Athletics: Paris strengthens Adams

Valerie Adams was every bit the wide-eyed kid yesterday at the imposing Stade de France, but still showed she was ready to mix it with the big girls in Athens next year.

Adams, 18, walked away from her first senior world championships on a high after a creditable fifth placing in the shot put in Paris.

It was New Zealand's best result at a world championships since Beatrice Faumuina's fifth in the discus in Seville four years ago, and comfortably the best of a disappointing team effort to date.

After Faumuina's 13th and last placing on Tuesday, there was more heartache when Craig Barrett was disqualified inside the first 6km of the 50km walk.

Before a fever-pitch crowd of 59,000 yesterday, Adams was tiring near the end, but her second throw of 18.65m was good enough for fifth, almost two metres behind Russian winner Svetlana Krivelkova's 20.63m, and 1.4m short of a medal.

With the crowd roaring on local hero Mehdi Baala in the 1500m final, it was a cauldron for the 1.92m Adams, last year's Commonwealth Games silver medallist.

"It's amazing, the crowd goes wild and it's a great feeling. You feel all fuzzy, your feet start tingling and you get the butterflies going," Adams said.

"But I enjoyed every minute of it, it was great."

Adams was disappointed she could not top her personal best of 18.93m, but was still in the mood to celebrate, with the help of a plate of mussels and several pints of French lager.

But she was quick to avoid any talk of her obvious medal chances at the Olympics.

"You never know, just wait and see. I don't want to make any predictions. There were a few top shot putters today not even qualifying.

"I don't know what my potential is, whether it's 20m-21m, who knows?

"I didn't throw as far as I wanted to today, but that happens. I'm happy with my overall performance.

"This trip has been a big learning curve and I know what to expect next time."

Adams' first call was to her coach Kirsten Hellier, watching live on the internet back in Auckland.

It was the first competition that Hellier - who has been a rock for Adams after her mother died three years ago - had not attended.

"Mum's always there with me 24-7, everywhere I am. I know she's looking over me," Adams said.

She was hit hard by homesickness in Paris and was pining for her home in Auckland, where she would map out her plans for the rest of the year.

New Zealand manager Tony Rogers hailed Adams' effort, but was still reeling from Barrett's controversial ending.

The Hamilton walker was ruled to have used an incorrect technique three times inside the opening 6km, and was shown a red flag by on-course judges after being warned twice.

"These decisions are never easy to wear because they're very subjective. Some days the luck of the Irish is on your shoulder," Rogers said.

"He's pretty disappointed. He had put so much effort into it, but it made him even more determined for Athens next year to make sure things go right."

The other New Zealander in action, Auckland sprinter James Dolphin, ran a sharp personal best 20.69s in his 200m heat, just two weeks after qualifying with a time of 20.71s.

But he could not repeat it in the quarter-finals, running last in 21.08s and being eliminated.

Rogers said it was a big ask for Dolphin, 20, to produce another top run the same day as lowering his personal best.

- NZPA