Beamish, Walsh, & McCartney Headline 13Strong NZ Team For World Indoor Championships

A trio of World Indoor medallists headline the 12strong New Zealand team named for the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland.

Reigning world indoor champion Tom Walsh is joined by historymaker Geordie Beamish, who recently became New Zealand’s firstever world champion on the track after winning the 3000m steeplechase at the 2025 World Athletics Championships.

Olympic medallist Eliza McCartney also returns to global indoor competition after collecting silver at the 2024 World Indoors in Glasgow. She heads to Poland in strong form, having won the New Zealand title with a 4.81m clearance, higher than the 4.80m that won her indoor silver last year.

Sprint star Zoe Hobbs is set for another tilt at the women’s 60m after an unforgettable 2024 World Indoors, where she twice broke the Oceania record and finished fourth in a blistering 7.06.

Tiaan Whelpton joins her in the 60m after another season of consistent progress, including equalling his NZ resident’s record over the 100m at the 2026 Sir Graeme Douglas International of 10.10s.

In the pole vault, Imogen Ayris completes the Kiwi duo and travels to Poland following a strong indoor campaign highlighted by a 4.76m personal best and consistent clearances at 4.70m.

Middledistance athlete Alison AndrewsPaul returns for her second World Indoors in the women’s 800m. She is joined by debutants Boh Ritchie (women’s 800m), James Harding (men’s 800m), and Thomas Cowan (men’s 800m). Harding and Cowan have traded the New Zealand indoor record this season, with Harding currently holding the mark at 1:46.44, set in February in Fayetteville, AR, USA.

The 400m squad features national record holder Lex RevellLewis and New Zealand indoor record holder Annalie Kalma, who further sharpened her form by lowering her indoor mark to 51.81 this season. The indoor 400m, with athletes merging to lane one after approximately 170 metres, is one of the most tactical and unpredictable events on the programme.

Thrower Tapenisa Havea rounds out the team, earning her senior championship debut in the women’s shot put. Competing for the University of Arizona, Havea previously finished fourth in the shot put and seventh in the discus at the 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships.

New Zealand’s depth in the women’s pole vault is underscored by Olivia McTaggart also achieving the automatic qualifying standard of 4.70m and a world top16 ranking. She has been named as a nontravelling reserve for Toruń.

New Zealand Team - 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships

Men

Tom Walsh Shot Put (Coach: Hayden Hall)

Geordie Beamish 3000m (Coach: Dathan Ritzenhein)

Tiaan Whelpton 60m (Coach: Angus Ross)

James Harding 800m (Coach: Jerry Schumacher)

Thomas Cowan 800m (Coach: Jon Molz)

Lex RevellLewis 400m (Coach: Nuree Greenhalgh)

Women

Zoe Hobbs 60m (Coach: James Mortimer)

Eliza McCartney Pole Vault (Coach: Scott Simpson)

Imogen Ayris Pole Vault (Coach: Scott Simpson)

Alison AndrewsPaul 800m (Coach: Brit Townsend)

Boh Ritchie 800m (Coach: Ryan Foster)

Annalies Kalma 400m (Coach: Shantel Twiggs)

Tapenisa Havea Shot Put (Coach: Lucais Mackay)

Reserve (Nontravelling)

Olivia McTaggart Pole Vault (Coach: Kate Rooney, Scott Simpson)

Event information

Dates: 20–22 March 2026

Location: KujawskoPomorska Arena, Toruń, Poland

Event: World Athletics Indoor Championships

How to follow

New Zealand fans can watch live and free on World Athletics+ from 20–22 March (free with account registration).

Notes:

The following athletes were eligible for selection but have elected to focus on preparations for the 2026 international season: Sam Ruthe, Sam Tanner, James Preston, Hamish Kerr, Maddi Wesche, Rosa Twyford and Jacko Gill.

A maximum of two athletes per country per event may be entered into the World Athletics Indoor Championships.

The World Indoor Championships are run on a “Short Track”, where the track is 200m in length with banked bends. The 60m and 60m Hurldes are held in the middle of the arena on the sprint straight.

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