26 January 2017
 
 
 
www.athletics.org.nz  
 
 
 
 




 

 

 

That was a busy couple of weeks! The second of the Colgate Games meetings, three classic events in Hastings, Whanganui and Wellington, two innovative events, Jumps to Music in Hawera and Sola Power Throws in Lower Hutt made for a lot of interest for all sorts of athletics fans. We also held four national championship races.

In this issue we talk to one of our top 800m runners back in NZ after a stint in the USA and Wales and we catch up with the youngest sibling of a high achieving family who has brought home the first NZ championship for his family in 31 years.  

Our “Five Minutes with…” segment focuses on Kiwi middle distance hero Nick Willis. We also hear from Athletics NZ's Chief Executive on her thoughts at the start of 2017.

There’s much more news in this issue of Athletics in Action, so keep reading.

* Athletics in Action is a fortnightly e-newsletter, usually sent out on Thursdays full of great articles, profiles, interviews with the stars, latest updates and upcoming events in the world of athletics. If you'd no longer like to receive this newsletter you can unsubscribe using the link at the bottom of this email on the far left.

 

 

Lautenslager making family proud

Recently crowned national under 20 3000m champion Jared Lautenslager is one of three brothers making their mark in both New Zealand and the USA. Steve Landells profiles the youngest of the siblings, who has just enjoyed a very special month.
Read more ...

 

Chief Executive Update

It’s been a busy start to the season and we catch up with Athletics NZ Chief Executive Linda Hamersley on her thoughts about the start of 2017 for the organisation. 
Read more ...

 

Aon on Board

Global insurance broker Aon has become the latest corporate signing by Athletics New Zealand, announcing a sponsorship of the national sporting organisation today. 
Read more ...

 

Member Benefits



There are many benefits of being a member of an athletics club. Check out our Athletics NZ Member Benefits Programme to find out how you can save on accommodation, rental cars, sports gear, sports medical products and more, just by being a member of your local athletics club.

 

Athletics gear discounts

To show their commitment to the sport, Sports Distributors are offering all Athletics New Zealand members 15% OFF selected athletics gear! Simply insert the promo code: ATHNZ15 when you are checking out. Get the good pricing here

 

High Performance Topics

Recent updates and announcements from our HP department:

2018 Commonwealth Games nomination criteria
2017 World Champs selection policy
2017 World University Champs selection policy
How to apply for a team as an athlete
Other HP news can be found HERE

There have been some recent staffing changes in our HP department:
Matt Dallow (HP coach) finished last week.  Matt is moving to the USA.
Deb Develter (Team administrator) finished in December to spend more time with her young family.
Brent Booker commenced this week as part-time assistant pole vault coach working with Jeremy McColl at AUT Millennium.
There will be some further appointments over the coming months.

 

Weekly Roundup

Another of the benefits offered by Athletics NZ is our Weekly Roundup from around New Zealand and NZ athletes overseas. It’s compiled by Murray McKinnon from event results sent on to him by event organisers in NZ and by coaches and athletes from overseas events. It comes out each Monday. If you are not already receiving it, head to the Athletics NZ website (near the bottom of the home page) and you can subscribe there.

 

Where to find what you need

We have so much information for members and fans, it can sometimes seem a little daunting, so here are some quick links:

 

What's next?

January 2017
28     NZ 10,000m Champs             Inglewood
28     North Island Interprov            Inglewood

February 2017
4-11  Nitro Athletics Series             Melbourne
11     Porritt Classic                         Hamilton
18-19  NZ Combined Ev Champs   Dunedin
19     Big Shot & Fast K                  Christchurch
22     Vertical Pursuit                      Auckland
26     Auckland Track Challenge   North Shore

March 2017
3-5   NZ Masters T&F Champs      Nelson
17-19 NZ T&F Champs                  Hamilton
 

 

  
 

 

  

  
 

 

Marshall seeking international success

Katherine Marshall is one of New Zealand’s leading 800m runners. However, as Steve Landells discovered the Welsh-based Kiwi hopes for great success on the international stage in future.
Read more ...

 

Five minutes with Nick Willis

Nick Willis has two Olympic medals in his trophy cabinet along with three Commonwealth medals including a gold. He is a New Zealand running icon. Here the 33-year-old takes time out from his busy schedule to answer our “Five Minutes With” questions.
Read more ...

