News & Updates

Athletics NZ will launch its Ultimate Thrower competition this summer, designed to find the best individual and all-round throwers across the shot, discus, hammer and javelin.

The brainchild of Para Athletics Lead Raylene Bates, the competition is open to both senior and U20 athletes who can compete individually or in the prestigious ‘Ultimate Champion’ category in which competitors register marks across all four throws.

The top two performances in the 2023-24 season – which includes marks at National Permit Meets, Continental Tour Meets, Club Centre Championships and the Postal Throws Weekend (24-26 November) – will count for the individual competitions for shot, discus, hammer and javelin. All distances registered will be translated to points via the World Athletics scoring table to determine rankings. Para scores for discus, shot and javelin will be worked out as a percentage of the world record.

For the Ultimate Thrower comp your best throw across each discipline registered at the same events as the above will be eligible. Again, para scores worked out a percentage of the world record.

The Ultimate Thrower competition will run at all eligible meets before the 2024 Jennian Homes New Zealand Track & Field Championships at Newtown Park, Wellington 14-17 March when the overall winners will be announced.

Kim Mickle the Events Group Project Co-ordinator said: “We are excited by the concept and hope it will give an extra motivation for our throwers to deliver of their best during the 2023-24 summer season.

“The Ultimate Thrower will add a different element and it will be fascinating to see how this unravels and who will be able to call themselves the number one all-round thrower in New Zealand.”  

To enter, register for free before 20 December here