Latest news with #CamMitchell
Otago Daily Times
06-08-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Grimaldi leads 10-strong para team for world champs
New Zealand will be represented by 10 athletes at the World Para Athletics Championships in India - marking the biggest contingent Aotearoa has selected for this event in six years. The team heading to New Delhi includes Paralympic and World Championship medallists and three debutants, all aiming to build on the momentum of last year's results. The selection for next month's event follows a strong showing by Kiwi athletes at the 2024 World Championships in Japan, where New Zealand secured multiple podium finishes and national records across track and field events. The 10-strong contingent is the largest team selected for a World Para Athletics Champs since 2019. This year's championships mark the first time India will host the event, with more than 1000 athletes expected to compete across 186 medal events at New Delhi's iconic Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the host of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. 2024 Paralympic Champion Anna Grimaldi, of Dunedin, is thrilled to be back in the black singlet in 2025. "We have such a cool team, and it's going to be so nice to be back together, especially with our new additions. I can't wait to get to India, to meet everyone and to soak up the heat." Athletics NZ chief executive Cam Mitchell said the team reflects the strength and depth of the Para Athletics programme. "We're incredibly proud of this team. It brings together our most experienced international medallists with emerging athletes making their debut at the World Para Athletics Champs. "We're confident this team will not only perform with distinction in New Delhi, but inspire future generations across Aotearoa." The games will be held from September 27 to October 5. Team Anna Grimaldi - Women's 100m T47 & 200m T47 Danielle Aitchison - Women's 100m T36 & 200m T36 Holly Robinson - Women's Shot Put F46 Joe Smith - Men's 100m T37 Lisa Adams - Women's Shot Put F37 Michael Whittaker - Men's 5000m T13 (Debut) Mitch Joynt - Men's 100m T64, 200m T64 Paddy Walsh - Women's Long Jump T64 (Debut) Sarah James - Women's 100m T53, 400m T53m, 800m T53 (Debut) Will Stedman - 400m T36, Long Jump T36
RNZ News
06-08-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Grimaldi leads 10-strong Kiwi para athletics team for world champs
Anna Grimaldi of New Zealand celebrates after winning bronze during the Women's 100m T47 Final at the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games. Photo: GETTY IMAGES New Zealand will be represented by 10 athletes at the World Para Athletics Championships in India next month - marking the biggest contingient Aotearoa has selected for this event in six years. The team heading to New Delhi includes Paralympic and World Championship medallists and three debutants, all aiming to build on the momentum of last year's results. The selection follows a strong showing by Kiwi athletes at the 2024 World Championships in Japan, where New Zealand secured multiple podium finishes and national records across track and field events. The 10-strong contingent is the largest team selected for a World Para Athletics Champs since 2019. This year's championships mark the first time India will host the event, with more than 1000 athletes expected to compete across 186 medal events at New Delhi's iconic Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the host of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. 2024 Paralympic Champion Anna Grimaldi was thrilled to be back in the black singlet in 2025. "We have such a cool team, and it's going to be so nice to be back together, especially with our new additions. I can't wait to get to India, to meet everyone and to soak up the heat." Athletics NZ chief executive Cam Mitchell said the team reflects the strength and depth of the Para athletics programme. "We're incredibly proud of this team. It brings together our most experienced international medallists with emerging athletes making their debut at the World Para Athletics Champs. We're confident this team will not only perform with distinction in New Delhi, but inspire future generations across Aotearoa." The games will run from 27 September to 5 October. Full Athletics New Zealand team for the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships:
Scoop
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Athletics NZ Announces Inaugural Short Track Championships