 

International Athletics Series 

Not long now until the three innovative meetings that will make up the International Athletics Series. The Series kicks off on Sunday 19 February in Christchurch with the Big Shot and Fast K, moves to central Auckland for the Vertical Pursuit and finishes on 26 February on the North Shore of Auckland with the Auckland Track Challenge. The series is designed to promote athletics and showcase some of our Olympic stars up close with two of the three events to be held in public spaces, rather than at athletics tracks.
Tickets available Auckland Track Challenge

Read more about the International Series and the Auckland Track Challenge ...

 

Nitro Athletics Series

Nitro Athletics Melbourne gets under way on Saturday 4 Feb and features three rounds of innovative athletics with a number of world stars including Usain Bolt.
We’re excited to announce that the NZL team will be captained by Matthew Wyatt.
The full team is:
Men: Matthew Wyatt (captain), Ben Musson, Cam Graves, Hamish Gill, Hayden Hall, Jack Henry, Joseph Millar, Michael Cochrane, Nick Southgate, Tim Cornish, Tom Moulai, Will O'Neill.
Women: Anna Grimaldi, Brooke Somerfield, Ellen Schaef, Esther Keown, Hannah Philpot, Katherine Marshall, Kelsey Berryman, Laura Nagel, Mackenzie Keenan, Olivia Eaton, Tori Peeters, Zoe Hobbs. 
Follow the Nitro series

 

Classic Meets 

Four of the five Classic meeting for 2017 are now behind us with some excellent competition and top performances. Just the Porritt Classic in Hamilton on 11 Feb to go which is bound to see some wonderful athletics.
Check out the results and more information about the Porritt Classic.
Lovelock Classic    Timaru
Potts Classic            Hastings
Cooks Classic        Whanganui
Capital Classic        Wellington
11 Feb  Porritt Classic    Hamilton
Get down to the Porritt Classic and check out some high quality athletics.

 

Colgate Games

The iconic Colgate Games for 2017 are all done and dusted. Six days of great athletics with hundreds of kids and their parents in Hastings and Invercargill. A fantastic, fun-filled athletics extravaganza for our young members. For results, head to  NZ Children’s Athletics

 

California Tour

Nelson  distance coach Greg Lautenslager (read the earlier story about Greg's sone Jared) leads a tour for developing athletes to California each year. It’s an excellent opportunity to get in some high level competition, experience a strong athletics culture and see California. There are still some spots available on the 2017 tour, so of you are interested have a look and get in touch with Greg.
Read more …

 

Upcoming NZ Championship Events

Entries are open for the NZ Combined Event Championships in Dunedin on 18 - 19 February and for the NZ Mountain Running Champs  on 25 March in Queenstown.
You'll be able to enter the NZ Track & Field Champs (Hamilton 17-19 March) next week.

 

Rankings 

Our ranking lists have a new feature! You can now compare head to head records for two athletes in the same event. Try it out!
The 2017 ranking lists started from 1 January and there have already been almost 1000 rankings added so far, so head to www.anzrankings.co.nz  to see who the early leaders are in each event.

 

Coaching Corner

Two great opportunities for hurdlers and javelin throwers are coming up in Hamilton around the Porritt Classic. Find out more and register your interest.
Porritt Classic Hurdles Festival (11-12 Feb)
Porritt Classic Javelin Camp (10-12 Feb)

 

Previous issues of AiA

If you are new to Athletics in Action and would like to check out some previous issues, head to Athletics in Action

 

Are you up to date?

We want to keep all our members and fans right up to date with all the important news and happenings in the sport. Check out the latest offerings:

   Weekly Round-up (new)
   Club Chat Newsletter
   Official Focus Newsletter 
   Athletics NZ website (updated)
   Athletics NZ High Performance (updated)
   Athletics NZ Rankings & Records
 

 
 
  
 
 

 

  

ATHLETICS NEW ZEALAND
P.O. Box 305 504, Triton Plaza, Auckland 0757
The Pavilion, MISH, 17 Antares Pl, Rosedale, Auckland 0632
P 09 477 0210

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