Strong NZ team for World Indoor Champships
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 3 hours ago
A 13-strong New Zealand team has been named for the 2026 World Indoor Athletics Championships in Kujawy Pomorze, Poland, 20-22 March.
The team is made up of reigning world indoor champion Tom Walsh as well as Geordie Beamish, who recently became New Zealand’s first‑ever world champion on the track after winning the 3000m steeplechase at the 2025 World Championships.
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Olympic medallist Eliza McCartney also returns to global indoor competition after collecting silver at the 2024 World Indoors in Glasgow. She recently won the New Zealand title with a 4.81m clearance, higher than the 4.80m that won her indoor silver last year.
Sprint star Zoe Hobbs is set for another go at the women’s 60m after an unforgettable 2024 World Indoors, where she twice broke the Oceania record and finished fourth in a blistering 7.06.
Tiaan Whelpton joins her in the 60m after another season of consistent progress, including equalling his NZ resident’s record over the 100m at the 2026 Sir Graeme Douglas International of 10.10s.
In the pole vault, Imogen Ayris has had a strong indoor campaign highlighted by a 4.76m personal best and consistent clearances at 4.70m.
Middle‑distance athlete Alison Andrews‑Paul returns for her second World Indoors in the women’s 800m. She is joined by debutants Boh Ritchie (women’s 800m),
James Harding (men’s 800m), and Thomas Cowan (men’s 800m). Harding and Cowan have traded the New Zealand indoor record this season, with Harding currently holding the mark at 1:46.44, set in February in Fayetteville, AR, USA.
The 400m squad features national record holder Lex Revell‑Lewis and New Zealand indoor record holder Annalies Kalma, who further sharpened her form by lowering her indoor mark to 51.81 this season. The indoor 400m, with athletes merging to lane one after approximately 170 metres, is one of the most tactical and unpredictable events on the programme.
Thrower Tapenisa Havea rounds out the team, earning her senior championship debut in the women’s shot put. Competing for the University of Arizona, Havea previously finished fourth in the shot put and seventh in the discus at the 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships.
New Zealand’s depth in the women’s pole vault is underscored by Olivia McTaggart also achieving the automatic qualifying standard of 4.70m. She has been named as a non‑travelling reserve for Toruń.
New Zealand Team – 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships
Men
Tom Walsh Shot Put (Coach: Hayden Hall)
Geordie Beamish 3000m (Coach: Dathan Ritzenhein)
Tiaan Whelpton 60m (Coach: Angus Ross)
James Harding 800m (Coach: Jerry Schumacher)
Thomas Cowan 800m (Coach: Jon Molz)
Lex Revell‑Lewis 400m (Coach: Nuree Greenhalgh)
Women
Zoe Hobbs 60m (Coach: James Mortimer)
Eliza McCartney Pole Vault (Coach: Scott Simpson)
Imogen Ayris Pole Vault (Coach: Scott Simpson)
Alison Andrews‑Paul 800m (Coach: Brit Townsend)
Boh Ritchie 800m (Coach: Ryan Foster)
Annalies Kalma 400m (Coach: Shantel Twiggs)
Tapenisa Havea Shot Put (Coach: Lucais Mackay)
Reserve (Non‑travelling)
Olivia McTaggart Pole Vault (Coach: Kate Rooney, Scott Simpson)
Dates: 20–22 March 2026
Location: Kujawsko‑Pomorska Arena, Toruń, Poland
Event: World Athletics Indoor Championships
