Jacko Gill at the National Championships Photo: PHOTOSPORT
24 athletes have been selected for this year's World Athletics Championships, although half of them will have to meet certain conditions to make Budapest in August.
Former world champion Tom Walsh heads the list that includes three shot putters and three pole vaulters.
Jacko Gill, who beat Walsh twice over the summer and Maddi Wesche are the other shot putters, while 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Eliza McCartney along with Olivia McTaggart and Imogen Ayris are the pole vaulters.
Of the 24 athletes named, 12 are required to meet additional performance conditions to confirm their selection by 30 July.
McCartney and McTaggart have both achieved the automatic entry standard of 4.71m, while Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Ayris still has to prove her form.
A revitalised McCartney is returning to her best after several years of injury struggle and the pole vault star is set to make her first World Championship appearance since appearing at the London edition six years ago. McTaggart (4.71m) and Ayris (4.51m) have both set PB's during an impressive 2023 campaign.
Walsh, the 2017 world champion and 2019 world bronze medallist, and two-time Olympic bronze medallist, is set for his fifth World Championship appearance in Budapest.
Gill is also poised for his fifth World Athletics Championships following his breakthrough 2023 campaign. The 28-year-old Aucklander claimed his first national senior title and posted a PB of 22.12m at the Sir Graeme Douglas International.
In the women's shot Maddi Wesche, will appear at her third World Athletics Championships in Budapest. The Commonwealth bronze medallist has happy memories of the 2022 World Athletics Championships after setting her current PB of 19.50m to place seventh in Eugene.
Eliza McCartney at the Brisbane Classic Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Also punching his ticket for Budapest is Commonwealth champion Hamish Kerr. The 26-year-old high jump star has enjoyed a stellar unbeaten 2023, adding 3cm to his national record of 2.34m in Slovakia and was crowned World indoor Tour final winner in Birmingham.
Sprinter Zoe Hobbs has been named for her third successive World Championship appearance. Hobbs has enjoyed an outstanding summer season twice lowering her Oceania 100m record - highlighted by a blistering 10.97 clocking in Sydney.
New Zealand champion and joint New Zealand resident record-holder, Tiaan Whelpton has also earned selection in the men's 100m providing he achieves additional performance conditions in the men's 100m. Further bolstering the New Zealand sprinting ranks in Budapest will be Georgia Hulls, who has been selected for her second World Championship appearance in the women's 200m.
Middle-distance runner Sam Tanner has also been selected for his second World Athletics Championships. Last August, the 22-year-old twice achieved the entry standard mark for the 1500m - highlighted by a top-quality 3:31.34 clocking at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Geordie Beamish, who set a New Zealand 3000m record of 7:36.22 in New York in February has earned his place in the men's 5000m.
Discus thrower Connor Bell has been rewarded for an excellent season in which he twice smashed the New Zealand senior men's discus record to earn his place for Budapest.
Meanwhile, 800m specialist James Preston has also secured a World Championship spot following an impressive unbeaten campaign over the two-lap distance.
Hamish Kerr said of his selection for the 2023 World Athletics Championships: "With preparations for the World Championships now in full swing, it's awesome to get the confirmation that I will be there in the Black Singlet representing the country with pride.
"I feel like I have a lot of unfinished business after not fulfilling what I felt I was capable of at my two previous World Championships. So with this in mind I'm motivated and excited to take on this new challenge, with a medal fully within my sights."
Zoe Hobbs Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Eliza McCartney said: "After such a long time away from international competition, I'm over the moon to be back competing and heading to my second World Athletics Championships.
"I spent the domestic season finding my rhythm competing again, and at times it felt like slow progress, so it was a relief to hit the entry standard before the season was out.
"I'm very much looking forward to competing on the international stage again."
Oceania hammer record-holder Lauren Bruce was delighted to be on the team and was fully focused on achieving the performance conditions set in order to fulfil her ambitions to compete in Budapest.
"I'm aware of the slightly different qualification path to what I've experienced before, but it's great to be named on the team," said Lauren. "With commitment to my own ambitions, meeting the outlined performance level to confirm selection is a crucial stepping stone. We're excited to see the work we've been doing through the past six to eight months come to fruition."
Athletics NZ High Performance Director and Team Leader for the 2023 World Athletics Championships Scott Newman said: "It's hard to recall a World Championships team with better depth and opportunity. Many athletes will have finals firmly in their sights and I'm expecting a surprise or two.
"A year out from the Paris Olympics it's a great opportunity for some of our emerging athletes, like Connor Bell and James Preston, to compete among the very best and test themselves."
New Zealand team for the 2023 World Athletics Championships
The below 12 athletes will be guaranteed a slot provided they remain high enough within the world rankings to fall inside the entry quota that World Athletics has set for each event.
Women
Georgia Hulls - 200m
Zoe Hobbs - 100m
Eliza McCartney - Pole Vault
Olivia McTaggart - Pole Vault
Maddi Wesche - Shot Put
Men
Geordie Beamish - 5000m
Connor Bell - Discus
Jacko Gill - Shot Put
Hamish Kerr - High Jump
James Preston - 800m
Sam Tanner - 1500m
Tom Walsh - Shot Put
The 12 athletes who have also been selected subject to achieving additional performance conditions as well as remaining high enough within the world rankings to fall inside the entry quota that World Athletics has set for each event.
Women
Imogen Ayris - Pole vault
Portia Bing - 400m hurdles
Lauren Bruce - Hammer
Rosie Elliott - 400m
Keeley O'Hagan - High Jump
Tori Peeters - Javelin
Men
Brad Mathas - 800m
Julian Oakley - 5000m
Ethan Olivier - Triple Jump
Welre Olivier - Triple Jump
Shay Veitch - Long Jump
Tiaan Whelpton - 100m
