Faumuina piling on the pressure in buildup

With two Commonwealth Games qualifying throws in the can, Auckland's Beatrice Faumuina is primed for a rare Wellington appearance tomorrow night.

Faumuina leads the qualifying race for October's New Delhi Commonwealth Games as she moves to silence her doubters.

Last month Faumuina threw a season-best of 59.27 metres at Mt Smart Stadium. Another games qualifying throw of 56.09m came at North Shore Stadium in early December, eclipsing the women's mark of 56m set by Athletics NZ selectors.

"My coach Ross Dallow and I made the decision early on that every time we compete this year we want to exceed the qualifying standard no matter what the conditions," Faumuina said.

A decision to stay home and train during the winter paid dividends for the 35-year-old who won gold at the 1998 Kuala Lumpur and 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games. Faumuina isn't making any predictions for tomorrow's Capital Classic, or the year ahead, but she says the results are promising.

"It is comforting to know that I was able to register the 59m mark in December. I don't think I've registered a mark like that in December for quite some time, so I'm very excited about the next three months ahead."

The world discus champion from the 1997 Athens championships faces a busy week as she competes throughout the three-meet classic series.

She is confirmed for next Tuesday's Cooks Classic in Wanganui and the Sylvia Potts Classic in Hastings tomorrow week.

Faumuina was ranked third in the Commonwealth last year with her New Zealand title throw of 60.03m in Wellington last March.

Australia's Dani Samuels, who won the world title in Berlin last August, heads the Commonwealth rankings with 65.44m. At the last Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Faumuina was fourth with a throw of 59.12m.

About 230 competitors are confirmed for the meet at Newtown Park tomorrow, an increase of 80 from the corresponding event last year. Nick Willis is expected to cruise home for his first national 3000m title.

- © Fairfax NZ News