Thirty-nine Otago athletes will line up at this year’s national track and field championships.
Many of New Zealand’s best will be in action at the meeting in Hamilton, which begins today. That group includes shot put rivals Tom Walsh and Jacko Gill, as well as pole vaulter Eliza McCartney.
The championships are split into under-18, under-20 and senior grades and Otago has 16 athletes entered in senior competitions.
Of those, javelin thrower Tori Peeters looks to be the safest medal hope. The two-time national champion lost her title last year through injury. However, a throw of 55.73m to break her own national record in February has given her the favourite tag. No-one else in the country has broken 50m this year.
She could yet be joined by fellow Otago thrower Laura Overton on the podium.
Overton’s throw of 45.54m ranks her fourth in the country and third among the championships’ entrants.
Paralympian Holly Robinson will compete in both the para and senior javelin events. Ranked sixth in the country, she could be an outside chance in the senior competition.
Todd Bates is a very good chance of a medal in the hammer throw, and is ranked third in the country.
His last two performances, at local quick fire meets, were below his best. However, he will be encouraged by having broken 53m at both the Otago championships and Porritt Classic last month.
That leaves him as one of only three athletes in the country to have thrown beyond 51m this year.On the track, Samuel Bremer looks to be the best bet of claiming a medal. The middle-distance runner has consistently delivered top performances at the country’s biggest meetings this season.
Coming off personal bests last month in the 800m and 1500m, he is a chance in both events.He will have his hands full in the 800m in a very competitive field, although he is the highest-ranked in what is also a tight 1500m field.
Fiona Centers and youngster Felix McDonald are outside chances in the 200m and long jump respectively.
McDonald is also entered in the under-20 high jump, long jump and 200m, and will be among the best in all three.
He is one of several medal chances in the age-grades, with the region boasting plenty of young talent.
Otago will also send six para-athletes, five of whom were part of last year’s successful Paralympic team in Rio last year.
Like Robinson, Rory McSweeney and Anna Grimaldi will compete in both para and able-bodied events. They are joined by Caitlin Dore, Jessica Hamill and William O’Neill.
The meet begins at 9.25am today, with the women’s under-18 javelin.
