Alistair McMurran

Simone Maier (Wanaka) will defend her Goldrush title in Central Otago this weekend.

So close - Kurt Crosland (Neptune) was just a hair's breadth away from a trip to Barcelona.

Lima Sopoaga is back. He passed the test against a fiery Fijian Warriors team last night.

Kate Godfrey (Neptune) can pack her bags for Russia after winning the women's 200m individual medley in Auckland.

Fairfield took its unbeaten record in the triples to 12 games when it qualified for the New Zealand Pathways final in Dunedin yesterday.

The multi-talented Hanna English (Columba College) continued her dominance of the middle distance events at the Caledonian Ground on Saturday.

Adriana Mawhinney (Dunstan) is a talented athlete who has the potential to follow in the footsteps of her coach, Tania Murray.

Marching has been in Jan Hoad's blood since she took up the sport 56 years ago.

The New Zealand championships have a slightly fancier venue in their return to Dunedin this weekend.

Dunedin rowing administrator Sonya Walker will form part of a unique team on the world cup circuit this year.

The IAAF wants change and it will not be long before ''Joe Blow'' can compete in a world championship event alongside elite runners.

Coach Gennadiy Labara's hard training paid dividends for Andrew Trembath (St Clair), who was the dominant male competitor at Mount Maunganui last weekend.

It was Alexandra's day as the women's fours advanced to the New Zealand final. The four of Lyn Somerville, Carol Woods, Linley O'Callaghan and Imela Holdom remained unbeaten in the zone 6 finals of the Pathways competition at the Kaikorai green yesterday.

John McGlashan College middle-distance runner Oli Chignall is a fearless athlete who likes to run from the front.