Apart from international travel restrictions, it as business as usual for the sport of athletics in New Zealand.

By now we’ve learned not to doubt Abderrahman Samba, who has taken the world of one-lap hurdling by storm this year, and as the laid-back Qatari sits relaxing under the Czech sun, one day out from the IAAF Continental Cup Ostrava 2018, only a fool would question his intent.

Australian discus thrower Dani Stevens boasts a long and successful career in the sport. The world silver medallist says that earning bronze at the 2006 Commonwealth Games was a key breakthrough moment in her career.

Australia's 2009 world discus champion Dani Samuels has enjoyed a distinguished career in the sport. Having made the final in 2008 and 2012, she will be aiming for her first Olympic medal in Rio later this summer. Here the personable Australian offers her viewpoint on some landmark firsts in her life, both on and off the track.

The throwers took centre stage at the Auckland Track Challenge as several competitors stepped up their preparations for the IAAF World Indoor Championships Portland 2016 with varying degrees of success on a warm night at the Trusts Arena on Thursday (25).

Athletics Australia have confirmed that an Australian team of at least 42 athletes will go to the IAAF World Championships, Beijing 2015.

Judging by their early season form, shot putter Joe Kovacs and Olympic discus champion Sandra Perkovic are poised to produce fireworks at the Doha 2015 meeting on 15 May, organisers of the IAAF Diamond League meeting announced on Monday (4).

Jeff Riseley became the first man in 24 years to win the 800m/1500m double at the Australian Championships, while Olympic champion Sally Pearson was one of several athletes to confirm their selection to the team bound for the IAAF World Championships, Beijing 2015.

Oympic 800m champion and world record-holder David Rudisha opened his 2015 season with an impressive 1:45.01 win at the Sydney Track Classic on Saturday night (14).

At 24, Sandra Perkovic has already won world, Olympic and European titles. First place in the IAAF Continental Cup, however, continues to elude the Croatian who has otherwise taken a global stranglehold on her event over the past three years.

Discus throwers like Australia’s 2009 world champion Dani Samuels are always seeking the perfect trajectory but fans of athletics are sometimes guilty of having the same expectation for the career of an international athlete.

Even on a rare evening of Scottish sunshine, the Commonwealth Games was hit with a lightning bolt as the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt, took to the track for the first time in Glasgow thrilled a packed crowd at Hampden Park, crossing the line in his customary position of first place on Friday (1).