Athletics New Zealand is pleased to announce the selection of 157 athletes for the 2026 Oceania Area Championships to be held in Darwin, Australia. This is the largest team Athletics New Zealand has ever selected, featuring athletes competing across U18, Senior and Para categories.

The championships will be held at Arafura Stadium, Darwin, Australia, from the 18th to the 23rd of May 2026. The area championships are held every two years and provide crucial global rankings points for senior athletes and valuable international competition experience for our emerging athletes.

Leading the team is a strong contingent of experienced international athletes. Four global Para medallists headline the 22-strong group of Para athletes. World champion and world record holder, Danielle Aitchison, lines up for her favoured sprint double over the 100m and 200m. World Champion Lisa Adams and global medallist, Holly Robinson, are both set to throw in the women’s Para shot put. Robinson has also been selected to compete in the open women’s shot put, alongside her Para event.

“We’re really proud to have a 22-strong group of Para athletes heading to the Oceania Championships. The mix of experience in this team shows the depth of our Para pathways, and it’s exciting to see our next generation coming through alongside seasoned international campaigners. It’s a special opportunity for our emerging athletes to learn from leaders in our programme like Holly Robinson, Lisa Adams, and Danielle Aitchison.

It’s also a significant moment for the eight Para athletes who will be seeking international classification in Darwin. This is an important step in their journey toward future international representation and competition.”

Raylene Bates – Athletics NZ Para Lead

Lisa Adams at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships / Photo: Michael Thomas for Athletics NZ

New Zealand’s senior group heading to the Oceania Championships is headlined by a wealth of international experience. Sprint star Zoe Hobbs, the fastest woman in Oceania and the first from the region to break 11 seconds for 100m, arrives off a string of major championship appearances, and having just secured her 10th national 100m title.

In the throws, national javelin record holder Tori Moorby adds real firepower, having represented New Zealand at both the 2024 Olympics and the 2025 World Championships and delivering multiple Diamond League podiums across recent seasons. She’s joined in the throws arena by Lauren Bruce, who’s back in top form in 2026. Bruce has been knocking off multiple 70m+ throws this season already; she’ll be looking to extend that mark in Darwin.

Lauren Bruce throws at the 2024 Oceania Athletics Championships \ Photo: Casey Sims for OAA

In the shot put circle, Jacko Gill brings deep global experience as a multiple‑time World Championships finalist and Olympic top‑eight performer. Rising alongside him is Nick Palmer, who made his senior World Championships debut in 2025.

Nick Palmer throws at the 2024 Oceania Athletics Championships \ Photo: Casey Sims for OAA

On the track, middle‑distance specialist Sam Tanner remains one of New Zealand’s most consistent performers, lining up in the 1500m at the Oceania Champs for the first time since Mackay in 2022. Fellow middle-distance runner Brad Mathas adds further experience as a multiple‑time national champion and the 2022 Oceania 800m champion.

Completing the senior contingent is triple jump star Ethan Olivier, New Zealand’s national record holder and the 2024 World U20 champion, who made his Olympic debut in Paris and has continued to impress on the Diamond League circuit and at the 2025 World Championships.

The New Zealand contingent is also made up of a strong under-18 contingent, for some of whom it will be their first taste of international competition. With the World Athletics Under 20 Championships set to take place in September, the Oceania Athletics Championships will be a crucial stepping stone for some standout athletes towards competing in Eugene.

Connor Brady stands out as one of the most versatile performers in the age group, lining up in the shot put, discus, 110m hurdles and javelin. Joining him on the track is Rianco Haggard, who takes on the short and long hurdles double of the 400m hurdles and the 110m hurdles

On the women’s side, the throws are bolstered by Fernanda Tirado and Paige Fletcher, a pair of emerging talents contesting both the shot put and hammer throw. In the jumps, Casey Day adds real excitement with her long jump and triple jump double, while Abby O’Boyle takes on a middle-distance double, competing in the 2000m steeplechase alongside the 800m. Rounding out the group is Phoebe Laker, who shows her sprinting range in the 200m and 400m. With dozens of other U18 athletes fast rising through the athletics ranks, this group reflects the depth in the U18 ranks and the growing diversity of talent across the event groups.

