Robertson pulls out; Tui remains uncertain
Track and field
Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games 5000m medallist Zane Robertson has pulled out of the New Zealand Commonwealth Games team.
A groin injury earlier in the year forced the Kenyan-based Kiwi to miss several weeks of training at a key stage of his preparation for the Games and while he has been training since then, he has not recovered to the extent he could put on the black singlet and give it his best shot.
The 28-year-old had been selected for the 10,000m, in which he holds the NZ record, and the marathon. While it would not have been possible to compete in both, he hoped to put up a good performance in one or the other.
“Zane had hoped he could make up the lost time and come into the village with the confidence to race hard and put him in the frame for a good performance,” Athletics New Zealand High Performance director Scott Goodman said.
“Ive been talking to Zane daily for the last couple of weeks and he really wanted to run on the Gold Coast and put up a performance he could be proud of, but he has not been able to put in the solid track sessions he needs.” “Zane has very high standards and he didn’t want to come and put in a below-par race or be forced to withdraw during the race,” Goodman added.
Robertson will remain training in Kenya and set himself for some road races.
The New Zealand track and field team was already down one star athlete when Olympic middle distance medallist Nick Willis decided he would not recover sufficiently from injury to perform at his best on the Gold Coast. ■ Sevens player Ruby Tui remains in a Sunshine Coast hospital with mumps.
No other cases of the virus have been identified within the New Zealand women’s team, meaning they are likely to enter the Gold Coast athletes’ village on Sunday.
“Our doctors are working with the girls and staff to ensure their wellbeing,” chef de mission Rob Waddell told a press conference.
“It’s something we continue to monitor closely.
‘‘We understand she’s in a stable condition and they’re doing the best for her wellbeing.
“We’re pleased to know all the information and we’re feeling positive about things.
‘‘I don’t know [if she will play]. The illness is so unpredictable.”
Tui, an Olympic silver medallist, could be ruled out of the Games as the usual recovery period ranges anywhere from one week to a month.
The sevens competition starts on April 13.