NZ Track and Field Champs Returns to Christchurch

Christchurch’s Ngā Puna Wai is hosting the 2019 Jennian Homes New Zealand Track & Field Championships on March 8-10.

This is the first national athletics event to take place at the new facility post the Christchurch earthquake, and will see Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth medallists, including Tom Walsh and Eliza McCartney, competing alongside a host of the country’s top athletes and emerging talent.

Athletics New Zealand Chief Executive Pete Pfitzinger said he is excited the Jennian Homes New Zealand Track & Field Championships will be returning to Christchurch, where Track & Field has been without a permanent home in recent years since the earthquake.

“Hosting our annual championships at Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub, the new home of Athletics in Canterbury, is a milestone we want to celebrate alongside the Christchurch community,” said Pete. “There is an incredible line-up of athletes competing over all three days of the competition and New Zealand titles and records will be on the line.”

Entry to the event is free on opening day (Friday 08 March) thanks to ChristchurchNZ and weekend ticket packages (Saturday 09 and Sunday 10 March) are available to purchase from Eventbrite.co.nz.

Loren Heaphy, General Manager – Destination & Attraction, ChristchurchNZ, said: “We are so excited to be able to have an event like this back in our city, and to share it with the Ōtautahi Christchurch community. We’ve come a long way in the last eight years, and Ngā Puna Wai is a place we should all be proud of.”

“We welcome our country’s top track and field athletes to Ngā Puna Wai and with support from ChristchurchNZ entry on the Friday 08 March is free of charge, and we encourage everyone to head down to this amazing facility to see the competition live.”

Jennian Homes Sales & Franchise Director Aidan Jury said they were delighted to partner with Athletics New Zealand on the event and will be offering a unique opportunity for the public to try the new track out for themselves.

“On day three we will be hosting the Jennian Homes People’s Mile. Spectators aged seven or older can register to run a mile on the same track as New Zealand’s best athletes. Get your running shoes on and experience the new Ngā Puna Wai track!”

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