How to follow the 2026 Oceania Athletics Championships
You can follow along live via the Oceania Athletics livestream; availability, times and sessions are being confirmed currently.
Live results, start lists, and final programme will be available closer to the competition.
View more event information here.

If a selected athlete withdraws after today’s selection, Athletics New Zealand will endeavour to select a replacement athlete. This will be at the discretion of the Athletics New Zealand selectors for the 2026 Oceania Athletics Championships.

The New Zealand Team for the 2026 Oceania Athletics Championships

Senior Women

AthleteClubEvent/sHolly Robinson(Athletics Taieri)Shot PutChristina Ryan(South Canterbury Amateur Athletics Club)Shot Put, Long JumpTori Moorby(Hamilton City Hawks Athletics)JavelinRebecca Bailey(Mana Amateur Athletic Club)JavelinMillah Burge(Te Aroha Athletics Club)JavelinLauren Bruce(South Canterbury Amateur Athletics Club)HammerLexi Maples(Wanganui Club)HammerElizabeth Hewitt(Mana Amateur Athletic Club)HammerTatiana Kaumoana(Te Aroha Athletics Club)DiscusZharna Beattie(Athletics Taieri)DiscusMelelosaline Lose(Hamilton City Hawks Athletics)DiscusImogen Skelton(Wellington Harrier Athletic Club)High JumpTayler Trow(Palmerston North Athletic & Harrier Club)High Jump, 400m HurdlesHannah Hickson(Hamilton City Hawks Athletics)High JumpAnna Fraser(Mana Amateur Athletic Club)Triple JumpLara Hockly(Athletics Hawera)Triple JumpHannah Collins(Christchurch Old Boys United Athletic Club)Triple JumpMariah Ririnui(Papamoa Athletic Club)Long JumpHannah Sandilands(Christchurch Old Boys United Athletic Club)Long JumpShannon Gearey(Hastings Athletic Club )400m HurdlesHolly Gray(Christchurch Old Boys United Athletic Club)400m HurdlesCeline Pearn(Waitakere City Athletic Club)100 HurdlesGrace Blanchette(Athletics Tauranga)100 HurdlesJulia Burnham(Christchurch Old Boys United Athletic Club)100 HurdlesAnnabel Richardson(Auckland City Athletic Club)5000mBridie Restieaux(Whippets Running Project)5000mMairi Law(Christchurch Avon Athletic Club)3000m SteeplechaseEva Pringle(Whippets Running Project)3000m Steeplechase, 5000mCaitlin Kirk(Hastings Harrier Club United 1993)3000m SteeplechaseCaitlyn Marx(Auckland City Athletic Club)1500mScarlett Robb(Auckland City Athletic Club)1500mStella Pearless(North Harbour Bays Athletics)800mHolly Rule(Waitakere City Athletic Club)800m, 400mMadeleine Waddell(Hamilton City Hawks Athletics)400m Jordyn Blake(North Harbour Bays Athletics)400m Brooke Somerfield(Athletics Tauranga)200m, 100mSamantha Lathwood(Takapuna Amateur Athletic and Harrier)200mKendra Scally(Waitakere City Athletic Club)200m, 100mZoe Hobbs(Waitakere City Athletic Club)100m

