There is a saying that slow and steady wins the race. However these athletes show that being fitter and faster is better, especially if you want to win races and medals. This team is prepared to put themselves on the line and push through prior-thought limits in training. They are successful through their consistent discipline, determination and devotion. This includes many hours, days, weeks and months of training. Remember their names as they are all going to achieve great things in the future. Meet the elite racing team for 2024.
Sophie Atkinson is New Zealand’s 800 metre Queen. She started her running career in Year 9 and 10 by competing in park runs, cross country and xterra forest runs. She has since gradated as a fearless front runner who is dominating the 400m and 800m lists.
Louay Benaoum may only be 14 years old but has already achieved an 85% park run age grading. This means he is an elite National Class level athlete.
Introducing Joel Bickers, a runner who embodies dedication, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of growth. He is a true athlete who understands that the race is won long before the starting gun fires.
Ali is a proud member of the Waitakere Athletics club. He started focusing on Athletics at age 7 after placing 3rd at his school cross country event.
Meet the captain of New Zealand's number 1 ranked and gold medal winning U20 road relay team. Kayo started running when she was 4 years old and has since competed and been a very fast and valued member of the Auckland City Athletics. Club
Greta Hunter is moving up the ranks and her fast times indicate she will be challenging all those with the goal of becoming a championship title holder. With a current 1500m time of 4m44 and a devastating finishing kick, Greta can really put all other competitors on notice. If you want to win a race this is the girl you have to beat.
James Marsh has been training with Graeme since 2021, and in that time has won the Coatesville Classic, the Auckland Half Marathon Classic Series, come 2nd in the Auckland Half Marathon Championships, won the Devonport Half Marathon and in 2023 won the Albany Lakes 10km.
Alicia is New Zealand orienteering's short course sprint superstar. Her medal haul and her NZ team accomplishments would require several chapters of a book to document.
Hannah is a talented and seriously fast athlete who has been consistently winning medals since she won 800m gold at the North Island Colgate Games at age 12. She is also very versatile with an ability to excel in various event disciplines, including victories in the Auckland Champs 3000 metres, the Night of Fives 2000 metres and gold medals in NZ Championships u16 Javelin and 300m hurdles events.
Athletics fans know the name Scarlett Robb. She has won multiple NZ Championships, represented New Zealand 3 times in track and cross country, and is the 2024 Oceania 3000m champion. She is an all-round remarkable athlete, committed to excellence both in sports and academics. In her first two races of the 2024/2025 track season Scarlett ran a solo 4m26s for 1500m on a cold and windy October evening at Mt Smart. She then followed it up two weeks later with a super fast 9m40s time for 3000m.
Sophie is a multiple New Zealand gold medalist over a number of distances. Her 5km time is faster than yours. Such domination of Auckland and New Zealand distance and road racing is not surprising given her extremely fast 3km time of 10m11 and 5km time of 17m37.
Amy is one of the toughest athletes to beat. She has won numerous school and Auckland titles and gained gold and silver medals in North Island Championships. At the NZ Championships she has always managed to progress through the three demanding rounds of 800m heats and finished an impressive fourth in the most recent 2023 final.
Remember this name as Emma Ward, is a rising star. Despite training for less than five months, Emma left an indelible mark on the 2023 NZ Schools Junior Championship Road Race where she clinched a prestigious bronze medal in her debut NZ Championship performance. Her first 3000m race of the 2024/2025 season was a solo 9m59s on a cold and windy evening in October at Mt Smart. That time immediately lifted her to number 4 in the NZ Rankings list for 2024.
Indie Williams is a remarkable athlete known for her passion and success in leading and winning races. She is the undisputed 2024 U16 Cross Country Champion. In October 2024 on a cold and windy Mt Smart evening she opened the summer track season with a new PB of 4m34 over 1500m.
Quinn is moving up the placings with every race. He was the Kings School Cross Country Champion but he has also accumulated a wide range of very good times during the last track season.
From Year 9 Aimee MacKenzie progressed with faster times and rankings. She won the 2018 u20 mile championships and the 2020 Auckland 5000m Championships.
While at school Kimberley May was a multi medalist at Auckland, North Island and New Zealand Athletics Championships. As a result of her outstanding performances, Kim gained a full athletic scholarship to study at the prestigious private USA university Providence College.
Penelope Salmon is New Zealand's superstar orienteer who also runs track and cross country extremely fast.
Lucy Shennan has represented New Zealand at a number of Oceania and Australian Championship meetings.
Lise travelled from France to New Zealand and although she was only part of the team for a season, she certainly made an impact.
