Eliza McCartney is taking a break from pole vaulting to get a nagging hamstring injury right

The Olympic bronze medallist missed the national championships this month, and has now pulled out of the Sir Graham Douglas track challenge tomorrow in Auckland.

Coach Jeremy McColl says it's a necessary step so that McCartney's fit for the Diamond League events mid-year, and the world championships in spring.



Baseball player Mike Trout is in line to sign the largest contract in pro sports.

Trout and the Los Angeles Angels are finalising a deal that will pay the two-time Major League Baseball MVP $430 million American dollars over the next 12 years.



Questions are being raised over the process surrounding the awarding of the 2020 Olympics to Tokyo.

Tsunekazu Takeda , the president of the Japanese Olympic Committee, is resigning amid allegations of bribery.

He will stand down when his term ends in June, but denies the corruption accusations.



The Crusaders will have a debate on their name... but not yet.

The future of the name of the Super Rugby champions has been discussed since the Christchurch terrorist attacks.

The origin of Crusaders comes from a series of Christian campaigns against Muslims in the Holy Land, between the 11th and 13th centuries.

Captain Sam Whitelock says at the moment the issue is bigger than rugby, and they are respectful of the mourning families.



New Zealand Football will have to outbid eight other countries for the right to host the women's World Cup in 2023.

FIFA has revealed Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Japan, South Africa and a joint North and South Korean formal expression have been made to host the event.

The nations have until April 16 to submit their bidding registrations.



Canberra winger Jordan Rapana has recovered from shoulder surgery eight weeks ahead of schedule.

The New Zealand international has been named on the right wing for Friday's round two NRL match against Melbourne.

Rapana injured his shoulder on the Kiwis tour of England last year and had been expected to return mid-season.



Northern Districts have built a 376-run second innings lead in their Plunket Shield match against Central Districts in Hamilton.

The hosts will begin the final day on 463 for six

In Dunedin, Auckland are 198 for one in their second innings, 38 runs behind Otago.



Former Australian world championship medallist swimmer Kenneth To has died after becoming ill training in Florida.

The 26-year-old was training to compete at next year's Olympics.

The cause of death was not immediately clear.