An exciting team of 11 athletes has been selected for the Commonwealth Youth Games athletics in Nassau, Bahamas in July.
The team will feature a number of New Zealand’s talented youngsters, including distance runners Hannah O’Connor and Katrina Robinson and throwers Connor Bell and Nick Palmer.
Hurdler / jumper Kayla Goodwin is the only athlete in the team with prior international experience, representing New Zealand last year at the Polynesian Under 18 Championships in Tahiti.
Distance athletes Nicholas Moulai and Isaiah Priddey are both named in the team after some great battles this season.
Throwers Tatiana Kaumoana and Mellata Tatola have also been named in their first NZ team, along with high jumper Imogen Skelton.
The team features three athletes from each of Auckland and Waikato and one athlete from each of Canterbury, Taranaki, Hawkes Bay, Wellington and one based in Australia.
Athletes aged 16 or 17 on 31 December 2017 were eligible for selection in the multi-sport team.
Tim Driesen (Team Leader) and Mike Ritchie (Coach) have been appointed to support the team.
Members of other sports will be named later this week.
Athletics team members:
Connor Bell Auckland Discus
Kayla Goodwin Hamilton Long Jump, 100m H
James Guthrie-Croft Auckland 100m, 200m
Tatiana Kaumoana Te Aroha Discus
Nicholas Moulai Christchurch 1500m, 3000m
Hannah O’Connor Taranaki 1500m, 3000m
Nick Palmer Hawke’s Bay Shot
Isaiah Priddey Hamilton 1500m, 3000m
Katrina Robinson Australia based 1500m, 3000m
Imogen Skelton Wellington High Jump , 800m
Mellata Tatola Auckland Shot, Discus
End
Athletics New Zealand @AthleticsNZ
Main photo: Nick Palmer winning the NZ U18 Shot Put title at the NZ Track & Field Championships in Hamilton. Credit Alan McDonald Macspeedfoto.
