The Commonwealth Games have long been called the Friendly Games, and Glasgow has taken that name to heart. When the event faced cancellation for the first time since the Second World War. Glasgow stepped in and delivered. What normally takes six years of planning was pulled together in barely two. The result is a leaner, financially responsible Games: ten sports across four venues inside an eight-mile corridor, much of it built on the legacy of the city’s 2014 Games. It stands as a blueprint for how the Commonwealth Games can build into the future.
Into that setting comes a New Zealand athletics team with depth. Track and field is one contingent within the wider New Zealand team named for Glasgow, but it carries some of the country’s biggest names, with world, Commonwealth, Paralympic and Olympic medallists among them. The programme runs at Scotstoun Sports Campus from 27 July to 1 August.
On the track, Geordie Beamish leads the way. The reigning steeplechase world champion, who ran down Olympic king Soufiane El Bakkali in the closing strides in Tokyo last year for New Zealand’s first world title in a men’s track event, lines up in the 3000m steeplechase. He lines up against some quality performers, with Simon Kiprop Koech of Kenya the number 1 seed with a sub-8-minute best.
He has also been cleared to double in the mile, a distance back on the Commonwealth programme for the first time since 1966.
He won’t have the mile to himself. Two-time Olympian Sam Tanner takes it on too, putting two Kiwis in the field. Tanner hits the track fresh off a quality win in Belgium at the Night of Athletics in Heusden.
Zoe Hobbs is one of two Kiwi women competing on the track, arriving fresh off a 100m Diamond League podium in Oslo and an 11.00 at the Oceania Championships. Hobbs has the podium firmly in her sights with a strong run of performances to back up her medal ambitions. Hobbs came close to a global medal on her last outing in Glasgow, finishing in 4th in the women’s 60m at the World Indoor Championships. Hobbs has been progressed straight to the semi-finals as one of the top-ranked athletes in the field, and will not need to compete in round 1.
In the para sprints, Paralympic champion Anna Grimaldi contests the Women’s 100m T45-T47. Grimaldi has had a strong start to her international season, lining up in her second-ever Diamond League in London, earning the bronze medal in the women’s para ambulant mixed classification.
Ethan Olivier makes his Commonwealth Games debut in the triple jump, arriving as the reigning World Under-20 champion.
The women’s pole vault is one of the deepest groups New Zealand has taken to a major Games. Imogen Ayris returns as defending Commonwealth bronze medallist, fresh off world indoor bronze in Toruń and a 4.81m personal best in Finland. She is joined by three-time Olympian, 2018 Commonwealth silver medallist, and national record holder Eliza McCartney. Completing the women’s pole vault trio is Olivia McTaggart, a Diamond League winner in London last year, having already cleared 4.71m in competition this year. Nick Southgate and James Steyn round out the vaulting in the men’s competition.
Among the throwers, Tom Walsh defends his shot put title. Four-time world indoor champion and seven-time world indoor medallist, the most of any man in the event’s history, he is joined by Nick Palmer, who makes his Games debut after his world championships debut in 2025. Palmer has thrown over 21m this year for the first time.
Unfortunately, there won’t be a Kiwi trio in the shot circle, as Jacko Gill has withdrawn from the Games with an injury. Reigning Commonwealth high jump champion Hamish Kerr has also withdrawn from the Games. Kerr is tracking well in his return to competition following some time off, but the timing hasn’t aligned for him to compete at his best in Glasgow.
James Preston brings his 800m to Scotstoun. In 2024 he erased Sir Peter Snell’s national record, a mark that had stood for 62 years. Preston has built strong form throughout his international season since winning the NZ 800m title in 2026.
Tori Moorby carries the national javelin record to Glasgow. Lauren Bruce, a five-time national hammer champion, leads the women’s hammer, with Anthony Barmes contesting the men’s in his Commonwealth Games debut.
The multi-eventers close the team out. Briana Stephenson and Maddie Wilson take on the heptathlon’s two days and seven disciplines. Max Attwell completes the multis contingent, competing in the men’s decathlon.
Athletics runs 27 July – 1 August at Scotstoun Sports Campus in Glasgow.
Kiwis can watch live at home on Sky Sport, with free-to-air coverage on Three and Three Now.