Sir Graeme Douglas International Track Challenge

Shot Put and Women’s 800m expected to highlight the Sir Graeme Douglas International Track Challenge

World and Commonwealth shot put champion Tom Walsh will be out to replicate his New Zealand record throw at last year’s meeting when he competes at the Sir Graeme Douglas International meeting at Henderson on Thursday evening.

Throwing last year at the well laid out, spectator friendly, shot area at the Douglas Track and Field stadium Walsh was out to 22.67m, the ninth equal world all-time best.

Walsh will be up against his New Zealand rival Jacko Gill, Damien Birkinhead of Australia, Konrad Bukowiecki of Poland, as well as Ryan Ballantyne and Nick Palmer. At the recent New Zealand Championships in Christchurch Walsh won his tenth national shot put title with 21.70m, from Gill 20.71m and Bukowiecki 20.25m.

Katherine Camp following on from her inaugural national 800m title will be racing Angie Petty and Stella Pearless again over 800m. Camp and Petty will be looking for a fast clip from the start in their quest for a world championships qualifying time of 2:00.60.

Another looking to achieve a world championships qualifier will be Olivia McTaggart in the pole vault. At the national championships McTaggart went close on one of her attempts at the height of 4.56m. Eliza McCartney has pulled out of the meet as a precaution due to a niggling injury.

Edward Osei-Nktia who has set New Zealand junior records in the 100m and 200m and at 17 won the national senior 100m title will race the 100m against national 200m champion Jordan Bolland, Hamish Gill, Ethan Holman and national under 20 champion Tiaan Whelpton.

Georgia Hulls fresh from setting a national under 20 200m record and winning the senior 400m title will race the 100m against Livvy Wilson, Portia Bing, under 18 champion Sophie Williams, Natasha Eady and under 20 champion Leah Belfield.

Oliver Miller the first athlete in 122 years to win the national 400m and 400m hurdles titles in the same year is down to race the 400m flat along with Luke Mercieca and Josh Ledger.

Oli Chignell runner up in the 5000m championship and the national 10km road champion last year will race in the 5000m against Cameron Graves, Matthew Taylor and Jacob Priddey.

Sam Petty will be seeking a sub 1:50 time in the 800m where he is pitted against Michael Dawson, Max Spencer, Josh Nairne and Dominic Devlin who will be setting the pace.

Nick Southgate and James Steyn continue their rivalry in the pole vault from the nationals where Steyn won the senior title on a count back after both cleared 5.15m.

Josephine Reeves is posed to go even higher this season in the high jump. The 18 year old won the under 20 and senior titles in Christchurch clearing a fresh personal best of 1.84m in the senior championship. Also in the high jump are Keeley O’Hagan and Emma Sutherland.

National champion Maddison-Lee Wesche and runner up Torie Owers along with national under 20 and under 18 champion Kaia Tupu-South will compete in the shot put.

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