Relay Races Rule at International Meet

Relay Races Rule at International Meet

New Zealand’s premier track and field event adds some new flavour to the teams aspect of athletics with the inclusion of high profile relay races at the International Track Meet, to be held in Christchurch on Feb 26th.

The international relay events will be the Men’s and Women’s 4x400m relays, featuring teams from Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia. The New Zealand teams will involve North Island vs South Island selections and promote the traditional inter-island rivalry. New Zealand has some very good, young 400m runners progressing through the grades including 3 of the team who were 3rd at the Youth Commonwealth Games in Pune, India in 2008 and are now all progressing to senior ranks.  Australia has a strong history in relay running, and are sending 2 male and 2 female teams from their high profile development squads. The New Caledonia team will be chasing a National Record.

 There is also the added incentive for the Kiwis in the race of the possibility of qualifying a New Zealand team for selection for the World Universities Games in China in August. Many of these athletes are now in tertiary education and eligible for these games – which are the second biggest multiple sports games behind the Olympics.

One of the major purposes of the International Track Meet is to develop local talent, and to provide a pathway through the sport for our budding stars of the future.  To achieve this, the international programme will also include a series of 4x100m relay races for boys and girls aged between 10 and 14,  as well as the ever popular Secondary Schools Mile Relays.  These were among the biggest crowd pleasers in 2009, and are back on the programme for 2011.

The meet will also include newly crowned Halberg Awards Sportswoman of the Year winner Valerie Adams, taking on all comers in the shot put, including the Delhi Commonwealth Games, Men’s shot put bronze medallist Dale Stevenson of Australia, and decathlon silver medallist from New Zealand, Brent Newdick. Also in the field will be the 2009 and 2010 winners, Jerram Huston & Tom Walsh, and 1996 Olympic Games representative for Samoa, Chris Mene.

For further International Track Meet information –  www.internationaltrackmeet.co.nz

Confirmed Athletes – www.internationaltrackmeet.co.nz/ITM/athletes/hall-of-fame-2

International Track Meet Programme – www.internationaltrackmeet.co.nz/ITM/programme-2

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