Athletics: It's time for under-achieving athletes to go

By TERRY MADDAFORD

How many more chances will New Zealand's top (so-called) track and field athletes get?

If results at the eighth world championships are the benchmark, none.

The nil return by the six-strong team was no surprise.

Simply, our best were not up to it when it came to performing under pressure.

Nothing new in that, as the results at the Sydney Olympics and other major meets attest.

In selection panel convener Dave Norris the athletes have an ally who has long argued on their behalf. But even he and his fellow selectors must have now reached the point of absolute despair.

Of the Kiwis in Edmonton, only Jane Arnott (400m), Jenni Dryburgh (pole vault) and Tasha Williams (hammer throw) repeated the qualifying standards they met to get to Canada.

None of the representatives threatened the A standard. Only Dryburgh and Williams beat next year's Commonwealth Games targets.

There was not one personal best. That is surely the absolute minimum the selectors and Athletics New Zealand would have seen as realistic.

Dryburgh's 4.25m effort - 10cm below her best - was good enough for 18th (of 25) and the third-best by a Commonwealth athlete.

Williams (63.83m) was below her best, but again third among the Commonwealth hammer-throwers.

Even Chantal Brunner, 17th of 22 in the long jump with a 6.39m best, was fourth among the Commonwealth competitors but without threatening the 6.65m B standard or the Manchester qualifier of 6.50m.

Jane Arnott's 52.57s run for sixth in her 400m heat would have been good enough for a place in next year's Commonwealth Games final, but again was shy of qualifying to get there.

John Henwood was way outside both the B standard and the Commonwealth Games target with his 29m 01.62s in the 10,000m.

Craig Barrett failed to go the distance in the 50km walk.

His 3h 48m 04s previous best - achieved in New Plymouth two months ago - would have been good enough for sixth.

How many more chances do Barrett, Henwood and Brunner deserve?

Perhaps the small team for Manchester - and even Norris concedes it might struggle to reach a dozen - should be seen as the opportunity to take the first step towards the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

The young brigade, with Valerie Adams and Nick Willis possibly the spearheads, should get their chance.

Track and field in New Zealand is no longer viewed as fashionable. Rugby, netball and cricket are the preferred, perhaps easier, options.

Like swimming, cycling and other individual sports, there is no hiding.

There is no substitute for hard work.

The Commonwealth Games qualifying standards might be within reach. Unfortunately too many see these as the ultimate goal rather than the first, tentative step.

Athletics remains the focal point at any Olympic or Commonwealth Games.

But New Zealanders now have to get used to watching the rest produce their best and fondly remember the times, long ago, when Kiwis could, and did, make their mark.

A return to those glory days might be a long time coming.