 NZ road walker Alana Barber, running for ACA last winter
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ACA's champion road walker Alana Barber has been named in the New Zealand team to compete in the Trans Tasman walking test match against Australia in Hobart, Tasmania on Saturday 13 February. The event is part of the IAAF Race Walking Challenge.
Four men and four women from each country will compete over 20km in the first Trans Tasman walking test match in 28 years. It's also the first time since 1984 that New Zealand race walkers will compete as a team in international competition.
Twenty-two-year-old Alana is the current New Zealand 10km and 50km Women's Road Walking champion and has been selected alongisde Kate Newitt (Christchurch), Roseanne Robinson (Dunedin) and Kelly Mabbett (Hamilton). The Men's team is: Quentin Rew (Hastings), Eric Kemsley (New Plymouth), Mike Parker (North Shore) and Scott Nelson (Tauranga).
Alana - who runs with ACA during the winter as part of her build-up - has an outstanding family background in athletics generally, and walking in particular. Her parents David and Shirley are active members of Racewalking Auckland with many successes to their credit. In February 2009 the Barber family were part of the team that won the Great Lake Relay in Taupo. Shirley Barber (nee Somervell), also a member of ACA, was formerly a very fine 800m runner, and represented New Zealand at the 1974 Commonwealth Games held in Christchurch.
Congratulations Alana, we're all very proud of your national success and selection, and wish you every success in Tasmania!
