157 Athletes Named on NZ Team for the 2026 Oceania Athletics Championships

Team Update: The following athletes were selected to the NZ team for the 2026 Oceania Area Championships after the initial selection announcement.

Senior Women
Caitlin Shepperson – Hammer
Cleo Loader – Long Jump
Jetta McKenzie – 100 Hurdles
Krystal Clark – 800m
Ruby Jones – Discus
Samantha Korck – 800m

Senior Men
Asher Robertson – 400mH 
Bohdi Trevor-Smith – Discus
Hector O’Rourke – Discus
Justin Menezes – 400mH
Ryan Young – Triple Jump
Rylan Noome – 100m
Toby Gualter – 5000m

U18 Women
Sina-Maria Su’a – Shot Put Discus

U18 Men
Ethan Mora – 3000m

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Athletics New Zealand is pleased to announce the selection of 157 athletes for the 2026 Oceania Area Championships to be held in Darwin, Australia. This is the largest team Athletics New Zealand has ever selected, featuring athletes competing across U18, Senior and Para categories.

The championships will be held at Arafura Stadium, Darwin, Australia, from the 18th to the 23rd of May 2026. The area championships are held every two years and provide crucial global rankings points for senior athletes and valuable international competition experience for our emerging athletes.

Leading the team is a strong contingent of experienced international athletes. Four global Para medallists headline the 22-strong group of Para athletes. World champion and world record holder, Danielle Aitchison, lines up for her favoured sprint double over the 100m and 200m. World Champion Lisa Adams and global medallist, Holly Robinson, are both set to throw in the women’s Para shot put. Robinson has also been selected to compete in the open women’s shot put, alongside her Para event.

“We’re really proud to have a 22-strong group of Para athletes heading to the Oceania Championships. The mix of experience in this team shows the depth of our Para pathways, and it’s exciting to see our next generation coming through alongside seasoned international campaigners. It’s a special opportunity for our emerging athletes to learn from leaders in our programme like Holly Robinson, Lisa Adams, and Danielle Aitchison.

It’s also a significant moment for the eight Para athletes who will be seeking international classification in Darwin. This is an important step in their journey toward future international representation and competition.”

Raylene Bates – Athletics NZ Para Lead

New Zealand’s senior group heading to the Oceania Championships is headlined by a wealth of international experience. Sprint star Zoe Hobbs, the fastest woman in Oceania and the first from the region to break 11 seconds for 100m, arrives off a string of major championship appearances, and having just secured her 10th national 100m title.

In the throws, national javelin record holder Tori Moorby adds real firepower, having represented New Zealand at both the 2024 Olympics and the 2025 World Championships and delivering multiple Diamond League podiums across recent seasons. She’s joined in the throws arena by Lauren Bruce, who’s back in top form in 2026. Bruce has been knocking off multiple 70m+ throws this season already; she’ll be looking to extend that mark in Darwin.

In the shot put circle, Jacko Gill brings deep global experience as a multiple‑time World Championships finalist and Olympic top‑eight performer. Rising alongside him is Nick Palmer, who made his senior World Championships debut in 2025.

On the track, middle‑distance specialist Sam Tanner remains one of New Zealand’s most consistent performers, lining up in the 1500m at the Oceania Champs for the first time since Mackay in 2022. Fellow middle-distance runner Brad Mathas adds further experience as a multiple‑time national champion and the 2022 Oceania 800m champion.

Completing the senior contingent is triple jump star Ethan Olivier, New Zealand’s national record holder and the 2024 World U20 champion, who made his Olympic debut in Paris and has continued to impress on the Diamond League circuit and at the 2025 World Championships.

The New Zealand contingent is also made up of a strong under-18 contingent, for some of whom it will be their first taste of international competition. With the World Athletics Under 20 Championships set to take place in September, the Oceania Athletics Championships will be a crucial stepping stone for some standout athletes towards competing in Eugene.

Connor Brady stands out as one of the most versatile performers in the age group, lining up in the shot put, discus, 110m hurdles and javelin. Joining him on the track is Rianco Haggard, who takes on the short and long hurdles double of the 400m hurdles and the 110m hurdles

On the women’s side, the throws are bolstered by Fernanda Tirado and Paige Fletcher, a pair of emerging talents contesting both the shot put and hammer throw. In the jumps, Casey Day adds real excitement with her long jump and triple jump double, while Abby O’Boyle takes on a middle-distance double, competing in the 2000m steeplechase alongside the 800m. Rounding out the group is Phoebe Laker, who shows her sprinting range in the 200m and 400m. With dozens of other U18 athletes fast rising through the athletics ranks, this group reflects the depth in the U18 ranks and the growing diversity of talent across the event groups.

How to follow the 2026 Oceania Athletics Championships
You can follow along live via the Oceania Athletics livestream; availability, times and sessions are being confirmed currently.
Live results, start lists, and final programme will be available closer to the competition.
View more event information here.

If a selected athlete withdraws after today’s selection, Athletics New Zealand will endeavour to select a replacement athlete. This will be at the discretion of the Athletics New Zealand selectors for the 2026 Oceania Athletics Championships.

The New Zealand Team for the 2026 Oceania Athletics Championships

Senior Women

Senior Men

Men’s & Women’s Para

Under 18 Women

Under 18 Men

Team Support, Coaches, & Management