Sarah hopes for new role in sport

Sarah Cowley.

Sarah Cowley is looking to make the move from athletics to sports broadcasting in the coming year.

The Rotorua woman retired from athletics this year after competing for half her life.

Cowley represented New Zealand in the heptathlon at the 2012 London Olympics, and placed ninth in the high jump at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

"I realised that if I was going to continue with athletics, I'd really have to work towards Rio in 2016. An Olympic campaign requires total commitment, and I have a lot of other things going on, so that wasn't for me.

"I was ready to move on, my body needs a bit of rest and then I'll be looking for my next challenge."

Among those other things was her engagement last month. Cowley said that was the highlight of the year, followed closely by her brother's wedding in November and the Glasgow Games.

In the new year Cowley is looking to pick off the last four papers of her communications degree, working around her job at Asics, a former sponsor.

"I've been studying part time through Massey since about 2008. It's always great to have a backstop, especially now I've finished up with athletics. I'll pick [the remaining papers] up when I can, it'd be great to get it done next year but I'm not going to break my back struggling to fit them in."

Her big goal for the year is to land a job in sports broadcasting. Cowley already has some experience under her belt, having been a host on Feed the Backs for Sky Sports.

"I made some good contacts over my career, and I've done a bit of work for Sky Sport, but no broadcasting job yet. If anyone reading this was looking to make me an offer, I'd definitely be open."

As for her wedding, Cowley said it might be a while yet.

"We've had a lot of family events recently, so we're probably going to make it a long engagement."