurch, where she threw 20.35m, Adams should eclipse her 2010 Porritt Classic record of 20.25m.

The World and Olympic champion is using these competitions and one in Sydney on February 18 as a build-up to the world indoor championships in Turkey on March 10.

The world indoor champion in 2008 will be all out to avenge her defeat at the hands of Nadzeya Ostapchuk in Doha two years ago, where she recorded 20.49m to Ostapchuk's 20.85m.

Stuart Farquhar will be in action in the javelin on his home ground. Two years ago at the same meeting he sent the spear out to a meet record and personal best 85.35m. Ben Langton Burnell, who is edging closer to the 70m barrier, is also entered.

Middle distance action will come from sub four-minute miler Malcolm Hicks and his Canterbury teammates Matt Harris and Brett Tingay, with juniors Julian Oakley, and Kieron McDonald in the 1500m. In the women's 1500m, Hamilton's Camille Buscomb will face Fiona Crombie.

In the Dianne Rodger schools 1500m, Ariana Harper heads the girls and Jacob Priddey the boys in the Dick Quax 1500m.

Brad Mathas looks set to continue his domination of the 800m races.

Elizabeth Lamb and Billy Crayford feature in the high jump while Julia Ratcliffe should take out the women's hammer throw and challenge her own meeting record.

The men's 400m hurdles has attracted a top field with national champion James Mortimer, Daniel Dyet, Shay Taylor, Michael Cochrane and Campbell Wu all entered, while the 400m races should produce fast times with Frazer Wickes going head to head with Tama Toki in the men's race.

The fastest two women over 400m in the country this season, Hamilton City Hawks' pair Talia Horgan and Kristie Baillie, will battle out that distance.

Isaac Tatoa will pit his latest good form against national champion Carl Van der Speck, Joseph Millar and Ryan Howe in the 100m. Van der Speck, Millar and Jeffrey Thumath will also compete in the 200m.

The women's 100m will see Rochelle Coster and Fiona Morrison with a possibility of former national triple sprint champion Monique Williams making her debut for the season. Morrison and Coster are also in the 100m hurdles and long jump.

Organisers are excited by the record entries for this year's Porritt Classic - round five of the Asics Athletics NZ Grand Prix Series - building up to the national Track and Field Championships and Olympic Trials at Waitakere from March 23-25.