It is essential for the National Athletics Championships to go ahead this summer, not just for those hoping to compete at the Olympics, but also for those at a provincial level.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
That's the view of Athletics New Zealand's High Performance Director Scott Goodman who is hoping to have at least a dozen athletes competing in Tokyo in July.
The nationals was to wrap up six weeks of competition which allowed New Zealand's top athletes to compete and either confirm their form or enhance their chances of Olympic selection.
This weekend's championships in Hastings were postponed because of the change in Covid alert levels on Sunday, but the national body is hoping to confirm new dates in the next couple of days.
"It's massive for us, there are a few athletes that if they want to hold their rankings they need to do well at the nationals," said Goodman
"They don't want their rankings to slide between now and the end of the qualifying period which is at the end of June."
The nationals are a World Athletics B category meeting which provides good bonus points and a good result can count towards their ranking at the end of the qualification period.
However for the sport in general, Goodman says it's important the championships are held.
"For the health of the sport, having our best athletes come together for what is a big celebration with athletes getting around catching up with each other and so I'm really hopeful that it will go ahead."
There are currently nine athletes and six para athletes that have qualified for the games.
High jumper Hamish Kerr and hammer thrower Julia Ratcliffe are very close to automatic qualifying standards and the nationals may have been their last chance to reach their targets.
However they are both high enough in their respective world rankings which should ensure them selection.
There are another three or four athletes who have an outside chance of making the games.
Jacko Gill and Tom Walsh Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Goodman expects most athletes will be able to make a rescheduled nationals, but concedes someone like shot-putter Jacko Gill, who has qualified for Tokyo may decide to give it a miss as he attempts to get over a few injury niggles.
"A lot of athletes aim to be at their best for a six to eight week window and we're now at the end of that window, so if you extend that window then fatigue and further big training periods increases the risk of injury, so a few of them will be cautious about that."
Goodman admits Olympic athletes would be able to cope without the national championships but says the issue is with those just below that level.
"There are a lot of athletes on the brink of making national teams and so it would be disappointing for them to miss out and for the sport, nationals are our biggest event and brings people together so its important that it goes ahead."
It is understood Athletics New Zealand will try and hold the event before the end of March.
Athletes to have so far qualified for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
Shot putters Tom Walsh, Jacko Gill, Dame Valerie Adams.
Camille Buscomb in the 5,000m and 10,000m.
Malcolm Hicks and Zane Robertson in the marathon.
Lauren Bruce in the hammer.
Quentin Rew 50k walk.
Sam Tanner in the 1500m.
