Our local contenders

Erika Fairweather is ready for her Commonwealth Games debut. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

There are lots of athletes with Otago links at the Commonwealth Games. But we think we should technically claim only these 14. Hayden Meikle highlights our Birmingham hopes.

Erika Fairweather

Swimming

The oil: Stunned everyone by reaching the 400m freestyle final at the Tokyo Olympics. Will also swim the 200m and 100m in Birmingham.

Medal hopes: Solid. Fairweather forms a big three with Australian superstar Ariarne Titmus and rising Canadian Summer McIntosh.

Suzie Bates, Eden Carson and Hayley Jensen

Cricket

The oil: A legend, a rookie and a solid campaigner. The Otago trio are part of a White Ferns team that is dangerous on its day — but is also missing some big names who got cut.

Medal hopes: Tricky to predict, really. Bear in mind the Commonwealth Games feature basically all the best women’s cricket teams in the world. But we will be generous and go for bronze.

Ella Harris and Mikayla Harvey

Road cycling

The oil: Harris (Dunedin) and Harvey (Wanaka) have both done well on pro tours. Part of a massive New Zealand cycling team in Birmingham.

Medal hopes: Hopeful. Most Kiwi eyes will be on Niamh Fisher-Black, the world’s top-ranked young rider last year, and Gold Coast silver medallist Georgia Williams. But Harris and Harvey are super talents who will be keen to show they belong.

Kate Heffernan should make her full Silver Ferns debut in Birmingham. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

Kate Heffernan and Shannon Saunders

Netball

The oil: Part of a Silver Ferns team that simply must make amends for the disastrous showing four years ago. Saunders is an established veteran and Heffernan is the rising star.

Medal hopes: Very, very strong. The Silver Ferns are ranking second in the world (effectively the Commonwealth) and should make the final if they play at their best.

Kane Russell, Blair Tarrant and Hugo Inglis

Hockey

The oil: Part of the golden generation of Otago hockey. The vastly experienced trio can expect to see plenty of game time for the Black Sticks men.

Medal hopes: Solid. The Black Sticks are seeded third at the tournament, and while they have all-conquering Australia in their pool, they can make the semifinals by beating South Africa, Pakistan and Scotland.

Tessa Jopp

Hockey

The oil: The Maniototo farmer is as tough as they come, and has bounced back from the diagnosis of a heart condition that ruled her out of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Medal hopes: Very strong. The Black Sticks women are the defending champions, and having Australia in their pool means a repeat of the 2018 final is on the cards.

Omakau para-bowler Pam Walker, a good chance in the B6-B8 para women’s pairs. PHOTO: SHANNON THOMPSON

Pam Walker

Bowls

The oil: The Mosgiel-born, Omakau-based Walker has ankylosing spondylitis, a form of inflammatory arthritis. She makes her Commonwealth Games debut.

Medal hopes: Decent. Walker and partner Lynda Bennett form one of just five teams in the B6-B8 para women’s pairs.

Richie Rodger

Basketball

The oil: He plays for the Taranaki Airs now but Rodger is Dunedin-born and Kavanagh College-educated, so we claim him. He was a late replacement for Nuggets guard Nikau McCullough.

Medal hopes: Tricky to say, as 3x3 hoops makes its debut at the Commonwealth Games. Australia brings a classy roster, but New Zealand should compete well with everyone else.

Bowls

7.30pm: Men’s para B6-8 pairs, women’s singles (Katelyn Inch), men’s triples; 2am, women’s fours, men’s pairs.

Artistic gymnastics

8pm: Men’s floor, horizontal bar, individual, parallel bars, pommel horse, vault and rings qualification.

Hockey

8pm: Black Sticks women v Kenya.

Rugby

9.06pm: Black Ferns Sevens v Canada; 11.02pm, All Blacks Sevens v Sri Lanka; 6.14am, Black Ferns Sevens v Sri Lanka.

Track cycling

9.14pm: Women’s team pursuit qualifying; 9.55pm, men’s team pursuit qualifying; 11.16pm, men’s team sprint qualifying; from 3.41am, finals.

Swimming

9.47pm: Women’s 400m medley heats (Mya Rasmussen).

Triathlon

10.01pm: Men’s individual (Hayden Wilde, Dylan McCullough, Taylor Reid); 1.31am, women’s individual (Ainsley Thorpe, Andrea Hansen, Nicole van der Kaay).

Swimming

10.02pm: Women’s 200m freestyle (Erika Fairweather, Eve Thomas); 10.21pm, men’s 100m backstroke S9 (Jesse Reynolds, Joshua Willmer); 10.26pm, women’s 100m freestyle S9 (Sophie Pascoe, Tupou Neiufi); 10.32pm, men’s 50m butterfly (Cameron Gray); 10.59pm, men’s 100m backstroke (Andrew Jeffcoat); 11.15pm, women’s 100m butterfly (Hazel Vanessa Ouwehand, Helena Gasson); 6.15am, finals.