MIQ cloud over team for world indoor champs
MIQ requirements look set to heavily reduce the New Zealand team for athletics’ world indoor championships in Belgrade in March – with two-time shot put champion Tom Walsh the only certainty to pull on the black singlet for the event.
Athletics NZ’s acting high performance chief Scott Newman confirmed to the StarTimes that problems getting athletes back into New Zealand after the championships (March 18-20 in Belgrade) created major difficulties around selecting a team.
‘‘We haven’t firmed up what we’re going to do,’’ said Newman. ‘‘None of our people at this stage have got confirmed MIQ spots, and getting back is difficult. It’s really hard to send a team away if you don’t have MIQ, and we can’t afford to keep people offshore for an amount of time.’’
Newman said there was a ‘‘small allocation’’ of monthly spots through Sport NZ and athletics would enter that application process, though there were ‘‘no guarantees’’ of success there.
‘‘We’re subject to the same MIQ requirements as everyone else. At this stage the only one guaranteed to go is Tom Walsh. If there’s still quarantine in place he’ll go into the US and base himself there for the year, and won’t come back to New Zealand until post the European season.
‘‘He’s the only one who has the capacity to do that. We do have several other athletes who are interested in going, but unless we can get MIQ spots secured they won’t be able to go.’’
As well as Walsh, shot put exponents Jacko Gill, Dame Valerie Adams and rising young star Maddison-Lee Wesche (sixth at the Tokyo Olympics) have also qualified, and high jumper Hamish Kerr looks likely to receive an invite. US-based middle-distance athletes Geordie Beamish and Nick Willis are also potential attendees, and would not be subject to the same MIQ issues.
Newman said a decision would have to be made over the next couple of weeks, but was relaxed about the prospect of a bare-bones team lining up in Belgrade.
‘‘In a year where we’ve got world champs (July 15-24 in Eugene, Oregon) and then Commonwealth Games (July 28-August 8 in Birmingham), it’s not absolutely vital.’’
Walsh makes his domestic season debut at the Cooks Classic in Whanganui today, and will also line up in Friday’s Capital Classic in Wellington.
Newman said it was likely the team for the world championships and Commonwealth Games would be similar in makeup, with just a ‘‘few variations’’.
The opening of the domestic season in Hastings last weekend had produced some encouraging performances, headed by sprinters Zoe Hobbs and Tiaan Whelpton producing sizzling wind-assisted times and a PB from pole vaulter Olivia McTaggart. Nicole Bradley’s emergence in the women’s hammer also brings to three the Kiwi contingent out over the 70m mark.
One leading athlete unlikely to feature domestically this season is 2016 Olympic bronze medallist pole vaulter Eliza McCartney, with Newman confirming she was taking a measured approach to 2022.
‘‘She’s back training, but probably won’t compete this season. She basically missed two years of conditioning trying to qualify for the Olympics, and she just wants to spend a year being an athlete again. She wants to come back strong, with no injuries hanging over her, and take it slowly.’’
It’s understood McCartney’s condition is encouraging. She is pain-free after several years of Achilles tendon issues and in as good a condition as she has been in for a while. She is expected to resume training on the pole within the next month or two.