Wairarapa athletes are poised to burst out of the starting blocks when the new season begins this weekend.
"We're getting under way at Newtown Park in Wellington with an under-distance event for runners," athletics coach Mark Harris said.
"We've got some new members who will be stepping up to the plate for
the first time and they're excited about getting started".
Athletes are casting their eyes skywards in the hope of better weather. "We've been confined to training indoors which is far from ideal for the middle-distance runners," Harris said.
It's early days for local athletes so the emphasis is very much on members building up towards the major events of the year.
However, sterner challenges loom.
"The national secondary schools champs in December, that's a major," Harris said. "Then there's the New Zealand champs next March. Those are the two peaks for the season."
Wairarapa sprinter Michael Wilson, 21, returned home with two medals from the recently held Oceania Games in Cairns where all competitors had to endure stifling heat.
He was part of the New Zealand sprinting team, runners-up to Fiji in the 4x100m relay. Wilson also took part in the mixed medley relay.
New Zealand's second placing earned Wilson his second silver medal and placed him among the top 10 sprinters in the country .
Matt Dallow, the Athletics New Zealand high-performance throwing development coach visited recently to work with John Quinn and his throwing athletes.
In particular Dallow was keen to check on the progress of Courtnay Fafeita with an eye towards the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Meanwhile, Harris is upbeat about the all-weather track fundraiser on Friday, October 29 at Solway Park.
"We've sold 20 tables already, that's 200 people. It's a great start" Harris said.
