METRONEWS
© New Zealand Broadcasting School 2024

by New Zealand Broadcasting School students

Christchurch set to host 100 year old athletics competition

Sport

Zion Dayal
Tom Walsh for article3
Tom Walsh throwing at The Big Shot Competition  Brooke Jenner

Tom Walsh has announced the New Zealand Track and Field Championships will be hosted in Christchurch at the new Nga Puna Wai Sports Hub.

Since the 2011 earthquakes, Christchurch hasn't had a home for athletics. 

The Nga Puna Wai Sports Hub is still in development with the track getting laid this week. The complex is due to finish in time for next summers meet.

World Champion shot putter Tom Walsh announced the event on Friday after taking out the Big Shot Competition in Christchurch. He said that it the national event will be hosted in Christchurch in 2019 and 2020 

"Its great, it has been a long time coming, but it is great that we are going to get a track, not only for the runners but also for the throwers and it is going to be great facilities at Nga Puna Wai," Tom Walsh said. 

 

 

36328120672 d39ee237ca o2
Tom Walsh Flickr

The National Athletics Championships will be the first major event to come to Nga Puna Wai Sports Hub in March 2019.

Athletics New Zealand Chief Executive Hamish Grey since the earthquake there hasn't been a home for athletics and there has been a lot of effort gone in to bring an athletics facility to Christchurch.

"You've got a local facility that people can not only compete at but train at, and the only all weather or the closest all weather surface since 2011 has been down in Timaru so that is a reasonable way away if you are starting the sport and wanting to get into it. Again it is just a brilliant opportunity to help develop the sport in the area and we are just delighted to play our part and bring a premium championship to the city," Grey said.