Toby O’Rorke selected for World Champs

Will Johnston

Selection in the New Zealand team for the 2024 World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships was an early Christmas present for Toby O’Rorke.

The 17-year-old Francis Douglas Memorial College student is one of five athletes selected by Athletics New Zealand for the championships held in Antalya, Turkey in April.

O’Rorke won a gold medal in the under-20 men’s national 5000m track race walk and will represent the Egmont Athletics Club. He’s coached by former New Zealand race walking representative Rozie Robinson, who will serve as team leader, and Rodney Gillum.

Alongside O’Rorke in the team is national under-20 10km race walk champion Jonah Cropp, 18.

At the 50th New Zealand Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships last weekend in Christchurch, he came second in the 3000m race walk behind Cropp by over one minute. 

His success was noticed in February 2021 at the Taranaki Junior Athletics Championships. As a 14-year-old, he secured gold in the 800m and 2000m walk as well as silver in the 1500m and 400m run. He also broke the record in the 2000m walk by one minute.

Out of Stadia coordinator John Bowden said: “we are delighted to announce our five-strong team, which boasts a mix of experience and emerging talent set to make their New Zealand debuts.

We wish them all the best in terms of their preparations for Antalya and we look forward to seeing how they perform against the global race-walking elite in Turkey.”

New Zealand Race Walking Team for Antalya, Turkey, 20-21 April:

Senior Women:
Laura Langley
Club: Don Greig Racing Stables
Coach: Damian Blocki

Arnika Nelson
Club: Palmerston AHC 
Coach: Gabrielle Blythe

Senior Men:
Alexander Brown
Club: Caversham Harrier and Athletic Club
Coach: David Stinson

Junior Men:
Jonah Cropp  
Club: Sumner Running Club
Coach: Rozie Robinson

Toby O’Rorke
Club: Egmont Athletics Club
Coach: Rozie Robinson and Rodney Gillum