Athletics: Vili favoured to retain her title

Valerie Vili is excited that husband Bertrand is also in Berlin to compete in the men's discus for the French team. Photo / Dean Purcell

New Zealand's best chances of medals come on the opening two days of the World Athletic Championships in Berlin.

Kimberley Smith will start in the final of the 10,000m early tomorrow morning and defending world shot put champion Valerie Vili has the qualifying rounds in the shot put tomorrow night. Also starting tomorrow night is Nikki Hamblin in the heats of the 800m.

Vili is favoured to repeat her success of Osaka two years ago.

The Olympic champion's arch-rival Nadzeya Ostapchuk of Belarus, who pressured Vili all the way in Osaka, will not be here. Ostapchuk, who competed against Vili at Waitakere this year, was an unexplained absence from the Belarusian team.

Vili has stated that she used to be the hunter, but is now the hunted. Olympic silver medallist Natallia Mikhnevich from Belarus has stalked her for most of this year and Vili has handled her with ease in all of their meetings. Mikhnevich has a best of 20.70m set last year, 1cm better than Vili.

Nadine Kleinert will get plenty of home crowd support as she endeavours to improve on her third placing in Osaka. Her best this year is 19.80m.

Vili has the top seven performances for 2009, leading with her 20.69m New Zealand national record set in Rio de Janeiro in May. Anna Avdeeva, who won the Russian title last month with 20.07m, is ranked second. Mikhnevich is ranked third with 20.03m.

Vili's husband, Bertrand, is also in Berlin as a member of the French team. He will be competing in the discus throw.

Vili competed in the French national championships in Angers and threw 20.18m to win.

"It was also great that Bertrand won the men's discus title and made the French team to the world champs, so that is exciting for both of us," said Vili in a recent diary to the International Federation.

She has been in a training camp just outside of Strasbourg prior to entering Berlin.

"I have been training hard and counting down to the world champs. The time has flown by but I'm excited to compete."

Predictions are Vili to win from Mikhnevich and Kleinert. The final will be early on Monday morning.

Smith comes into the 10,000m having not raced one on the track this season. The overseas-based Papakura runner who is also entered in the 5000m is ranked 16th in the world this year in the 5000m. Last year in the 10,000m Smith was ranked fifth and finished ninth at the Beijing Olympic Games.