The nation’s best athletes will compete at the New Zealand Track and Field Championships, which will be held in Dunedin in March.
Among them will be discus thrower Zharna Beattie, who is eager to showcase her skills during the event.
Beattie, 22, began her athletics journey at age 5 and "fell in love" with discus at 11.
"I like being able to throw ... I just really enjoy it."
She has been training with coach Raylene Bates since then.
"I’ve got long levers, so that definitely helps for me. I’m quite tall, so long levers."
This allows her to generate a longer pull.
"You have to have a bit of power as well."
Beattie said she preferred throwing into the wind because it helped push the discus further.
"If you get the flight path and it is flat ... it will just go in the wind."
A side wind could push the discus off course, but a headwind was ideal for a discus thrower, she said.
Her training goal this year is to be in the top three for her category.
Coming into this season, she has been in "good form," so is hopeful of doing well.
Her target is reaching 50m with her throws.
"I have had some really good throws, we don’t measure our throws in training but you can just tell when they are really good.
"There is a certain spot in out in the field that you can tell is roughly 47, 48 metres."
Training has to fit around her full-time role as a physical education teacher.
"So I have been trying to balance it all."
Although her teaching role at present takes her to Balclutha, Beattie still considers Dunedin her home training ground.
The national championships have not been held in Dunedin since 2016, so Beattie is looking forward to the chance to compete locally.
"It will be good to be competing at home."
Details
2025 Jennian Homes New Zealand Track and Field Championships
March 6 to 9
Caledonian Ground
50 Logan Park Dr
Visit athletics.org.nz
