The Athletics New Zealand chief executive called the 21-strong athletics team named for the Commonwealth Games yesterday one of the strongest squads the sport has had for the pinnacle event.
‘‘From reigning world, Commonwealth and Olympic champions to athletes competing at their first Games, we have exceptional depth and real medal aspirations across multiple events,’’ Mitchell said.
‘‘Glasgow 2026 is going to be an outstanding Games for New Zealand athletics.’’
Olympic champion high jumper Hamish Kerr will be looking to defend his gold medal from Birmingham in 2022, and shot putters Tom Walsh and Jacko Gill will battle again for the podium.
Walsh, the most decorated male indoor athlete and four-time world indoor champion, won gold in Birmingham, while Gill claimed silver. They will be joined by rising Kiwi shot putter Nick Palmer.
Sprint sensation Zoe Hobbs leads the track contingent in the women’s 100m, fresh off a Diamond League podium and running 11sec at the Oceania championships.
She joins Dunedin Paralympian Anna Grimaldi, who was named last month for her first Games in the T47 100m.
New Zealand’s depth in the women’s pole vault will be on show again, with Olympians Eliza McCartney, Olivia McTaggart and Imogen Ayris all heading to Glasgow.
Ayris, who won bronze in Birmingham, is in career-best form after winning bronze at the world indoor championships and clearing 4.81m for the first time earlier this month.
Steeplechase world champion Geordie Beamish has been in electric form and will be looking to reach the podium after finishing fifth in Birmingham.
Beamish has also been given permission to start the men’s mile alongside two-time Olympian Sam Tanner, the first time the distance has been at the Games since 1966.
James Preston, who shattered Peter Snell’s 62-year-old national record in 2024, will race in the men’s 800m.
Olympians Tori Moorby and Lauren Bruce will line up in the women’s javelin and hammer throw and world under-20 triple jump champion Ethan Olivier makes his Games debut.
Anthony Barmes, James Steyn and Nick Southgate will compete in the men’s hammer throw and pole vault and Briana Stephenson and Maddie Wilson make their debuts in the women’s heptathlon.
Olympic shot putter Maddi Wesche, who won silver in Paris and bronze in Birmingham, and discus thrower Connor Bell have not been selected.
Teenager sensation Sam Ruthe ruled himself out of contention.
Athletics will be held at the Scotstoun Sports Campus from July 27 to August 1.
Commonwealth Games Athletics squad
Men’s shot put: Tom Walsh, Jacko Gill, Nick Palmer
Women’s pole vault: Imogen Ayris, Eliza McCartney, Olivia McTaggart
Men’s pole vault: Nick Southgate, James Steyn
Men’s high jump: Hamish Kerr
Men’s mile: Sam Tanner, Geordie Beamish
Men’s 3000m steeple chase: Geordie Beamish
Women’s 100m: Zoe Hobbs, Anna Grimaldi (T47)
Men’s 800m: James Preston
Men’s triple jump: Ethan Olivier
Men’s decathlon: Max Attwell
Men’s hammer throw: Anthony Barmes
Women’s hammer throw: Lauren Bruce
Women’s javelin: Tori Moorby
Women’s heptathlon: Maddie Wilson, Briana Stephenson
