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.

Nikki Hamblin arrives back in Auckland on flight CX 117 on Saturday 16 October at 7.05am.

2010 Commonwealth Games Placings

Track & Field Medal Counts For Past 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