Javelin thrower is hitting top form
Javelin thrower Ben Langtonburnell is in great form as he builds to take on the world in August.
Recently throwing 82.44m, a new personal best by two metres, he is just 56cm short of qualifying for the world athletics championships in London in August.
More importantly, it is another throw beyond the Commonwealth Games selection standard.
His coach Debbie Strange is confident Langton-burnell, who is from Manawatu but works in Cambridge, will make it to the world championships.
‘‘Showing he is currently in the best of form throwing two metres above his personal best means he is on track to achieve his goal of making it to London,’’ she said.
Langton-burnell has recently completed an intensive 10-week preparation regime which has left him in good condition.
‘‘Ben has worked on adjusting his style, technique and tactics when throwing and it’s paying off.’’
He has a demanding schedule from now until August.
He will be in Fiji at the end of June competing in the Oceania championships.
From there he heads to Wales which will serve as a training base for the New Zealand athletics team, which will compete on the European circuit.
‘‘The training camp will get him used to being in a team environment which is important for athletes like Ben who compete on their own,’’ said Strange.
‘‘He will be with other throwers like Jacko [Gill] and Tom [Walsh] so he will be in good company as they will pass on tips about travel and how they prepare for big events.’’
Despite not reaching the qualifying mark for the world championships, Langton-burnell may still get an entry by being in among the top 32 javelin throwers in the world.
His return to form has come at the right time as he has been held back by a shoulder injury for most of the season.