Revamp for Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park athletics venue

Hastings Athletics Club member Lachlan Cairns tries out the new pole vault equipment at the Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park athletics precinct that's been upgraded. Photo / Duncan Brown

With summer approaching, the Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park athletics track is in tip-top condition for a busy season ahead.

The $2 million track in the William Nelson Athletics precinct of the park had recently undergone a $120,000 revamp and was looking great, said park chief executive Jock Mackintosh.

"It's been remarked and cleaned and the oval field within the track regrassed and levelled.

"It looks a million dollars and is going to be in great shape for December's New Zealand secondary school athletic champs," he said.

It would also play host to the annual Allan and Sylvia Potts Memorial Classic on January 27.

This year the event would be doubling as a Commonwealth Games trial so significant interest was expected, said Potts Classic meeting director Richard Potts.

Elite Olympian athletes such as pole vaulter Eliza McCartney, shot putters Valerie Adams, Tom Walsh and Jacko Gill, 800m runner Angie Petty and 100m sprinter Joseph Miller were likely to be among a long list of 100 others keen to impress the selectors, Mr Potts said.

Meanwhile, for youngsters aiming for similar glory, $60,000 had been invested by the Hastings Athletics Club, which was the main user of the venue over summer.

Club chairwoman Sharee Jones said new pole-vault and high-jump mats had been bought.

"We were really overdue for some new equipment and finally got the funding to upgrade it, which will be great for all local and national events."

She said the purchase also reflected a new interest in the pole vault, following the success of Eliza McCartney at the Rio Olympics.

Mr Mackintosh said that throughout November the park would be busy with school groups holding their athletics sports events.