4 years in the past, Zoe Hobbs’ objective was merely to make the 100m closing on the Birmingham Commonwealth Video games.
“If I used to be to return eighth, I might have been comfortable,” laughs the Oceania recordholder.
Quick ahead to Glasgow 2026 and her expectations are markedly completely different.
After ending sixth throughout the road in Birmingham in 11.19s – later upgraded to fifth following a doping disqualification – Hobbs heads into her second Commonwealth Video games subsequent month believing a medal is inside attain.
“I see it as a practical objective to get a medal, nevertheless it actually will depend on who exhibits up in Glasgow,” the 28-year-old says.
The shift in expectation displays simply how far Hobbs has come.
4 years after her wider New Zealand staff debut, she not solely has a wealth of main championship expertise below her belt, however she’s developed right into a seasoned skilled assured in her craft.
In a single day, she secured her second podium end of her European season, ending second on the Ostrava Golden Spike assembly within the Czech Republic, in 11.12s.
Milliseconds matter within the 100m and are notoriously troublesome to search out.
“The most important shift I’ve seen in Zoe during the last 4 years has been in her professionalism and confidence,” says her long-time coach and former Commonwealth Video games consultant, James Mortimer. “Zoe has come a great distance.”
That progress has been evident on the world stage. In Glasgow two years in the past, Hobbs completed fourth within the 60m on the world indoor championships – lacking the rostrum by simply 0.01s.
It’s a great distance from the five-year-old lady who began on the Eltham Athletics Membership in Taranaki.
In her first European race of the season per week in the past, Hobbs claimed a podium end on the Oslo Diamond League, working 11.03s in chilly situations – so chilly she raced in full-length tights. The efficiency adopted her Oceania title and championship report run of 11.00s in Darwin in Could.
Contact-and-go buildup
Nevertheless, attending to the beginning line in Oslo was removed from easy.
“I didn’t arrive in Europe in one of the best form and needed to pull out of the Rabat Diamond League,” says Hobbs. “I solely had my first full-speed session the day earlier than Oslo, so it was very contact and go.”
Mortimer will be part of Hobbs in Europe subsequent week as preparations ramp up for Glasgow, with a number of World Athletics silver meets deliberate earlier than spherical one of many Commonwealth Video games 100m on July 27.
Whereas Hobbs’ confidence has grown, so too has the problem awaiting her.
The Commonwealth Video games dash subject is historically one of many deepest exterior the Olympic Video games and world championships.
Amongst these anticipated to function are Olympic champion Julien Alfred, of Saint Lucia, who claimed silver in Birmingham in 2022 and can be seeking to go one higher, alongside the sprinting powerhouse of Jamaica and the British contingent led by nationwide recordholder Dina Asher-Smith.
But the distinctive timing of the Commonwealth Video games means not each athlete on the prime of the world rankings can be on the startline. Some will prioritise the profitable Diamond League circuit, whereas others will preserve their powder dry forward of the European championships beginning simply over per week later.
Mortimer believes his athlete belongs within the dialog. “This 12 months it’s not nearly making the ultimate,” he says. “It’s about disrupting the shape information and competing for a podium end.”
Benchmark harder than Paris
The excessive customary throughout the Commonwealth continues to affect Athletics New Zealand’s nomination standards.
Athletes have been required to attain both an A normal of 11.00s as soon as or a B customary of 11.07s twice. Hobbs had the luxurious of securing her qualification early, working a private greatest and Oceania report of 10.94s in Ostrava final 12 months earlier than the nomination standards have been even launched.
For comparability, the Birmingham 2022 requirements have been 11.10s and 11.15s respectively.
“I’m actually proud to make this staff as a result of it’s not been a straightforward staff to make,” says Hobbs. “The qualifying requirements by definition have been tougher than the Olympic Video games.”
The remark carries weight from an athlete who reached the semifinals in her Olympic debut in Paris, ending 14th general.
The 21-strong athletics staff heading to Glasgow is closely weighted in the direction of subject occasions – one thing Hobbs admits has been noticeable.
“I can solely communicate for sprinting, however it will have been cool to see my teammate Tiaan Whelpton [100m NZ resident recordholder) make the team because he’s very deserving to be there,” she says. “Unfortunately, the standards are extremely tough.”
What excites her most is the diversity of the team selected. “Every event group is represented and there’s a really good mix of experience,” Hobbs says.
Where once she was the newcomer finding her feet in a major team environment, Hobbs now finds herself among the leaders.
“I feel like a senior veteran of the team now,” she laughs on the phone from the Czech Republic.
It is a maturity Mortimer says extends well beyond the track.
“What I’m most proud of is the strong woman Zoe is becoming,” he says. “She stands firm in what she believes in and continually challenges us as her team to ensure she can be the best athlete possible.”
Hobbs is equally excited for those experiencing their first Games.
“The Commonwealth Games are so much fun. I can’t wait for the newbies to experience being part of a New Zealand team,” she says.
This edition of the Games, however, will look a little different. After Glasgow was awarded hosting rights following Victoria’s withdrawal, athletes will be housed in hotels rather than a traditional athletes’ village.
Having experienced village life before at both the Commonwealth and Olympic Games, Hobbs believes the streamlined set-up may actually enhance performance.
“We’ve simulated this so many times on the European circuit,” she says. “There will be less noise and chaos.”
For an athlete who once would have been thrilled simply to make the final, the focus now is clear.
A medal is firmly within sight. “I can’t wait.”
NZ Team — Athletics | Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games Women: Imogen Ayris, Eliza McCartney, Olivia McTaggart – Pole VaultLauren Bruce – Hammer ThrowAnna Grimaldi – 100m T47Zoe Hobbs – 100mBriana Stephenson, Maddie Wilson – HeptathlonTori Moorby – Javelin
Men: Max Attwell – Decathlon; Anthony Barmes – Hammer Throw; Geordie Beamish – 3000m Steeplechase (and possibly one mile); Jacko Gill, Nick Palmer, Tom Walsh – Shot Put; Ethan Olivier – Triple Jump; Hamish Kerr – High Jump; James Preston – 800m; Nick Southgate, James Steyn – Pole Vault; Sam Tanner – One Mile
