The initiative is designed to close the gap between high-level community participation and high-performance sport and is a joint initiative with Sport Hawke's Bay, EIT, High Performance Sport New Zealand and Sport New Zealand.
After moving to the Bay in 2008, Agnew saw great potential in the region but no high-performance system in place.
"Hawke's Bay has the perfect climate and environment required for developing talent, however, currently much of that talent appears wasted."
With the fifth highest urban population in the country in a regional setting and record number of sunshine hours the ingredients were all there.
"Look at the towns where guys like Dan Carter and Richie McCaw grew up, rural areas but close enough to a main centre."
Regan Gough was another example coming from Waipukurau.
"It's exactly the place where elite athletes emerge from but, at the same time, we don't have an established system to harness that talent."
If you were to rank the highest potential young athletes in New Zealand, Hawke's Bay would come out pretty favourably, he said.
Regan is obviously number one because he got the Halberg for emerging sportsperson of the year.
Then there is Bobbi Gichard, a 15-year-old who has qualified for the senior world championships in Russia and won a bronze medal against two 18-year-olds. She has to be up there as one of our top potential athletes.
We've got some real girl-power going on in Hawke's Bay at the moment, he said.
Napier Girls' High School's Holly Manning won the under-20 age group 800m at the New Zealand Track and Field Championships in 2014.
Many believe Year 11 Havelock North High School student Georgia Hulls is potentially one of the best female sprinters we've ever had.
She broke age group records that have stood since the mid-1980s. An outstanding prospect, he said.
He also described Kimiora Poi as a fantastic young netballer. She was selected for the New Zealand secondary schools netball team. She was the first Hawke's Bay girl to make the team in 10 years.
"We certainly aren't lacking in talent."
Previously there had been no real leader in the high performance area.
Agnew is living proof that with determination and perseverance there is no barrier too great to overcome.
He spent the past seven years getting endorsement and support from national sporting bodies.
"The final piece of the puzzle will be to align the regional stakeholders," he said.
As part of the programme, athletes will receive a general education and their own individualised development plan, plus access to services.
They will receive strength and conditioning, performance nutrition consultations, athlete life advice, and mental skills training which will help those selected take the next step towards high-performance sport.
"The final challenge now that we've got all our structures in place is getting people aware.
"We need to get this opportunity in front of the right people so hopefully we can really start to make things happen."
International cycling star Regan Gough has benefited from Agnew's influence.
"Marcus has been a huge part of the Pathways to Podium initiative," Gough said.
"He has organised speakers, motivated us and is dedicated and supportive."
Agnew has had a lifelong passion for sport and recalls playing rugby in the mud at a young age. This transformed to a passion for analysis and biomechanics.
"I was always interested how a player can effortlessly flick a ball out of the ground for six or hit a golf ball 350 metres," Agnew said.
"I was always interested in skill and the biomechanics behind sport performance."
He is no stranger to the international sporting scene himself having coached and advised the Samoan and Pacific Island rugby teams.
Prior to coming to EIT, he was the academy manager for North Harbour Rugby and team analyst for the Auckland rugby team.
He has a masters degree in Health Science from the Auckland University of Technology, is completing his thesis on Game Analysis in Rugby Union with the NZRU.
He also served as skills analyst for the NZ under-20 team 2008-2012, and works with the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union.
Agnew is a tutor on the EIT Recreation and Sport programme and is currently teaching biomechanics and physical conditioning.
He is keen on most sports, having worked with New Zealand rowing, golf, cricket, and netball and enjoys adventure travel and the outdoors. When he's not on the track, field or court, he spends time with his family.
