News & Updates

The starting pistol will be fired on the 2022 Oceania Area Championships next Tuesday in Mackay, Australia. Boasting a squad of 93 athletes there will no shortage of interest in the New Zealand team, and we offer ten good reasons to follow the action in Queensland from 7-11 June.

Follow the many Kiwis in action

The largest New Zealand team to appear at an overseas competition post-pandemic represents a glorious chance for our elite athletes both able-bodied and para to rub shoulders and perform alongside our developing athletes in the senior, U20 and U18 divisions. What is there not to like about 90 plus Kiwis pitting themselves against some top-quality athletes in the Oceania region.

World ranking points at stake

A total of 12 New Zealand athletes named in the initial selection wave for the 2022 World Championships in Eugene next month will feature in Mackay with eight of those conditionally selected, hunting valuable world ranking points which could help ensure their presence in Oregon. Among those key names to look out for include – on the men’s side Eddie Osei-Nketia (100m), Brad Mathas (800m) and six women; Georgia Hulls (200m), Keeley O’Hagan (high jump), Olivia McTaggart and Imogen Ayris (pole vault), Nicole Bradley (hammer) and Tori Peeters (javelin). A further ten athletes named in the initial wave of selection for the Commonwealth Games will also be looking to fine tune their preparations for Birmingham by competing in Queensland.

Follow our leading Para athletes

Following the postponement of the 2022 World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe because of the global pandemic, the Oceania Area Championships represent the primary international competitive opportunity for our premier para-athletes. New Zealand boast a strong line up of 11 Para athletes in Mackay led by Tokyo Paralympic gold medallists Lisa Adams (shot put F37) and Holly Robinson (javelin F46). Double Paralympic sprint medallist Danielle Aitchison will feature in the 100m and 200m T36 events while Tokyo Paralympic shot put F37 duo Ben Tuimaseve and Caitlin Dore also compete. Others to watch out for include 2019 World Para Athletics representative Mitch Joynt, who starts in the 100m and 200m T64, and rising teenage sprint star Jaxon Woolley (100m T38).

Watch our stars of tomorrow perform

The team boasts a large contingent of U18 and U20 athletes who will unquestionably benefit from their experiences in Mackay. Among them include four New Zealand athletes selected for the World U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia in August. So watch out for James Harding (800m and 1500m), Will Anthony (3000m and 5000m), Talia van Rooyen (100m, 100m hurdles and 4x400m relay) and Natalia Rankin-Chi Tar (shot and discus) as the quartet seek a good display on the international stage before heading to Cali.

Who will prevail in the Kiwi sprint showdown?

One of the most anticipated head-to-head duels in Mackay will be the men’s 100m battle between Tiaan Whelpton and Eddie Osei-Nketia. With both still pursuing a possible spot on the plane for the World Championships in Oregon, this should only serve to heighten the intensity of the clash. The two good pals have shared honours so far this season with Eddie prevailing to win the New Zealand title – albeit with Tiaan struggling with a hamstring injury – in Hastings. Meanwhile, last week in Gold Coast, Tiaan avenged this defeat. So it was will be fascinating to see who will earn bragging rights in Mackay in their third clash of 2022. The heats and final take place on Tuesday (7 June).

Tune in to watch more female sprinting excellence

While the Tiaan v Eddie clash is a tasty one, nothing should overshadow the accomplishments of New Zealand’s female sprinters who have shone like never before in a stellar 2022. Led by national 100m record-holder Zoe Hobbs, who has won selection for both the World Championships and Commonwealth Games, at the Australian Championships in Sydney, New Zealand athletes swept to a famous treble with Zoe (100m), Georgia Hulls (200m) and Isabel Neal (400m) carrying off a trio of gold medals. All three are in action in Mackay hunting more precious metal and if we also factor in national 400m champion Rosie Elliott and the likes of Livvy Wilson and Anna Percy, New Zealand’s female sprinting stocks are full. The women’s 4x100m national record of 44.05 set at the Australian Championships in April could also be vulnerable in Mackay.

Throwers abound in Mackay

The continued strength in depth of New Zealand throwing remains an enormous source of pride and it will be fascinating to see how they perform in Queensland. Since winning her maiden national senior title in March, Lauren Bruce has based herself out of Australia, where she is coached by Dale Stevenson and the progress of the Oceania hammer record-holder will be interesting to see ahead of bigger challenges to come in Eugene and Birmingham. Fellow hammer thrower Nicole Bradley, who has been rewarded for breaking the 70m barrier for the first time during the 2020-21 season by winning Commonwealth Games selection and conditional selection for the World Championships, will also be in action. Others to watch out for include javelin thrower Tori Peeters, who is likely to face world-class Australian opposition while Commonwealth Games selected discus thrower Connor Bell will also be hunting a positive show on Australian soil ahead of his appearance in Birmingham.

Follow our top-class jumping crew

In the men’s high jump World Indoor bronze medallist Hamish Kerr will look to defend the title he won with a breakthrough PB of 2.30m three years ago in Townsville. Hamish’s training partner, Keeley O’Hagan, who has been conditionally selected for both the World Championships and Commonwealth Games, starts in the women’s high jump. In the pole vault Olivia McTaggart and Imogen Ayris, both selected for Oregon (conditionally) and Birmingham will look to make the most of the likely good conditions in the women’s pole vault.

Watch Sam the man

Man of the moment Sam Tanner fresh of his stunning Diamond League victory, PB and World Championships entry standard in Eugene will seek to add the Oceania 1500m title to his rapidly expanding CV.

Other endurance runners seeking to make an impact include national 800m champion Holly Manning, who runs in the 800m and 1500m, and look out too for Hannah Miller. The 2017 Oceania 1500m and 5000m champion returns seeking to regain her title in the latter event less than a month after winning the New Zealand marathon title in Christchurch in a personal best time.

Follow the livestream

If you have not yet been persuaded to follow the action, can we provide a gentle reminder that all five days will be livestreamed on the Oceania Athletics YouTube page here. Each day will feature a designated track and a field livestream, so what better way to follow get over the winter blues than by watching our Kiwi athletics heroes perform to their best on the international stage. Athletics NZ will also provide regular updates via athletics.org.nz and our social media channels.

For the timetable go here.

For start lists and results go here.