Delhi Commonwealth Games Success Pleases Athletics New Zealand

Athletics New Zealand has welcomed the success of its team at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

With a total of eight medals, the team has been the most successful Commonwealth Games athletics team since Auckland 1990 and has returned with the highest number of medals from an ‘away’ Games in forty four years, since Kingston, Jamaica in 1966.

CEO Scott Newman, in praising the team’s achievements, said “It is very pleasing to see we remain on target for our next big milestone events, the 2011 World Track and Field Championships in Daegu, Korea and the 2012 London Olympics.”

“As a team, eleven of our thirteen athletes achieved the top six expectation in line with the Commonwealth Games selection policy. One missed through injury and the other placed tenth, giving it a go in a strong field.”

“The success of the team illustrates that the selection processes are working well and that we are providing athletes with appropriate expectations and resources through our SPARC-funded High Performance programme to ensure they succeed at major events” Newman said.

As expected, Valerie Adams (Shot Put) was in outstanding form, claiming gold and setting a Commonwealth Games record, while newcomer, Nikki Hamblin (800m and 1500m) performed above expectations, winning two silver medals. In collecting more than 1 medal at a single games, she joins athletes such as Yvette Williams, Les Mills, Val Young, Lorraine Moller, Sir Peter Snell and Sir John Walker in this rare achievement.

It was great to see Nick Willis (1500m) back in the black singlet and performing against world class competition, while Brent Newdick (Decathlon), Stuart Farquhar (Javelin), Andrea Miller (100m hurdles) and Jessica Hamill (Parasport Shot Put), proved they have what it takes to perform on the world stage, and come up with strong results when it counts.

Rebecca Wardell was also on track for a top result when a broken bone in her foot halted her progress.

Some of the team have already returned to New Zealand while others will be either returning to overseas training bases or heading to other international competitions.
 

2010 Commonwealth Games Placings
Valerie Adams Shot Put GOLD
Nikki Hamblin 800m SILVER
Nikki Hamblin 1500m SILVER
Stuart Farquhar Javelin SILVER
Brent Newdick Decathlon SILVER
Jessica Hamill F34 Shot Put SILVER
Andrea Miller 100m Hurdles BRONZE
Nick Willis 1500m BRONZE
Matthew Lack T54 1500m 4th
Beatrice Faumuina Discus 5th
Elizabeth Lamb High Jump 6th
Monique Williams 200m 6th
Adrian Blincoe 1500m 10th
Adrian Blincoe 5000m 11th
Rebecca Wardell: Heptathlon DNF - injured

Track & Field medal counts for Commonwealth Games.
2010 8 medals 1 gold, 5 silver, 2 bronze *
2006 4 medals 2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze
2002 4 medals 1 gold, 3 silver, 0 bronze
1998 2 medals 1 gold, 0 silver, 1 bronze
1994 6 medals 0 gold, 3 silver, 3 bronze *
1990 9 medals 1 gold, 2 silver, 6 bronze
1986 4 medals 0 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze
1982 6 medals 2 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze
1978 2 medals 0 gold, 2 silver, 0 bronze
1974 8 medals 2 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze
1970 4 medals 0 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze
1966 9 medals 4 gold, 1 silver, 4 bronze
1962 11 medals 5 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze
1958 9 medals 2 gold, 3 silver, 4 bronze
1954 5 medals 4 gold, 1 silver, 0 bronze
1950 20 medals 2 gold, 6 silver 12 bronze
1938 8 medals 3 gold, 1 silver, 4 bronze
1934 2 medals 1 gold, 0 silver, 1 bronze
* 2010 1 x silver AWD, 1994 1 x bronze AWD