Entries Open for 2025 NZ Cross Country Champs
Impressive Six-Strong Kiwi Contingent to Compete at Rabat Diamond League
The 2025 Wanda Diamond League continues its global tour with its fourth stop in Rabat, Morocco, on Sunday, 25 May. The event, officially known as the Meeting International Mohammed VI d’Athlétisme, takes place at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. Six New Zealand athletes are set to compete against world-class fields, aiming to make their mark on the international stage.
Sam Tanner – Men’s 1500m
Sam Tanner makes his return to the international circuit after concluding the domestic season with his headline-grabbing mile alongside Sam Ruthe at Mt Smart. In Rabat, he’ll face a high-calibre field, led by France’s Azeddine Habz, the only entrant with a personal best under 3:30. Also on the line is American Vincent Ciattei, who will be familiar to New Zealand fans after racing in Nelson at The Spectacle Road Mile in December 2024. Tanner will be looking to build towards the World Championships in Tokyo in September.
Tom Walsh – Men’s Shot Put
2025 World Indoor Shot Put Champion, Tom Walsh, will compete against a deep field of elite throwers, including Americans Joe Kovacs, Payton Otterdahl, and Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri. Kovacs is lining up for his first competition for the 25 outdoor season and will be one to watch with his 23.23 PB.
Hamish Kerr – Men’s High Jump
Fresh from a strong second-place finish at the Doha Diamond League, Hamish Kerr returns to action in Rabat looking to maintain his momentum on the global stage. The Kiwi Olympic champion will again face top-tier competition, including American stars JuVaughan Harrison and Shelby McEwen, both consistent performers on the international circuit. Adding some Oceania rivalry to the mix is Australian Yual Reath.
Zoe Hobbs – Women’s 100m
Zoe Hobbs will line up against a competitive sprint field that includes Shericka Jackson of Jamaica. Jackson’s 10.65s best sees her enter as the top seed. Bree Rizzo of Australia also lines up, fresh off her emphatic victory at the Seiko Golden Grand Prix in Tokyo over the USA’s Sha’Carri Richardson. Cambrea Sturges of the USA enters with the top season’s best, with a 10.98 performance.
Olivia McTaggart & Imogen Ayris – Women’s Pole Vault
Both McTaggart and Ayris will compete in a stacked pole vault field featuring Molly Caudery (GBR), Katie Moon (USA), Angelica Moser (SUI) and Alysha Newman (CAN).
View the full start-lists and timetable here.
Kiwi fans can watch via the Diamond League YouTube Channel.
George Beamish & Theo Quax Set to Fire at LA’s Track Fest.
It’s been a while between water jumps for George Beamish as he makes his long-awaited return to the steeple chase this weekend in Los Angeles. Beamish steps back onto the steeple’s start line for the first time since his Olympic debut in Paris. The Kiwi record holder will contest the men’s 3000m steeplechase at Track Fest, held under lights at Occidental College. With a personal best of 8:09.94 and a trademark kick, Beamish lines up against a deep American field led by Kenneth Rooks (8:06.41) and Bernard Keter (8:17.19). Fellow sub-8:15 men Duncan Hamilton, Anthony Rotich, and Joey Berriatua add serious depth to the field, alongside Australia’s Edward Trippas. Beamish is rounding into some strong early-season form, taking out the top spot recently in the Benjamin Franklin Mile at the Penn Relays with a 3:56.85 performance.
Fellow Kiwi, Theo Quax, is also booked in for the 5000m in LA. Also in the field is Woody Kincaid with a 21:51.61 PB and Australia’s Morgan McDonald and Ky Robinson.
Kiwi fans can watch the Track Fest live on FloTrack.
Walsh and Moorby Compete at 75th Boris Hanžeković Memorial in Croatia
New Zealand’s Tom Walsh and Tori Moorby will fly the Kiwi flag at the 75th edition of the Boris Hanžeković Memorial in Zagreb, Croatia, part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold series.
Walsh will take on a world-class men’s shot put field. Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri competes alongside Americans Roger Steen and Payton Otterdahl, and Polish star Konrad Bukowiecki. With ten athletes over 21m this year, this could be one of the most competitive fields of the 2024 season.
The men’s shot put competition is being staged on the 22nd of May at the City Fountains in Zagreb.
In the women’s javelin, Tori Moorby returns to international action looking to build on a strong domestic season. The Cambridge-based thrower will relish the opportunity to compete on the European stage in her build towards the World Championships. The women’s Javelin will compete in the Sports Park Mladost on the 24th of May.