Athletics: Track scrutiny after Harman injury

Kodi Harman (right) on his way to winning the national 100m title at the New Zealand Track and Field Championships in Wellington on March

The worn out Tauranga Domain all-weather athletics track could be the cause of Kodi Harman's knee injury.

Papamoa's national 100m sprint titleholder and world class beach sprinter has pulled out of the 2015 Sanyo Cup surf lifesaving event in Japan next month due to a mysterious knee injury.

Harman, 21, trains at the Domain along with fellow Papamoa flyer Joseph Millar and admits the substandard track is a factor in his injury.

Kodi Harman

"I went for a MRI scan and they couldn't find anything but I am having problems just behind my knee," Harman said.

"Obviously the Tauranga track is not the ideal training track at the moment and is a bit hard but I think it is a combination of a few things. It could be overtraining, the track surface and maybe not enough recovery for myself.

"It is stopping me from running at full speed and I can't get through full sessions at the moment. It is frustrating because I can't say exactly what it is."

The Papamoa Surf Life Saving star recently marked his best-ever national championship performance, collecting four gold medals. His haul included the under-19 beach flags title and the rare under-19 and open beach sprint double.

New Zealand team coach Jason Pocock said: "It's disappointing that Kodi won't be able to compete in Japan.

"He doesn't want to let the rest of the NZ selection team down. But it's important for him to focus on his long-term career and make sure he gives his leg time to heal properly."

Harman has also been named in the New Zealand Youth Team to compete at the International Surf Rescue Challenge in Australia in September.

But despite this he says his major passion and priority lies on the track rather than the sand.

"To be honest I will probably start moving away from beach sprinting next season. I just feel I want to practise more on the track," Harman said. "My highest goals are to excel on the track and be the next best sprinter that New Zealand's got. I really hope I can do it so that means I will start easing out of the beach sprinting side of things."

The Sanyo Bussan International Lifesaving Cup is on Aoshima Beach, Miyazaki, Japan from July 19 to 20. Max Beattie (Omanu) and Ben Johnston (Papamoa) are in the team, with Jake Hurley (Mairangi Bay Surf Life Saving Club) replacing Harman.