Sir Graeme Douglas International brings world class athletics to Auckland
The Sir Graeme Douglas International heads to Auckland as the next stop on the World Athletics Continental Tour and the Athletics New Zealand Summer Circuit, bringing together local and international athletes for a key meeting on the global calendar.
Athletes will take to the track and field at Trusts Arena with ranking points, qualification standards and early season momentum on the line. With the road to the 2026 Commonwealth Games, World Indoor Championships and World Under 20 Championships beginning to take shape, the meet provides an important opportunity for athletes to test themselves against strong competition.
The Continental Tour programme features New Zealand’s track and field stars across multiple disciplines. Olympic and World Indoor medallist Eliza McCartney returns to the runway in the women’s pole vault, while World Indoor Champion Tom Walsh steps into the shot put circle looking to continue his progress towards qualification. Training partner and Oceania champion Nick Palmer joins him following a series of strong performances across recent tour meets.
The women’s long jump shapes as one of the closest contests of the day, with multi event athlete Brianna Stephenson leading the field alongside Australia’s Tomysha Clark, separated by just one centimetre between their personal bests.
In the men’s javelin, Papua New Guinea national record holder Lakona Gerega arrives after repeatedly raising his own mark during 2025. He will face a strong group of New Zealand throwers, in Auckland
Sprint events will light up the track as New Zealand’s fastest race the clock. Tiaan Whelpton lines up in both the 60 metres and 100 metres, aiming to build on recent fast performances. Oceania’s fastest woman Zoe Hobbs will compete in the same events as she looks to secure World Indoor qualification, in the 60m. Recent fast performances have been unfortunately wind assisted, sprinters will be hoping for calmer tailwinds at Trusts Arena.
Cook Islands supporters will be watching national record holder Daniel Tolosa in the men’s sprints, alongside 2026 World Indoor representative Estelle Short in the women’s races.
The 400 metres brings together national record holder Lex Revell Lewis against international visitor Gustav Lundholm Nielsen of Denmark. In the women’s race, a trans-Tasman contest is set to unfold with New Zealand’s Camryn Smart and Jordyn Blake lining up against Australia’s Jasmin Guthrie, Marli Wilkinson and Ella Randazzo, all separated by less than a second in personal best times.
The mixed 4×100 metre relay will close the programme, with New Zealand teams looking to strengthen their position in the world rankings.
Para events form a key part of the meeting, in Auckland. World Para Athletics silver medallist Holly Robinson opens the field programme in the F46 shot put. Paralympian Will Steadman leads the men’s T36 100 metres alongside Jaxon Woolley and Joshua Tia. The Women’s para 100m will be the race to watch featuring strong matchup between 2024 Paralympic champion Anna Grimaldi and 2025 World champion Danielle Aitchison.
Fans can attend in person at Trusts Arena in Auckland, with free tickets available through the Athletics New Zealand website. The meeting will be broadcast on TVNZ+ within New Zealand, with international audiences able to follow live results via AthleticLive.
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