News & Updates

Athletics New Zealand is delighted to announce a pair of exciting and vibrant junior athletics events are set to be added to the 2023 track and field calendar.

The Provincial Challenge and Launch Athletics competitions are designed to provide junior athletes with an engaging experience and a competition framework aimed at invigorating their interest in the sport.

As part of the Strengthen and Adapt Programme, Athletics New Zealand is committed to providing fresh and energetic new events at a key stage in a junior athletes’ development. It is hoped that providing new experiences and an environment for athletes to express themselves will help display different pathways for continued participation and will contribute to the athletes continued physical and mental development.

The Provincial Challenge is the revamped version of the Interprovincial Games with significant changes from the old format making travel easier for families to help boost participation.

The inaugural event is open to kids aged 12 and 13, who will compete in a weekend of athletics and social activities in the North, South and Central regions.

A repurposed athletics timetable across a day-long competition will see athletes exposed to new race distances, team-based competition and key learning experiences.

Athletes will also be given a chance to receive hands-on learning from senior athletes and leading coaches who will share their personal athletics experiences.

The Provincial Games takes place at the end of the season with the goal of providing a lasting impression and an opportunity for the youngsters to create lifelong friendships.

Athletics NZ is also thrilled to announce the high-paced, energetic team-based Launch Athletics – which will provide a new dimension to the domestic calendar.

Hosted on Friday 17 March at AUT Millennium on Auckland’s North Shore, the event is open to athletes aged 14 to 16 with each team captained by a leading New Zealand athlete.

The teams will then lock horns in an exciting head-to-head format spanning several hours in the battle for glory.

Taking place just 24 hours after the Sir Graeme Douglas International presented by Harcourts Cooper & Co – one of New Zealand’s premier one-day meets – the timing of Launch Athletics is designed to inspire and highlight the pathways available to junior athletes into the elite level.

More information will follow in the new year on both competitions with regular updates on Launch Athletics via the Instagram page @launch.athletics.