Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games 5000m medallist Zane Robertson has pulled out of the New Zealand Commonwealth Games team.
A groin injury picked up earlier in the year forced the Kenyan-based Kiwi to miss several weeks of training at a key stage of his preparation for the Games and while he has been training since then, he has not recovered to the extent he could put on the black singlet and give it his best shot.
The 28 year old had been selected for both the 10,000m, in which he holds the NZ record, and the marathon. While it would not have been possible to compete in both, he was hopeful of putting up a very good performance in one or the other.
“Zane had hoped he could make up the lost time and come into the village with the confidence to race hard and put him in the frame for a good performance,” said Scott Goodman, Athletics New Zealand High Performance director.
“I’ve been talking to Zane daily for the last couple of weeks and he really wanted to run on the Gold Coast and put up a performance he could be proud of, but he has not been able to put in the solid track sessions he needs.”
“Zane has very high standards and he didn’t want to come and put in a below par race or be forced to withdraw during the race,” Goodman added.
Robertson will remain training in Kenya and set himself for some road races, with perhaps another crack at a fast marathon later in the year.
Gold Coast 2018 Athletics Team
Valerie Adams shot put Pakuranga Athletic Club
Alana Barber 20km race walk Race Walking Auckland
Camille Buscomb 10,000m, 5000m Hamilton City Hawks Athletics
Cameron French 400m hurdles Hamilton City Hawks Athletics
Siositina Hakeai discus Auckland City Athletics
Ben Langton Burnell javelin Palmerston North Athletic and Harrier Club
Eliza McCartney pole vault North Harbour Bays Athletics
Olivia McTaggart pole vault North Harbour Bays Athletics
Brad Mathas 800m Christchurch Old Boys
Joseph Millar 200m Tauranga Ramblers
Angie Petty 800m University of Canterbury
Julia Ratcliffe hammer Hamilton City Hawks Athletics
Quentin Rew 20km race walk Wellington Harrier Athletic Club
Jake Robertson 10,000m Hamilton City Hawks Athletics
Holly Robinson Para javelin Athletics Taieri
Nick Southgate pole vault North Harbour Bays Athletics
Tom Walsh shot put South Canterbury Athletic Club
Courtesy of Athletics NZ
