Marathon runner Kimberley Smith remains the only New Zealander to have made herself unavailable for the Commonwealth Games as more world class athletes pull out of the October event in India.
The United States-based Smith has decided to contest the New York marathon on November 7 instead of attending the Games.
She said in May she was reluctant to race in New Delhi, expressing dual concerns over security and the impact of air pollution, although she still would have contested the 10,000m if the Games were held earlier in the year.
New Zealand Olympic Committee communications manager Ashley Abbott said her organisation had accepted Smith's decision for the sake of her long-term goal of chasing a medal at the 2012 London Olympics.
"She has decided for her Olympic campaign she is better to do that (New York) because she wasn't able to do both," Abbott said.
"She has the opportunity to change her mind but from our communications with her, we believe that she will need to do that international marathon circuit to go through to London."
Smith finished eighth in the London Marathon in April, running a time of two hours 25 minutes 21 seconds to break Allison Roe's 29-year-old New Zealand record.
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