Olympic stars on show in revamped series
Kiwi Rio Olympic track and field stars Tom Walsh, Eliza Mccartney, Nick Willis and Liam Malone will spearhead a revamped Athletics New Zealand international series in February.
The three-legged series will comprise two CBD street events in Christchurch and Auckland, as well as the annual Auckland Track Challenge.
It will include, for the first time, an indoor pole vault competition staged at Britomart in downtown Auckland and headlined by Olympic bronze medallist Mccartney.
The New Zealand stars will be joined by several leading international competitors, headed by Rio Olympic men’s shot put gold medallist Ryan Crouser who will resume his rivalry with Walsh in a match-up that should be the highlight of the summer programme.
It is also hoped to lure leading American vaulters to challenge Mccartney in the pole vault, alongside rising young New Zealander Olivia Mctaggert who will get her first taste of elite international competiton.
The series will start on February 19 in Christchurch with the Big Shot and Fast K, comprising an international men’s shot put competition and a 1000m street race, both staged in the CBD.
The shot put event will see Walsh and fellow Kiwi Olympian
Jacko Gill joined by Crouser, American compatriot Ryan Whiting and top Aussie Damien Birkinhead, among others.
It is hoped to attract leading middle-distance runners from New Zealand and Australia for the street race.
The ‘‘Vertical Pursuit’’ will then be held at The Atrium in Auckland’s Britomart on Wednesday, February 22, with the top men’s and women’s pole vaulters showcasing their sport in a free public event indoors.
The ATC will complete the schedule on Sunday February 26 where the women’s pole vault and men’s shot put will again be feature events on a busy programme that will also include the ‘‘People’s Mile’’, an interactive public event supported by two-time Olympic 1500m medallist Nick Willis.