Merrell New Zealand is proud to announce that Weston Hill, one of its top Merrell NZ Performance Team athletes, has been selected to join the Merrell Global Trail Running Team, making the leap from the local program to the brand’s global roster of elite athletes.
This selection marks a major milestone in Merrell NZ’s trail running journey. Over the past two years, the brand has invested heavily in creating a clear and structured pathway for Kiwi athletes to reach the global stage, a model rarely seen in New Zealand trail running and backed up through consistent support, race exposure, gear development, and community engagement.
Weston, a 33-year-old mechanical design engineer and mountain athlete based in Wellington, has stood out for his technical trail performance at home and overseas. His resume includes 3x New Zealand Trail Running Championship titles (2020, 2023 short trail and 2025), strong showings at the UTMB and Skyrunning World Series, and multiple representations of New Zealand at the Trail Running World Championships.
“This is a massive milestone for Weston, for our team, for Merrell and for trail running in Aotearoa,” said Jose Matiz, Sales Manager at The Nevada Company and Manager of the Merrell NZ Performance Team. “We started this team to build something meaningful and long-term. Weston’s selection shows it is working and it sends a powerful message to young athletes across the country that there is a real pathway in trail running, right here at home.”
Weston added:
“Merrell New Zealand’s pathway for athletes to join the global team is something special happening here in New Zealand. We haven’t seen a mountain and trail running team this size or with this level of support here before. There is a broad range of athletes and backgrounds with a common team vision of athletic performance and growing the sport. In New Zealand, we’ve seen athletes jump straight to international teams, but Merrell is building a true pathway for Kiwi athletes to grow from local to global. Personally, it’s super exciting and a privilege to be the first from the team selected as a global athlete for Merrell.”
Ben Stark, Brand Manager at Merrell Global, commented:
“We’re thrilled to welcome Weston Hill to our global athlete team. His relentless drive and passion for pushing limits and exploring wild terrain inspires us and perfectly embodies the spirit of our team. The Merrell Trail Team is getting stronger every day, and Weston helps us take a great step forward in our goal to be the best trail running brand in the world. We look forward to supporting Weston in his racing goals.”
The Merrell NZ Performance Team, launched in 2023, includes ten athletes (five women, five men) who balance competition with full-time work, studies, and family life. Members include Kate McDowell, Jessica Campbell, Katie Morgan, Sonja Vreugdenhil, Penny Mouat, Ben Williams, Sanjeev Deo, Michael Sutton, Sam Rout, and Weston Hill. All have achieved podium results, with several representing New Zealand on the international stage.
Alongside athlete development, Merrell NZ has established major partnerships to help grow the sport. These include a three-year naming rights deal with Merrell Race Tekapo, one of the fastest-growing trail events in New Zealand, and a new partnership with the Auckland Trail Run & Walk Series, helping expand the brand’s reach in the North Island. The brand also works closely with community groups like Wild Things, Trailrunning NZ, Live 2 Run Trail, and several clubs across the country.
Backed by evolving product innovation and support from leading retailers like Kinisi, Frontrunner, Stride Performance, Shoe Clinic and more, the Merrell Trail Run category continues to gain momentum, and with it, opportunities for the next wave of New Zealand athletes.
“This is not just about Weston,” added Matiz. “It is about showing what’s possible. We hope this moment inspires the next generation of trail runners to chase their goals, and we are proud to keep supporting Weston every step of the way in this new chapter.”
