A 20-strong squad was today named to represent New Zealand at the sixth world youth athletics championships in Sodtirol, Italy, in July.
Four athletes - Ryan Tinkle, Tom Walsh, Leesa Lealaisalanoa and Julia Ratcliffe - have set New Zealand age group records this season.
Tinkle (Wellington) will contest the hammer throw and discus, Walsh (Timaru) is in the shot put and discus, Lealaisalanoa of Wellington will compete in the discus and Ratcliffe (Hamilton) in the hammer.
Esther Keown (Auckland), selected in the 1500m, won the world secondary schools cross country title in April last year in the Czech Republic.
The team, comprising athletes aged 16 and 17, is double the size of the New Zealand squad at the last world junior athletics championships in the Czech Republic two years ago.
The team is:
Men: Nathan Barrett (Wellington) 1500m; Daniel Fake (Hawera) high jump; Nick Gerrard (North Shore) high jump; James Hutchens (Wellington) long jump; Todd Johnston (Otago) medley relay; Alex Jordan (Nelson) 200m, 400m, medley relay; Joseph Millar (Tauranga) 100m, medley relay; Ryan Tinkle (Wellington) hammer throw, discus throw; Thomas Walsh (Timaru) shot put, discus throw; Frazer Wickes (North Shore) 400m, medley relay.
Women: Tamara Anstis (Manukau) high jump; Kerry Charlesworth (North Shore) pole vault; Esther Keown (Auckland) 1500m; Leesa Lealaisalanoa (Wellington) discus throw; Laura Nagel (Napier) 1500m; Julia Ratcliffe (Hamilton) hammer throw; Mariah Ririnui (Tauranga) long jump; Anna Roche (Wellington) 800m; Emma Sutherland (Napier) high jump; Philippa Symes (Wanganui) 100m, 100m hurdles.
NZPA