Athletics: Illness new hurdle for Armstrong

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

Illness has become a new hurdle for Kiwi athlete Zion Armstrong, who is trying to qualify for the Olympics on the other side of the world.

The 400m hurdler was struck with a fever soon after arriving in Europe.

At his first meet in Budapest last weekend, he fell at the second-to-last hurdle.

He was then bedridden until yesterday's meeting in Slovenia, where he managed to run 51.5s - 2s outside the New Zealand qualifying time.

Armstrong was satisfied but still feeling ill.

He has another two meetings in Ireland this weekend.

In the meantime, Athletics New Zealand will look hard at the performances of 10,000m athlete Michael Aish, who has twice fallen only seconds short of the qualifying time.