Senior Men

AthleteClubEvent/sAlex Wood(Christchurch Old Boys United Athletic Club)JavelinAntonie Smal(Pakuranga Athletic Club)JavelinAri Keshariya(Awatea Athletics)High JumpAri Bennett(Ashhurst Athletic and Harrier Club)5000m WalkAustin Mcdougall(Hastings Athletic Club )DiscusBen  Bidois(Hamilton City Hawks Athletics)1500mBlessing Sefo(Waitakere City Athletic Club)Shot PutBrad Mathas(Wanganui Club)800mBradley Bidois(Hamilton City Hawks Athletics)JavelinConnor Gilliland(Athletics Invercargill)110m HurdlesEthan Olivier(Pakuranga Athletic Club)Triple JumpFelix McDonald(Athletics Taieri)Long JumpFlynn Johnston(Wanganui Club)400m HurdlesHayato Yoneto(Aspiring Athletics Club)100mHugo Jones(Wellington Harrier Athletic Club)High JumpHunter Scott(Christchurch Old Boys United Athletic Club)400mJacko Gill(Takapuna Amateur Athletic and Harrier)Shot PutJacob Ridder(Port Hills Athletic Club)800mJake Lomas(Athletics Tauranga)1500mJames Hansen(Marlborough Athletics)400m HurdlesJared Monk(Whippets Running Project)3000m SteeplechaseJoseph Dunn(Papakura Athletic and Harrier Club)110m HurdlesJosh Hawkins(Auckland City Athletic Club)110m HurdlesKadin Taylor(Waitakere City Athletic Club)200mKahurangi Cotterill(Waitakere City Athletic Club)400mKosta Mills(Athletics Wairarapa)800mLex Revell-Lewis(Waitakere City Athletic Club)400mManaia Christiansen(Lake City Athletic Club)DiscusMatt Walsh(North Harbour Bays Athletics)Triple JumpNick Palmer(Hastings Athletic Club )ShotNoah Retford(Pakuranga Athletic Club)400m HurdlesRafe Couillault(Papakura Athletic and Harrier Club)High JumpSam Tanner(Athletics Tauranga)1500mSamuel Rickerby(Auckland City Athletic Club)3000m SteeplechaseShay Veitch(Ariki (Dunedin) Amateur Athletic and Harrier Club)Long JumpThomas Richards(Christchurch Avon Athletic Club)5000mTiaan Whelpton(Christchurch Old Boys United Athletic Club)100mToby O Rorke(Egmont Athletics)5000m WalkToby Tasker(Whippets Running Project)3000m Steeplechase, 5000mTommy Te Puni(North Harbour Bays Athletics)200mWelre Ernst Olivier(Pakuranga Athletic Club)Long JumpWilliam Little(Whippets Running Project)5000mZhan Bowden(North Harbour Bays Athletics)Triple Jump

Men’s & Women’s Para

AthleteClubEvent/sLisa Adams F37Lake City Athletic ClubShot PutMitchell Joynt T64Riverhead Athletics Club100m, 200m, 400mHolly Robinson F46Athletics TaieriShot PutDanielle Aitchison T36Hamilton City Hawks Athletics100m, 200mPaddy Walsh T64Riverhead Athletics Club100m, Long JumpDaniel Kits T37Te Awamutu Athletic Club400m, 800m, 1500mCarlie Scherp F42Athletics InvercargillDiscusKate Danaher T37North Harbour Bays Athletics100m, 200mTupou Neiufi F37Waitakere City Athletic ClubShot PutLauren Blackmore F46South Canterbury Amateur Athletics ClubDiscus, Shot Put, JavelinFinn Tregurtha-Nairn T38South Canterbury Amateur Athletics Club100m, 200m, 400m, Long JumpZack Lappin F37Christchurch Old Boys United Athletic ClubDiscus, JavelinTamahae Wirepa T37Gisborne Athletic Club100m, 200m, Long JumpZachary Orbell T35Pakuranga Athletic Club100m, 200mJaxon Woolley T38Athletics Tauranga100m, 400mAmy Ellis T13Egmont Athletics100m, 200mJack Adams F46Gisborne Athletic ClubShot Put, Javelin, DiscusJosh Chisholm F40Athletics TaieriShot PutDaniel Meyer F37Athletics WhangareiDiscusSionann Murphy F37Takapuna Amateur Athletic and HarrierShot Put, DiscusCharli Gardiner-Hall T37Waiuku Athletics ClubShot Put, DiscusSasha AL-Dazhani T38Egmont Athletics100m, 200m, 400m

