News & Updates

Athletics New Zealand has selected a team of five athletes to compete at the 2024 World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in Antalya, Turkey on the weekend of 20-21 April.

Two senior women have been selected in the 20km race walk led by nine-time senior national race walking champion Laura Langley (Don Grieg Racing Stables). Langley, 26, will be making her second appearance at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships having competed in the U20 race at the 2016 edition in Rome. The experienced race walker will also serve as team captain.

Appearing alongside Langley in the women’s 20m race walk will be Arnika Nelson. The 20-year-old Australian-based athlete, whose father Scott Nelson won a bronze medal in the 30km race walk at the 1994 Commonwealth Games, posted a PB of 1:52:20 when second in the women’s 20km race walk at the 2023 New Zealand Road Championships in Palmerston North in September.

Alexander Brown, 22, is the sole New Zealand athlete to earn selection in the senior men’s 20km race walk. Brown of Caversham Harrier and Athletic Club is the current senior men’s 20km race walk champion. Brown has also been selected in the three-strong New Zealand squad for the two-person mixed relay in Antalya alongside Langley and Nelson.

Two U20 men have secured selection led by national U20 10km race walk champion Jonah Cropp, 18 and U20 men’s national 5000m track race walking gold medallist Toby O’Rorke, 17.

Former New Zealand race walking representative Rozie Robinson from Christchurch will serve as team leader.

Out of Stadia Coordinator John Bowden said: “We are delighted to announce our five-strong team, which boasts a mix of experience and emerging talent set to make their New Zealand debuts.

“We wish them all the best in terms of their preparations for Antalya and we look forward to seeing how they perform against the global race walking elite in Turkey.”

The five athletes are:

Senior Women:
Laura Langley
Club: Don Greig Racing Stables
Coach: Damian Blocki

Arnika Nelson
Club: Palmerston AHC 
Coach: Gabrielle Blythe

Senior Men:
Alexander Brown
Club: Caversham Harrier and Athletic Club
Coach: David Stinson

Junior Men:
Jonah Cropp  
Club: Sumner Running Club
Coach: Rozie Robinson

Toby O’Rorke
Club: Egmont Athletics Club
Coach: Rozie Robinson and Rodney Gillum