Walsh throws for hometown crowd

Christchurch’s International Track Meet (ITM) lands as the penultimate stop on Athletics New Zealand’s Summer Circuit this Saturday.

“It brings top Kiwi and international talent to the Garden City and promises another instalment of energetic, family-friendly track and field action,” says Athletics NZ.

“With Track Stars and the New Zealand Track and Field Championships now just two weeks away, athletes will be sharpening their final preparations across a stacked ITM programme.

“Leading New Zealand athletes headline the meet, including Tom Walsh, Nick Palmer, Anna Grimaldi, Lisa Adams, Tiaan Whelpton and more.”

The ITM hosts the New Zealand 3000m championships, with the men’s race bringing together a strong, startling line-up headlined by recent world cross-country representative William Little, who opens his domestic track season.

Little holds a 7:57.40 best time over the distance, from last year, where he claimed the bronze medal.

He’s joined by Ben Otis with an 8:09.25 best, and Toby Tasker, who enters off the back of a dominant victory over the 3000m steeplechase at the Porritt Classic in Hamilton.

Depth continues through the field with Liam Chesney, Darian Sorouri, Christopher Dryden, and Cameron Clark all lining up.

The women’s national title chase features another world cross-country representative in Tillie Hollyer, also making her season debut after running 9:22.77 last year.

The Reeves sisters, Tamara and Lahana, sit next in line based on recent form, while Rosa Twyford enters with a personal best off the pace on paper, but the form this season to see her right in contention for the top spot.

The throws spotlight returns to Christchurch with local favourite Tom Walsh, New Zealand’s number one all-time shot putter, headlining.

He’ll be joined by Nick Palmer, who crossed 20 metres again at the Porritt Classic last week and remains New Zealand’s third all-time athlete in the event.

The women’s 200m is one of the deepest fields of the meet, with national record-holder Rosie Elliott returning to where she rewrote the books in 2023.

The two-time world championships representative is making a low-key return to competition after an injury-hampered last season.

Brooke Somerfield, Briana Stephenson, and Mia De Jager all sit inside 23.90 seconds on season bests, with Stephenson arriving off a win at the Porritt Classic over Somerfield.

While Jordyn Blake, Samantha Lathwood, and Maddie Wilson add further sub‑25s capability.

Paralympic champion Grimaldi (T47) lines up with a 24.85s best time, and T53 athlete Sarah James races over 200m after representing New Zealand at the World Para Athletics Championships.

A world‑class Para throwing line-up features Adams, the world champion and world record-holder in her classification.

She’ll be joined by world Para medallist Holly Robinson and emerging thrower Lauren Blackmore, ensuring strong competition across multiple classifications.

National resident record-holder Whelpton headlines the men’s 100m dash, equalling his 10.10s best in Auckland two weeks ago.

The chase pack includes contenders Shay Veitch, Tommy Te Puni, and Lex Revell‑Lewis, all of whom have been consistently under 10.40s this season.

With conditions often delivering fast times at the ITM, this could be one of the meet’s standout races.

High jump momentum is strong this month, with Imogen Skelton arriving off a personal best 1.88m at Porritt and brushing close to the Commonwealth Games B‑standard qualification of 1.90m.

Maddie Wilson, who has cleared 1.87m, is her closest challenger, setting up a compelling head‑to‑head as both athletes look to build towards Track Stars and the nationals.

Australian visitor Taryn Gollshewsky (62.36m) leads the discus field, while New Zealand’s Tatiana Kaumoana continues her consistent season after a 57.59m best.

Rising thrower Melelosaline Lose adds excitement to the young talent building towards senior ranks.

Japanese athlete Yuto Adachi brings international quality with a 16.16m best, facing New Zealanders Matt Walsh and Ryan Young, both in the mid‑14m range and pushing for season breakthroughs.

The sprint hurdles see Japan’s Miho Suzuki enter as favourite with a 13.07s best, while Stephenson doubles back from the 200m with strong 100m hurdles form at 13.30s.

Fans can watch Canterbury’s pinnacle track and field meeting this Saturday at Nga Puna Wai from 1pm. Tickets are available online from internationaltrackmeet.co.nz.

• All of the action can be watched live on TVNZ+, live from 1.30pm.