New Zealand will be represented by a team of 55 athletes at the 17th World Masters Athletic Championships to be held in Italy from 4-15 September. The championships, held every two years has attracted 9000 entrants from 90 countries to take part in a full track and field programme and 8km cross country, marathon and 10km road walk. The city of Riccione on the Adriatic coast of Italy will be hosting this major competition where three athletic tracks will be utilised to cater for the track and field programme alone.

The New Zealand masters athletes recorded some fine results at the championships held two years ago in Spain and a number of those athletes will be returning to endeavour to achieve honours in their age groups. Among them will be Dawn Cumming (Hawkes Bay) who has a fine history in the women�s 2000m steeple chase where she is currently the title holder in the W70 grade. Eric de Latour (B of P) competes in the M85 grade and he hold national titles from 800m to 10,000m and in 2005 he won the gold medal in the 800m and 10000m and silver in the 5000m. Margaret Peters (Auckland) won gold medals in the 100m and 200m and will be looking to retain her titles from two years ago when she races in Riccione. Others likely to be in top contention in their age grades include Colin Earwaker (Waikato/Bof P), Alan Galbraith (Auckland) Graeme Lear (Hawkes Bay/Gisborne) Sue Waru (Waikato/BoP) and Christine Carleton (Hawkes Bay/Gisborne).

The team management comprises:
Jim Tobin Team Manager
Malcolm Clark Assistant Manager stadia
Trevor Ashe Assistant Manager, non stadia
Helen Tobin Media Officer.