5 April 2018
 
 
 
www.athletics.org.nz  
 
 
 
 

 




 

 

We're running out of superlatives for super shot putter  Tom Walsh! Another amazing performance by the World Shot Put Champion at the Sir Graeme Douglas International Track Challenge. The last time anyone in the world threw further than his NZ record 22.67m was in 1990 - yes 28 years ago!

Every four years they roll around, and the athletics action at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games is just 3 days away!

There’s plenty of other action happening right now, including the beginning of the winter Harrier season, starting out with cross country, so whatever you are doing athletically for the coming month, have a great time.

In this issue of Athletics in Action we chat with Glasgow 2014 Hammer silver medallist Julia Ratcliffe,  we talk to ten times NZ sprint champion  Joseph Millar and we catch up with Hamilton all-rounder Kayla Goodwin  for our “Five minutes with …” segment and there's lots more.

  

 

Joseph Millar comes through tough times for Gold Coast reward

Drinking from the last chance saloon at the Australian Championships in Gold Coast, Joseph Millar seized his opportunity to convince selectors to pick him for the 200m in February.
And now the 25-year-old sprinter returns to Carrara Stadium desperate to turn in another scintillating performance at the eagerly awaited Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
Read more

 

Sir Graeme Douglas International Track Challenge

Tom Walsh walked his talk at the Sir Graeme Douglas International Track Challenge in West Auckland, setting new All comer, Resident and National Records with a stunning throw of 22.67m. The last time anyone in the world threw further than that was 28 years ago!
Eliza McCartney was a bit disappointed in clearing 4.75m, but that was just 0.05 short of the 4.80m she cleared to win an Olympic medal – she had three good attempts at 4.85m which would have been a personal best. Pretty good for not such a good day!
Details from the Sir Graeme Douglas International
Full results

 

Rotorua Marathon


We’re really excited by the number of entries coming in for the Rotorua Marathon events on 5 May. The new Half Marathon course has been a big drawcard with the course now heading into some great trails in the Whakarewarewa forest.
Check out the new course
If you're thinking about running the full Rotorua Marathon, don’t forget the special for Athletics NZ members. If you are a member of an affiliated Athletics NZ club, you can get $15 off the entry fee. 
Enter now!

 

Member Benefits


One of the advantages of belonging to an Athletics NZ affiliated club, and automatically becoming a member of Athletics NZ, is that you and your family can access the Athletics NZ Member Benefits  programme. The programme can save you money on travel, accommodation, rental cars, insurance, sports gear, sports medical products and more, just by being a member of your local athletics club. We feature some of our Member Benefits Partners below.
Read more ...
 


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

If you’re looking for places to stay for your next event, work trip or holiday, why not try Choice Hotels! Our member benefits partner Choice Hotel Group offer Athletics NZ members, family and friends 15% discount on accommodation. Tick  SC15  and quote Client ID 00288970 when booking online or by phone.
Check out Choice   

 

What's next?

April 2018
6-8     North Is Sec Schools Champs   Whanganui
8-15   Commonwealth Games              Gold Coast

May 2018
5        Rotorua Marathon (NZ Champs)  Rotorua
 
 

 

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

 

About Athletics in Action

Athletics in Action is a fortnightly e-newsletter, usually sent out on Thursdays full of great articles, profiles, interviews with athletes, 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.

 
  
 

 

  
  
 

 

 

Julia Ratcliffe chases repeat CG podium

The 2014 Commonwealth silver medallist Julia Ratcliffe hopes for a repeat visit to the Commonwealth medal dais in Gold Coast. Steve Landells speaks to the Kiwi hammer ace to find out more about her challenging journey to Queensland.
Read more

 

Five Minutes With Kayla Goodwin

Versatile Kayla Goodwin has enjoyed an outstanding year winning New Zealand U18 titles in the 100m hurdles, long jump, triple jump and heptathlon, 300m hurdles silver and javelin bronze. The 16-year-old Hamilton City Hawks athlete ponders our random Five Minutes With questions.
Read more

 

Commonwealth Games


Only three more sleeps until the start of ATHLETICS at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games!
Want know  more about our team, their background and stats, social media links, when they are competing, stories about team members and more? Find out everything about our team here

 

Where do our Games Athletes come from?

Looking at the Commonwealth Games team, it struck us that eight members of the team (out of 18) hail from two clubs. Hamilton City Hawks have five in the team while North Harbour Bays have three. The other ten athletes come from ten clubs.
Back in the 1970’s to 1990’s two national interclub competitions, both called the National League developed strong clubs with good structures and it’s interesting that the two clubs which often finished in the top two positions in those leagues are now providing almost half of the athletics team heading to the Gold Coast. Well done Hawks and Bays!

 

Officials at the Games

We have 18 athletes selected for the Commonwealth Games, but we also have five of our leading officials heading to the Gold Coast. 
Katherine Fraser will be there as a Track Umpire and also has an international appointment as a Walks Judge. Anthony Curry will be an Assistant Track Referee and also doing some sessions in the Video Room. Ruth Liong and Jim McIlroy are both in field event teams. Trevor Spittle has an appointment as an International Technical Official (ITO) and will be a Track Referee. Trevor has also been appointed as WPA representative for Para events. Congratulations on your appointments.
See if you can spot any of them working as you watch the Games.

 

Grade 12 & 13 Interprovincial

Easter weekend saw the traditional Interprovincial teams meeting for Grade12 and 13 athletes from centres around the country. It's a great opportunity for children to compete in a teams environment doing a range of events to score points. Well done to the teams and athletes involved.Teams results, individual winners and full results will be available in a few days at 
2018 Interprovincial

 

High Performance Topics

Recent updates
2018 Youth Olympics Trial  
2018 Youth Olympics nomination criteria
2018 World Racewalking team champs
Team Management vacancies 
2018 Oceania Polynesian Champs
Other HP News can be found HERE

 

Official Chat

The summer season has now all but ended for track & field with only the North Island Sec School Champs to go this weekend. Thanks to all who have made this extremely busy season successful. Now onto the winter season!
National T&F champs in Hamilton went off well and proved another great event. However another 10 to 12 officials would have been great. We had six officials from Australia this year assisting. With Nationals in Christchurch in 2019 on the new track at Nga Puna Wai we are already being told we will have more from across the ditch visiting.
Great work to those who officiated at the recent innovative International Series events in Timaru, Christchurch and Auckland. It’s great watching them in action on the Livestream. 
Look out for officials training courses being run in your area. We need to increase the numbers of officials for future years.
Getting started as an official

 

Where to find what you need

We have a lot of information for members and fans, it can sometimes seem a little daunting to locate what you want on our website, so here are some quick links:

 

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 Roundup (new)
   Club Chat Newsletter
   Athletics NZ website (updated)
   Athletics NZ High Performance (updated)
   Athletics NZ Rankings & Records (updated)
 

 
 
  
 
 

 

  

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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