Under 18 Women

AthleteClubEvent/sFernanda TiradoNorth Harbour Bays AthleticsShot Put, HammerPaige FletcherPapakura Athletic and Harrier ClubShot Put, HammerHannah McmanusAuckland City Athletic ClubJavelin, 800m, 1500mZoe MuirWyndham Amateur Athletic ClubJavelin, DiscusAnna SchmidtHastings Athletic Club HammerGemma SmithPapakura Athletic and Harrier ClubHigh Jump, 400m HurdlesJordan ViljoenPakuranga Athletic ClubHigh Jump, 100m HurdlesOlivia Norris-SpringPalmerston North Athletic & Harrier ClubHigh JumpJessica LathwoodTakapuna Amateur Athletic and HarrierTriple Jump, 100m HurdlesElla MearParaparaumu Track and Field ClubTriple JumpCasey DayLake City Athletic ClubTriple Jump, Long JumpEden MoyleAuckland City Athletic ClubLong Jump, 400m, 200m, 100mZaylee DavisWaimate Athletic ClubLong JumpAlysa BrownSelwyn Athletic Club5000m Race WalkAnnabelle GrantPapanui Toc H Athletic Club5000m Race WalkEmkhe JoubertTTT Runners100m Hurdles, 400m HurdlesMia ThomsonKapiti Running and Tri Club3000mPaige DobsonNapier Harrier Club3000m, 1500mAllegra ClarkeGlen Eden Athletic and Harrier Club3000mAbby O’BoyleSt Paul’s Harrier and Amateur Athletic Club2000 Steeplechase, 800mAmy ThomsonOratia Running2000m SteeplechaseMolly BremnerNorth Harbour Bays Athletics2000m SteeplechaseGreta HunterAuckland City Athletic Club1500mEsme ReidAuckland City Athletic Club400m Emma VerryPalmerston North Athletic & Harrier Club800mMadison EarleyWaitakere City Athletic Club200m, 100mSadye KawauHill City – University Athletic Club100mPhoebe LakerAspiring Athletics Club400m, 200m

Under 18 Men

AthleteClubEvent/sAlex RossUpper Hutt Athletic ClubJavelinAlex WalkerHill City – University Athletic Club400m Alex MacbethOlympic Harrier & Athletic Club1500m, 800mBarnaby ToddPapanui Toc H Athletic Club400m Bradley KershawAthletics Richmond200mConnor BradyTakapuna Amateur Athletic and HarrierShot Put, Discus,
110m Hurdles, JavelinConor SharkeyUpper Hutt Athletic ClubHammerDaequan SuAuckland City Athletic ClubLong Jump, 110 HurdlesDominic DubeLake City Athletic Club100m, 200mFinn BirchLynndale Amateur Athletic & Harrier Club3000m, 2000m SteeplechaseFrazer HazeldineLake City Athletic ClubShot Put, DiscusGeorge GainsfordChristchurch Boys High Athletic ClubHammerKingston RyanLake City Athletic Club1500m, 800mKonrad FurndorflerAwatea AthleticsHigh Jump, Long Jump, Triple JumpLeo de MonchyChristchurch Avon Athletic Club3000mMonty FairbrotherWairarapa Track and FieldTriple JumpOllie AndersonAuckland City Athletic Club100mReiley ThomasWanganui ClubLong Jump, 100m, 200mRianco HaggardPakuranga Athletic Club400m Hurdles, 110 HurdlesRonin DickensAthletics Tauranga1500m, 800mSam MooreChristchurch Avon Athletic Club2000m SteeplechaseToby OrrPhoenix Athletic ClubHammer, DiscusVaughan MurrayHamilton City Hawks Athletics3000mWilliam EvansAthletics TaieriJavelin

Team Support, Coaches, & Management

NameTeam RoleTim DriesenTeam ManagementTessa HuntTeam ManagementVanessa HodgeTeam ManagementKirsty HallidayTeam ManagementLou JohnsonLead PhysioJen TouzelPhysioOliver LowPhysioNatalie ParlanePhysioEd LeungPhysioRaylene BatesPara Team ManagerChris KnightPara Support & All Round CoachJohn EdenCoach – ThrowsKim MickleCoach – ThrowsMarshall HallCoach – ThrowsJenni DryburghCoach – Jumps & SprintsHelena DinnissenCoach – Jumps & SprintsBrent BookerCoach – Jumps & SprintsVanessa HodgeCoach – Sprints & DistanceRosie RobinsonCoach – WalksDamian Adrian BlockiCoach – Distance