The New Zealand Olympic Committee has announced a 15-strong athletics squad to travel to the Paris Games in July.
The group will try to keep the momentum going from their success at the world indoor championships at Glasgow last month, where the team finished third on the medal table with two golds and two silvers.
One of those golds came from high jumper Hamish Kerr, who will earn his second Olympics appearance, after his national record performance in Scotland, with his sights set on becoming the first Kiwi to win an Olympics medal in the event.
Pole vaulter Eliza McCartney also makes her return to the Olympic stage, after missing out on Tokyo 2020 due to an ongoing series of injuries.
Buoyed by her silver medal at Glasgow, McCartney says her selection is "incredibly special", after a challenging run with health issues.
"It's hard to put into words what this means to me, after the rollercoaster ride of the last four years," said McCartney. "I started this Olympic campaign knowing full well I may never go to the Olympics again, so to have reached this point is incredibly special and a huge honour."
McCartney will be joined on the New Zealand team by Olympic debutants Olivia McTaggart and Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Imogen Ayris, subject to the pair meeting performance conditions.
Both Tom Walsh and Jacko Gill have been called up for third successive Olympic appearance in the men's shot put. Christchurch-based Walsh, the current Commonwealth champion, hunts history, as he bids to become the first Kiwi man to land athletics medals at three straight Olympics, after snaring bronze at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
Gill, the Commonwealth silver medallist, will seek to better his ninth-place finish at each of the past two Olympic Games. Last month, he claimed his best finish at a global senior championship, with fifth at the indoor world champs.
They'll be joined by Maddi Wesche, who will make her second Olympics appearance.
On the track, sprinter Zoe Hobbs will become the first Kiwi to be selected for the women's 100m since 1976.
The Aucklander - who last year became the first Oceania woman to run a sub-11s 100m - will try to become the first NZ sprinter to qualify for the 100m final, since Sir Arthur Porritt won men’s 100m bronze at the 1924 Paris Games.
"It's so exciting," said Hobbs. "I've had the dream of going to the Olympics since I was a little kid, I've been doing sports since the age of five and it's something I've always wanted to achieve.
"It's a real privilege, it's been a number of years since we've had a woman compete in the 100m for New Zealand and I'm really looking forward to it."
Fresh off his gold medal triumph at Glasgow, George Beamish has been called up to make his Olympic debut in the men's 300m steeplechase, becoming the first Kiwi steeplechaser at an Olympic Games for 40 years.
Papamoa-based Sam Tanner, the New Zealand all-time No.2 for the 1500m and mile, has earned selection in the men’s 1500m at a second successive Olympic Games, while Camille French has booked her ticket for Paris in the marathon.
Among the throwers, Connor Bell (men’s discus), Tori Peeters (women’s javelin) and Lauren Bruce (women’s hammer, subject to additional conditions) have all earned berths at Paris.
The squad is rounded out by 18-year-old Ethan Olivier, who will be the first Kiwi triple jumper to compete at an Olympics since Dave Norris at Rome 1960.
"We are a proud nation when it comes to athletics, and we have a really rich Olympic history in track and field," said NZOC chief executive Nicki Nicol. "It's great to be adding to that history today and we look forward to seeing these athletes compete in around 100 days' time."
The athletics will be contested in Paris from July 27-August 5 at Stade de France.
