2026 New Zealand Track & Field Championships

Owairaka had a strong team of junior athletes representing Auckland at Nationals this weekend, across jumps, throws, sprints and distance events, with some outstanding performances, especially in the steeplechase and triple jump.

Timo Macdonald won his third national steeplechase title in the U18 2000m event, showing great form over the barriers and an impressive finish kick. He went on a couple of days later to run his second ever 3000m steeplechase - 1000m longer, higher steeple height and up an age category to u20 - and won that one too, with a new PB. Outstanding, Timo.

In the triple jump, Annah Bratton took the national U16 women's title with a season's best of 10.82, and Christiaan Findlay won the U16 men's event with a personal best jump of 11:38. Double triple, how good!

Full results - Owairaka athletes

Annah Bratton

• U16, 4x100m Relay, 51.72 🥉

• U16, High Jump, 1.54m 🥈

• U16, Long Jump, 5.18m

• U16, Triple Jump, 10.82m 🥇

  
  

Rory Davies

• U18, 400m, 51.86 (51.22 PB in heats)

• U18, 800m, 2:04.90 (2:03.87 in heats)

• U18 4x400m relay, 3:25.24 🥇

  
  

Etena Gibbons‑Vaiouga

• U16, Shot Put (5kg), 11.25m

  
  

Timo Macdonald

• U18, 300m Hurdles (33” / 0.838m), 43.17

• U18, 2000m Steeplechase (0.838m), 6:20.03 🥇

• U20, 3000m Steeplechase (0.914m), 10:01.24 🥇

  
  

Christiaan Findlay

• U16, Long Jump, 5.12m

• U16, Triple Jump, 11.38m 🥇

  
  

Benjamin Lui

• U16, 100m, 12.21

• U16, 200m, 25.02 (24.89 in heats)

• U16, 400m, 56.30

• U16, Long Jump, 5.21m

• U16, 4x100m Relay, 48.20 🥇

  
  

Harrison Skewes

• U16, 1500m, 4:19.61

• U16, 3000m, 9:10.38

Congratulations to you all on these big performances on a big stage - lots of PBs, and for many your first National Champs. The event is back in Auckland in 2027, so if you're reading this and feel inspired - could be you next year!

Thanks to all who came along and supported our athletes and the wider event - a great chance to see our Track Stars in action.

Being in Auckland brought a few other perks - some of those track stars using Lovelock for pre-event training. Those of you who spotted Sam Ruthe on the news on Thursday night may have recognised the track. And on Friday Marshall Hall brought a group of shotput heavyweights - Tom Walsh, Nathaniel Sulupo (Samoa), Liam Ngchok Wulf (Samoa), Nick Palmer (Canterbury) and Blessing Sefo (Auckland) - down to the track. They were impressed with the new throws facilities!

Photo credits: Marshall Hall, Josef Macdonald, Clint Bratton, @overthebarbyty, Athletics Auckland.