Update: Georgia Hulls has been elevated to the selected team from the wider squad, following the withdrawal of Jorja Gibbons. The original article continues below.
Athletics New Zealand is proud to announce the selection of a nine-athlete team for the 2026 World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana.
A new chapter in New Zealand Athletics is written as the team makes history as the first New Zealand team to compete at these championships. The team will contest the mixed 4x100m relay, an event making its second appearance at this year’s World Athletics Relays. The event runs a fixed format of man, woman, man, woman.
The selected team comprises Zoe Hobbs, Tiaan Whelpton, Brooke Somerfield, Lex Revell-Lewis, Jorja Gibbons and Hayato Yoneto. They’re supported by a travelling squad of Georgia Hulls, Shay Veitch, and Samantha Lathwood.
World Athletics regulations permit six athletes to be entered into the relay, with the competing team of four to be determined in the build-up to the championships.
New Zealand secured their qualification mark on the 4th April at Mt Smart Stadium when Tiaan Whelpton, Brooke Somerfield, Lex Revell-Lewis and Zoe Hobbs ran 41.30, landing equal 11th on the World Athletics rankings and booking their place at the 8th edition of the championships.
Zoe Hobbs, Oceania’s fastest woman and the holder of both the New Zealand and Oceania 100m records, headlines the team. Hobbs is fresh off her third World Athletics Indoor Championships campaign, where she finished 10th in the world. An excited Hobbs brings the firepower on the final leg, and deep international campaign experience.
“It’s an exciting opportunity to be part of this team heading to Gaborone. I had a lot of fun being involved over the weekend with the last push to secure the mixed teams’ place in the rankings. I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can do, having wrapped up 11th equal after the close of the weekend. I know I’ve got room to improve too — especially with a bit more exchange practice and refining my take-off distance with leg 3 for the receive.” Said Hobbs.
“It’s also really special to see a few of the team earn their first black singlet. Especially Brooke, someone I’ve grown up alongside in the sport and seeing her reach this senior milestone, along with Hayato, Shay, and Jorja, Georgia and Samantha.”
Alongside Hobbs, Brooke Somerfield is set to make her NZ senior team debut after representing New Zealand at a slew of junior teams over her career. Somerfield arrives in superb form after claiming the 2026 New Zealand 200m title and taking silver in the 100m.
Somerfield was thrilled to confirm her spot in the team, “I’m incredibly proud to be named in my first senior major team, it’s a huge milestone in my career. I’m excited for the opportunity and looking forward to being a part of a really competitive relay squad”
Rising talent Jorja Gibbons also earns a spot on her first senior team as the 20-year-old celebrates her birthday today with this selection.
On the men’s side, Tiaan Whelpton, the New Zealand Residents 100m record holder, and Lex Revell-Lewis, who holds the New Zealand 400m record, give the team a combination of raw speed and international experience. Both men are in record-breaking form, with Lex recently breaking his own 400m mark, and Whelpton equalling his 10.10s best this season. Hayato Yoneto completes the men’s trio, having lined up for New Zealand previously at the Oceania Athletics Championships in 2024.
The travelling squad adds further firepower. Georgia Hulls, who sits second on the New Zealand all-time 200m list and is a two-time world championships representative and Shay Veitch, who sits second on the New Zealand all-time long jump list. Samantha Lathwood completes the wider travelling squad as the youngest member of the team with a silver medal in the NZ 200m championships behind Somerfield to her name.
“This is a great step forward for our sport. The fact that this initiative has been self‑driven and self‑funded speaks volumes about the commitment of the athletes and coaches involved. We’re proud to support it and excited to see what this team can achieve.” Athletics New Zealand Chief Executive, Cam Mitchell.
The team will travel to Potchefstroom, South Africa, for a pre-camp ahead of the World Athletics Relays before heading up to Gararone, Botswana, for the championships.
The team will compete in the mixed 4x100m heats on the 2nd of May and either the B-final or the championships final on the 3rd of May, pending successful progressions. The top 12 teams, comprised of the 8 finalists and the top 4 in the B-final, will earn qualification to the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing, China.
The Team for the 2026 World Athletics Relays
Women:
Zoe Hobbs (Coach: James Mortimer / Matt Dallow)
Brooke Somerfield (Coach: Gary Henley-Smith)
Jorja Gibbons (Coach: Megan Gibbons)
Men:
Tiaan Whelpton (Coach: Angus Ross)
Lex Revell-Lewis (Coach: Nuree Greenhalgh)
Hayato Yoneto (Coach: Joe Hunter)
Travelling Squad Members:
Georgia Hulls (Coach: Andrew Iselin)
Shay Veitch (Coach: Michael Beable / Angus Ross)
Samantha Lathwood (Coach: Nuree Greenhalgh)
Management
Sonia Waddell – Team Lead
Rob Waddell – Team Management
Samantha Celliers – Team Physio