Long jumper Shay Veitch launched himself to within one centimetre of what is now New Zealand's oldest athletics record in Belgium in July. On the brink of his 25th birthday & a fresh Kiwi summer, Shay shares the intriguing story that has led him back to the town in which he started via Thailand, China & Dunedin.

When legendary Kiwi middle distance runner Peter Snell pointed scotsman Alec McNab in the direction of Whananui Collegiate in the early 1970s no-one could foretell the influence he would have on scores of athletes who attended the school across fives decades. In the afterglow of the World Championship victory of Whanganui Collegiate graduate Geordie Beamish we chew the fat with the dedicated coach, mentor & administrator.

From 5kms on an airport strip to the half-marathon. Not even a mountain can stop this young man. Toby Gualter has been on a title tear over the past year & he's added cross country placings in between. What's next & what's his best? Toby talks past, present & pending as the 24-year-old takes even bigger strides in his chosen sport.

Just one week after defending the senior boys cross country title at the NZ Secondary Schools Championships in Whangarei fending off Sam Ruthe, Caleb Wagener was spectacular in Spain securing the World Junior duathlon title. Just days after a nasty cycling accident the 17-year-old Aucklander describes in detail that wonderful week in June that has whet his appetite for future success.

Young Waitakere whizz Kendra Scally Tu'i has made the most of her trip to the West Coast of the USA. On a warm Walnut afternoon at the momentous Mt SAC relays meet the soon-to-be 17-year old won her 100m contest in a stunning 11.57s & claimed second in the 200m posting a national U17, U18, U19 & U20 record of 23.52s. Both times place her thirteenth in the overall standings in NZ athletic history for the respective distances. Scally Tu'i is also adept at touch rugby having just represented the NZ U20 team at a tournament in Australia. Hear her story so far as this wise head on young shoulders navigates her sporting future.

Fresh from making the 60 metre semi-finals at the World Athletics Indoor Championships, scintillating sprinter Tiaan Whelpton outlines his year ahead that will hopefully lead to the outdoor version in Tokyo come September. Tiaan has been on a tear this summer clocking a New Zealand resident 100m record 10.10s in Auckland & collecting a third consecutive national 100m title in Dunedin on top of his off-shore achievements. He speaks candidly about the challenges of his chosen sport, knowing that the road to Japan won't necessarily be lined with cherry blossoms.

He's no overnight sensation having been introduced to athletics at the age of two but 21-year-old Lex Revell-Lewis has revved up another gear during the month of Februaryposting personal bests for the 100m, 200m and his premier event the 400m over which he seeks to break a national record set before he was born. The Waitakere wonder tells his story so far on the eve of the 2025 NZ Track and Field Championships. 

Emerging Kiwi middle distance runner Kimberley May has provided Providence with an impressive highlights reel during her time at the Rhode Island College and she's determined to add to it in her remaining months, now as a senior student. May turns 22 in May but is already ranked number three on the all-time list of female New Zealand milers. She began the new indoor season with a bang in Boston recently and coach Ray Treacy has her tracking to finish with a flourish. Hear the story so far and her hopes for the future in the first Chew the F.A.T. for 2025.

Highflyers Boh Ritchie and Maddie Waddell have made great strides in their respective running disciplines in 2024 culminating in a trip to Peru for the World Athletics U20 Championships. The now 17-year-olds were undaunted on the biggest stage of their fledgling careers, and both have established national age-group records in2024 underlining the promise of the St Peters' pair.

We're back with another special guest on Chew the F.a.T. Alan McDonald is an athletics coach who mentors para athletes, most notably Paralympic multiple medallist Danielle Aitchison. The Waikato stalwart shares his recent experience in Paris, explains athlete classifications, & describes what is required to achieve peak para performance.