Big run to clinch spot in Tokyo

not manage the sort of time required. He races again in Prague early tomorrow and will have a couple of more hitouts after that before returning to the United States.

Goodman admits to some nerves around Willis because he missed out on a spot at the Doha world championships in similar circumstances, but believes he may have a spot or two up his sleeve with the possibility an athlete or two ahead might drop out before the Games.

Young discus thrower Connor Bell is also in a tight situation, but Goodman is confident the 19-year-old, who turns 20 next week, will make it inside the cutoff.

Bell is 30th on the Road to Tokyo rankings, with 32 to be invited to compete. His national record of 64.29m, set in January, is just shy of the entry standard of 65m.

But the Aucklander threw 63.99m to finish second on the Gold Coast on Saturday and Goodman is confident this will improve his position when the rankings are updated on Thursday. That was the second furthest he has ever thrown the 2kg implement.

‘‘He looks pretty safe,’’ said Goodman. ‘‘We don’t think the guys behind him can get past him, and we don’t think anyone else is going to post the automatic standard.’’

Javelin thrower Tori Peeters is in a less comfortable position. The Waikato athlete was provisionally selected in the Tokyo squad, but asked to meet a target of two 61.50m throws, or one of 62m before the cutoff.

She now has one last event, in Townsville this Saturday, to throw 62m to seal her spot for the Games. She withdrew from the Gold Coast meet Saturday with a back problem.

Peeters’ PB is 62.04m, and she currently sits one spot outside the top 32 on the Road to Tokyo rankings.

Pole vaulter Olivia McTaggart is in an interesting position. She sits right on the cutoff at 32 on the rankings, but needs to clear the entry standard of 4.70m, or close to it, to earn selection. She and 2016 Olympic bronze medallist Eliza McCartney, who has been plagued by injury in recent years, will make a lastditch attempt to qualify at the AUT Millennium facility in Auckland on Saturday.

Portia Bing ran well over the 400m hurdles at the Gold Coast on Saturday (winning in a smart 56.37sec), but still needs 55.40 to go to Tokyo. She, too, will have a final crack at that in Townsville. last