Chew The F.A.T

Eliza McCartney leapt into our lives in 2016 with a brilliant Olympic bronze as a 19-year-old with a smile as wide as the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Two years later she soared to what is still the world's fifth highest women's vault of all time but there were warning signs of injury troubles which would ultimately cost her a trip to Tokyo & see her effectively start from scratch. Now a rebuilt & renewed athlete has ripped up the runway in 2023 already armed with a ticket to Budapest & beyond.

It may have been eight years since Josh Hawkins had set the New Zealand 110m Hurdles record in Brisbane but when he returned to the same venue in early April the signs were flashing neon that he was in the right shape to shave more from his own national mark. So it proved & now the eight times senior champion can look to the remainder of 2023 with optimism that even faster times are within his stride.

From Boston to Bathurst, the Wanamaker to Wellington, Tauranga terrier Sam Tanner has ripped into 2023 with the vigour you'd expect from New Zealand's leading middle distance man. With the national mile & 1500m titles locked away for the Summer, Tanner takes time out to Chew the Fat with one eye out the window on the tempting surf. At the tender age of 22 he already has Olympic, Commonwealth & World Championship experience that sets him up beautifully for a massive 18 months ahead.

Music to the ears of New Zealand Athletics fans are the performances of some of our finest young exponents of running, jumping & throwing. From Bell to Beamish, Kerr to Elliott & the Olivier brothers it has been an amazing month of rewritten records. Tony & Mark examine the breath-taking feats from our fastest feet in this Summer review of action both home & abroad as one of the most anticipated National Championships in years looms large on the Wellington horizon.

We are back for 2023 and we’re joined by big shot Tom Walsh. The Nice Guy of NZ Field & Track chats to us about what makes this Timaru tin thrower tick. He tells us how he went from being average at a lot of things, to a World Champion. His love of smoothies and dislike of broadcast microphones.