NZ confirms for Australian Nitro Athletics Series

Eliza Mccartney celebrates winning bronze at the Rio Olympics. Photo / Getty Images

In the Trans-Tasman rivalry at the Rio Olympic Games, New Zealand came out on top of Australia on the athletics medal table. Kiwis walked away from Rio with four medals (one silver, three bronze) while the Aussies managed to snatch two medals (one silver, one bronze).

The traditional rivalry is set to flare up once again at the inaugural Nitro Athletics Melbourne where the New Zealand Nitro Athletics Team will look to challenge Australias traditional dominance and take the battle to teams from England, China, Japan and the Bolt All Stars in the Australian athletics capital at Lakeside Stadium for three nights in February.

Nitro Athletics Melbourne will be staged on Saturday 4th and Thursday 9th, with a final on Saturday 11th February.

New Zealand athletes are no strangers to competing against their Trans-Tasman rivals, making regular forays chasing competition, qualifying marks and medals at their events, so the Nitro Series will renew old rivalries and create some new ones.

Athletics New Zealand Chief Executive Linda Hamersley said, "We are excited to be a part of this new concept in athletics, bringing a team-based aspect to the sport. We think that Nitro Athletics will be a success and provide a very entertaining product for the sporting public."

Nitro spokesman and 2006 Commonwealth Games 400m gold medallist John Steffensen said it was great to welcome New Zealand to the Nitro Athletics Melbourne start line.

"Nitro Athletics is about the team and team battles and just like Australia and England, there are no bigger rivals than Australia and New Zealand when it comes to sporting competitions."

"New Zealand had the better of Australia in Rio where they produced some spectacular results, so we are looking forward to them bringing that game to the Nitro Athletics stage next February," Steffensen said.

About Nitro Athletics

A high energy, team-based competition, Nitro Athletics will see the stars of Australian and international athletics compete across three nights of blockbuster entertainment at Melbournes Lakeside Stadium in February 2017.

Nitro Athletics Melbourne will feature six teams of 24 athletes (12 women and 12 men) and the worlds greatest athlete, Usain Bolt, will compete and captain the Bolt All-Stars in the new sports entertainment series set to revolutionise global track and field.

Nitro Athletics Melbourne will be staged on Saturday 4 and Thursday 9, with a final on Saturday 11 February. Night one and the final of Nitro Athletics Melbourne will feature the same program with the Thursday night program offering a selection of alternative events.

New Zealand Nitro Athletics Team

The process to select a New Zealand team will begin shortly , and the team management will be appointed soon. In the meantime, for queries regarding the New Zealand team, please contact teams@athletics.org.nz

Fans can engage with Nitro Athletics via the events social channels:

Twitter: @Nitro_Aths | Facebook: NitroAthletics | Instagram: Nitro_Aths

- This story has been automatically published using a media release from Athletics New Zealand