Athletics New Zealand is delighted to announce the addition of the short track championships, set to debut at the Mitre 10 Hawke's Bay Sports Park next year. The chance for athletes to mark their names in history as the first ever short track champions is set to be a significant draw card. The New Zealand Short Track Championships will be held in conjunction with the Allan and Sylvia Potts Classic and will kick off the 2026 Summer Circuit in January. The partnership with the Allan and Sylvia Potts Classic has been confirmed through to 2028, with the Hawkes Bay hosting the championships for the next three years. Partnering with the Allan and Sylvia Potts Classic and Athletics Hawkes Bay Gisborne brings a top national tier event together with strong organisational experience to deliver the historic championships. Inaugural short track champions will be crowned over the 60m, 60m hurdles, high jump, long jump, triple jump, pole vault, and shot put. In addition, the national championships for the 300m hurdles will be staged for the first time for U20 and Senior athletes. The outstanding indoor facility at the Mitre10 Sports Park will allow some short track disciplines to be held indoors, a first for a senior national athletics championship in New Zealand. A crucial world rankings opportunity is on the cards ahead of international events in 2026. Top kiwi athletes will earn points to qualify for the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland and the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. The wider Potts Classic will also be designated as a World Athletics D meeting, ensuring all athletes competing at the Potts Classic will earn world-ranking points at the D level. By offering athletes a world-class domestic opportunity to compete in short track events, Athletics New Zealand continues to invest in improving opportunities for athlete performance, building domestic depth, and providing meaningful stepping stones to global success. Athletics NZ CEO Cam Mitchell said the New Zealand Short Track Championships are a major step forward in evolving the sport's competition offerings. 'With New Zealand athletes consistently delivering on the global stage, it's critical that our domestic competition structure keeps pace. The launch of the New Zealand Short Track Championships reflects our commitment to creating world-class performance opportunities here at home," said Mitchell. "Short track athletics is growing internationally, and we're proud to bring this championship opportunity to our domestic calendar. The Hawke's Bay Sports Park, with its outstanding facilities, gives us a unique chance to build an exciting new event that benefits our athletes, our fans, and the next generation coming through.' New Zealand 100m resident record holder Tiaan Whelpton is thrilled to have the opportunity to chase a national title over 60m. 'I'm beyond excited to have our first short track nationals in New Zealand, and the thought of being possibly New Zealand's first 60m champion gets me very excited.' Whelpton was also complimentary of heading to the sunny Hawkes Bay for the Championships, 'Hastings is a fantastic venue for it, it's probably one of the quickest tracks we have in New Zealand, and I cannot wait to fly over the 60m next year.' The meeting director of the Allan and Sylvia Potts Classic, Richard Potts, was thrilled to host the inaugural championships alongside the long-standing classic. " The Allan and Sylvia Potts Classic is proud to be part of Athletics New Zealand's announcement today that we will be hosting New Zealand's first-ever Short Track Championships here in Hawke's Bay for the next three years! This exciting development allows us to showcase New Zealand's best athletes, alongside top international and our domestic talent, to our local community. We're equally proud to continue honouring our legacy by keeping the Allan and Sylvia Potts Memorial 800m events at the heart of the meet. We can't wait to bring world-class racing to Hawke's Bay and inspire the next generation of athletes!" New Zealand has enjoyed a golden period at the World Indoor Championships, with Hamish Kerr capturing high jump gold in Glasgow 2024 and silver in Nanjing 2025, and Tom Walsh claiming his third World Indoor shot-put title in Nanjing. Historic achievements showcase the impact that short track and indoor athletics can have for Kiwi athletes on the global stage About Athletics NZ: Athletics NZ is the national governing body of Athletics in New Zealand. Athletics NZ exists to deliver great athletics experiences. We work with our partners, sponsors and stakeholders across New Zealand to support our growing network of clubs, communities and their members. We provide an affiliation and support structure that aims to ensure there are safe, fun and accessible opportunities for all to participate, from pre-schoolers through to adults. As a World Athletics member, Athletics New Zealand is tasked with enhancing and promoting all aspects of athletics activity in New Zealand. From grass roots community participation to international high-performance competition, disciplines include track and field athletics, cross country running, mountain running, road running, road walking as well as associated programmes and development initiatives.
