Anna Grimaldi is one of 21 athletes named to the New Zealand Commonwealth Games track and field team. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH

Otago's Anna Grimaldi is among the 21 track and field athletes selected for the New Zealand team at next month's Commonwealth Games.

The squad includes Olympic high jump champion Hamish Kerr and four-time world indoor shot put champion Tom Walsh, who will be defending their titles in Glasgow.

Walsh is joined in the shot put by Jacko Gill, who picked up the silver medal at Birmingham four years ago, and Nick Palmer.

Meanwhile Grimaldi will compete at the Games for the first time, adding to her illustrious career in which she has won three gold medals at the Paralympics in the long jump and 200m.

Imogen Ayris makes her return to the Games as the reigning Commonwealth Games bronze medallist in the pole vault and has been in good form recording a personal best 4.81m in Finland earlier this month. She is joined in the event by three-time Olympian and 2018 Commonwealth Games silver medallist Eliza McCartney and Olivia McTaggart.

Steeplechase world champion Geordie Beamish headlines the Kiwi contingent on the track. Beamish has also been given permission to run the mile in Glasgow alongside Sam Tanner.

National 800m record holder James Preston has been selected having gone though a number of injuries since the 2024 Olympics.

Sprint star Zoe Hobbs leads the women's track programme fresh off of a Diamond League podium in Oslo and an 11.00s performance over 100m in Darwin at the Oceania Athletics Championships.

The Athletics programme takes place at Scotstoun Sports Campus from July 27 to August 1.

NZ Team - Athletics | Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games:

Max Attwell - Men's Decathlon

Imogen Ayris - Women's Pole Vault

Anthony Barmes - Men's Hammer Throw, mile

Geordie Beamish - Men's 3000m Steeplechase

Lauren Bruce - Women's Hammer Throw

Jacko Gill - Men's Shot Put

Anna Grimaldi - Women's 100m T47 (selected on 30 April)

Zoe Hobbs - Women's 100m

Hamish Kerr - Men's High Jump

Eliza McCartney - Women's Pole Vault

Olivia McTaggart - Women's Pole Vault

Tori Moorby - Women's Javelin

Ethan Olivier - Men's Triple Jump

Nick Palmer - Men's Shot Put

James Preston - Men's 800m

Nick Southgate - Men's Pole Vault

James Steyn - Men's Pole Vault

Briana Stephenson - Women's Heptathlon

Sam Tanner - Men's One Mile

Tom Walsh - Men's Shot Put

Maddie Wilson - Women's Heptathlon