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a day ago
- Sport
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PAK'nSAVE Cooks International Classic Elevated To Full World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze Event
The PAK'nSAVE Cooks International Classic, a longstanding highlight of the summer season in Whanganui, has officially been upgraded to a full World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze-level meet, completing the Summer Circuit alongside four other major events: Allan & Sylvia Potts Classic / NZ Short Track Championships - Hastings PAK'nSAVE Cooks International Classic - Whanganui Sir Graeme Douglas International - Auckland International Track Meet - Christchurch New Zealand Track & Field Championships - Auckland The Bronze designation acknowledges the continued commitment of the PAK'nSAVE Cooks International Classic team to creating a premier event for the region and country. An event that continues to attract top international talent, provides an athlete-first meet experience and an engaging track and field spectacle for fans in person and via livestream. The home of the PAK'nSAVE Cooks International Classic, the Whanganui Cooks Gardens, known as the home of the mile, was awarded the World Athletics Heritage Plaque in 2023 in the 'Landmark' category. 'We are thrilled that our iconic venue, Cooks Gardens is to host a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze event not just for 2026 but also for 2027 and 2028. We are grateful for the Whanganui District Council who in 2024 had the track resurfaced and recertified by World Athletics to enable us to continue to host these types of events in Whanganui,' said meet director, Russell Sears. 'An annual event that will bring over 50 overseas athletes to compete at Cooks to add to the heritage the Gardens holds in World Athletics. The mile will continue to be our signature events for the Classic. By moving to a complete Bronze meeting, we will be able to showcase another 12 events, offering opportunities for more New Zealand athletes to compete against world class athletes.' As a full World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze Event, the PAK'nSAVE Cooks International Classic brings the opportunity for athletes to earn valuable world-ranking points at the Bronze level (C) and compete against leading international athletes right here in New Zealand. Along with the bronze status comes higher prize money for athletes, more internationals travelling to the region, and a bigger spotlight on the event. The 2025 edition of the event drew the biggest crowd in over a decade, as the sport of track and field continues its rise in New Zealand. A big drawcard to the event was Olympic champion, Hamish Kerr, competing on home soil for the first time since winning his historic Olympic gold. The PAK'nSAVE Cooks International Classic, together with the full Summer Circuit, forms the pinnacle of domestic competition in New Zealand. Dates for each event, event grid, entry information, and ticketing details will be released as available. A bidding process was held by Athletics New Zealand to allocate the third Bronze meet. Applications were reviewed by a panel of five including Athletics NZ CE, Cam Mitchell, Head of Track and Field Events, Keegan McCauley, a representative from the Athletes Commission, a representative from Oceania Athletics and a representative from the Athletics New Zealand board.
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5 days ago
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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.
