Athletics: The new Kiwi sprint sensation, Edward Osei-Nketia, could be lost to Australia … or rugby

Catch him as much as you can because Edward Osei-Nketia, sprinting sensation among the Kiwis, could be lost to rugby or Australia.

Osei-Nketia, 17, the son of New Zealand record holder Gus Nketia, made the headlines this weekend by winning the Australian title in the 100m senior in Sydney.

He is now considered the second fastest among the world's juniors (under 20), his time in the semifinal in Sydney with 10.19 seconds behind just the 13.13 Jamaican Oblique 18-year-old.
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A New Zealand sports official admitted that Osei-Nketia is considered at the moment as a Kiwi by the IAAF, but that he is "open mouthed" for his services, rugby being also well integrated. His father, originally from Ghana, moved to New Zealand after the Auckland Commonwealth Games in 1990 and then went black at the 1996 Olympics.
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Osei-Nketia, who studied at Scots College in Wellington this year, spent the previous eight years in Australia, where he started running. After his incredible victory at Sydney Olympic Park, the big flyer revealed that Australian officials had approached him to run in the green and gold.
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The moment of truth will probably arrive next July at the World Junior Championships in Kenya. He would be locked in the country that he represented with any subsequent changes requiring a difficult transfer process.
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The young man told Radio Sport: "Yesterday, they (Australian officials) asked me if there was a chance I represented Australia." I said that I did not know."

When Radio Sport asked him if he was running for Australia, Osei-Nketia replied, "Who knows?"
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There is a rugby bench on the wing for his school and the Hurricanes would be interested. On v rugby athletics, Osei-Nketia "weighs" both and will make a decision after leaving school.

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"It would be hard to try for the Olympics and train for rugby," he said.
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Osei-Nketia is now the 100m Kiwi sprinter, ranked fourth, behind his father, Chris Donaldson and Joseph Millar. His time in Sydney sets a new mark for New Zealand's under-18s, under-19s and under-20s. (He is no longer considered a minor by 18 years by the IAAF because he will turn 18 this year)
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New Zealand rarely attains such levels in junior world athletics, with the obvious exception of former World No. 1 shot put representative Jacko Gill of Devonport.
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Dean Wise, 23 years ago, was the only Kiwi to qualify for the World Junior 100m Final.
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But observers in athletics think that Osei-Nketia will struggle to reach the 100m senior level, because of its mbadive and slow starts. He presents himself as a much better exponent at 200m, while his brother Gus jrr would be an exceptional hope at 400m.
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Osei-Nketia was born in Auckland and the family moved to Canberra at the age of 10.
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In January, he said, "My heart, it belongs to the Kiwis."
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The NZA statistician, Dr. Steve Hollings, 1972 British Olympic rider, had numerous communications with the Nketias about his eligibility. First match I had with Gus, Edward always had a strong sense of rugby.
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"It's up to him to choose one or the other country … it's open until he decides.
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"It would be stupid for New Zealand not to (play a big game for him) and Australia might well make a move.
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"It's going to be very interesting, with New Zealand – Australia and Athletics – Rugby – the situation is very fluid."