KEY POINTS:
Valerie Vili has shown she is firmly on course to be among the medals at this month's world athletics championships in Osaka.
The Commonwealth champion and world No 2 ranked shot putter threw the stone 20.03m in easily winning the grand prix event at the Melanesian championships in Cairns on Tuesday.
And if the venue and contest were low key, it still primed Vili perfectly for a strong tilt at the world title.
Only two women have thrown further than the giant Vili this year - Belarussian Nadezhda Ostapchuk with 20.34m, and German Petra Lammert, with 20.04m.
Ostapchuk is the defending world champion, with a personal best of 21.09m, but is ranked fourth in the world. She will be waiting in Osaka.
Another Belarussian, Natalya Khoroneko, is world No 1 by virtue of winning last year's IAAF world final in Stuttgart when Vili was sceond.
"I'm pretty stoked," Vili told the Herald last night. "Now it's onwards and upwards, and I'm really looking forward to Osaka."
Conditions in Cairns had been okay - "nothing like as hot as it will get in Osaka, but warmer than Auckland".
She said breaking 20m had been a key aim this year in her lead-up to the world champs.
It's not her personal best, but after a period of rehabilitation for a shoulder injury at the start of the year, it's a clear pointer that Vili has timed her run for Osaka well.
She said her confidence is high after Tuesday's effort.
Even though there were only four in the field, she reckoned preparations were "absolutely" on track for Osaka.
"There's no perfect buildup," she said.
"There's always things that pop up, but I'm really happy and confident."
Former world discus champion Beatrice Faumuina had a reasonable blow out in an event which attracted only two throwers. She won with 58.08m and will compete again today.
Javelin thrower Stuart Farquhar threw the spear 77.84m without any competition, and sprinter James Dolphin finished second in the 100m, fresh off the plane from Europe, clocking 10.64s.
New Zealand convenor of selectors John Bowden was delighted with Vili's effort as it gave the New Zealand contingent a boost ahead of the world champs.
"It lifts the whole team to see Val do that, and her professionalism," he said.
The New Zealand team of 10 head for Osaka shortly for the world champs, which start on August 25, and from which Olympic qualifying marks can be attained.
New Zealand have seven athletes who have already put up qualifying performances - Vili, Faumuina, Adrian Blincoe (5000m), Nick Willis (1500m), Kimberley Smith (5000m and 10,000m), Michael Aish (10,000m and marathon) and Nina Rillstone (marathon).
