MARC HINTON
Stuff.co.nz
May 21, 2012
United States-based distance runner Adrian Blincoe may have sealed his spot at the London Olympics with a creditable 5000m performance in California at the weekend.
Blincoe ran a more-than-respectable 13min 23.73s as he finished fifth in an international meet at Occidental College. The race was won by Somalian-born Brit Mo Farah in 13:12.87.
Blincoe's time, said Athletics NZ high-performance director Scott Goodman, should go close to seeing the Kiwi officially added to the New Zealand track and field team for London this week. It would be his second Olympics, after he competed in Beijing in 2008.
"We'd be pretty confident that would see him meet the proof of current form requirement, but that will be the selectors' call."
Blincoe met the Olympic A standard for the 5000m last year, but was required to confirm his form before being officially added to the Kiwi squad for London. He has a best for the distance of 13:10, which is also the New Zealand record.
The two Kiwi 1500m hopefuls Zane Robertson and Hamish Carson both ran under 3:40 at the weekend. "They were good times, but not quite what they need," said Goodman.
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