The dates and venues for the Athletics New Zealand Classic Series of meetings for 2010 have been confirmed as follows:

Capital Classic
http://www.athletics.org.nz/article.aspx?ID=6134&Mode=1
Newtown Park, Wellington                    
Friday 22 January 2010

Cooks Classic   
http://www.athletics.org.nz/article.aspx?ID=6063&Mode=1
http://www.athleticswanganui.co.nz/                      
Cooks Gardens, Wanganui                    
Tuesday 26 January 2010

Sylvia Potts Classic
http://www.athletics.org.nz/article.aspx?ID=6064&Mode=1
Regional Sports Park, Hastings             
Friday 29 January 2010

Porritt Classic
http://www.athletics.org.nz/article.aspx?ID=6065&Mode=1
Porritt Stadium, Hamilton  
Saturday 13 February 2010

International Track Meet   
http://www.internationaltrackmeet.co.nz/
QEII, Christchurch              
Thursday 18 Mar 2010

Capital Classic - Newtown Park, Wellington - Friday 22 January 2010

This summer there will be five meetings in the Classic Series, starting with the Capital Classic in Wellington, incorporating the New Zealand 3,000 metres championships for senior men and women.

The first three events (Capital, Cooks and Potts Classics) will form a mini series and will be strategically linked with the Young Olympians Camp in Wanganui.

Young Olympians Camp is back on in 2010 following a one year break. The camp has been running for 20 years and has become an integral part of the Athletics New Zealand junior elite development programme. The 2010 camp starts Sunday 24 January and concludes Wednesday 27 January.

There will be travel and accommodation packages associated with the three meetings and the camp. Information was freely available at the New Zealand Secondary School Track and Field Champs in Timaru. Information is available from Alec Mc Nab at amcnab@collegiate.school.nz

These three meetings will also act as the heavily weighted final opportunities for athletes attempting to secure one of the 45 positions in the New Zealand team for the Trans Tasman 21 Test match at Waitakere on 20 February, which was announced last week.

The fourth meeting in the Classic Series will be the iconic Porritt Classic in Hamilton on 13 February, which will also feature day one of the New Zealand Combined Event Championships.

The newcomer to the Classic line-up is the final event, the Christchurch International Track Meet scheduled for Thursday 18 March. After an exciting beginning in 2009, the ITM joins the Classic Series this season.

Athletics New Zealand Sport Manager, Brett Addison said in announcing the confirmed dates for the Classic Series, "Athletes need series of events like these so they can compete consistently against good competition that offers them the opportunity to improve their performances and take them to the next level in the sport. We are pleased that meeting organisers have come up with a good series of events for 2010."

"Putting these meetings together with the Trans Tasman 21 Test and the New Zealand Championships, this summer we will see all our top athletes striving for improvement and qualifying performances for Commonwealth Games, World Junior Champs and Olympic Youth Games in 2010," he said.