Langton Burnell makes the cut
Ben Langton Burnell had been anticipating an anxious weekend as the world athletics championships fields came down to the cutoff point.
But now the Waikato-based Manawatu javelin thrower can relax and pack his bags for London, with Athletics New Zealand yesterday confirming him as the ninth Kiwi named in their team for the global event that starts on August 4 at the Olympic stadium.
The 24-year-old Cambridge accountant, who lives and trains in Hamilton under coach Debbie Strange, knew he had a good shot at London after his June throw of 82.44 metres at his home Porritt Stadium catapulted him into contention.
At the time it put him 24th on the IAAF qualification list, with invites going to the top 32. Even now, just days from the July 23 cutoff, he still sits at No 27.
But with his PB throw still 56cm short of the IAAF and New Zealand B standard for the event (though it is also a Commonwealth Games qualifier), there were still a few hoops to jump through.
He achieved one of those when he won the Oceania title in Fiji three weeks ago, and the final one occurred when the IAAF and national selectors handed him the tick of approval.
‘‘I’m absolutely stoked,’’ said Langton Burnell of his first major international assignment. ‘‘To make a black singlet team, it’s a dream come true. Years and years and years of having that dream and now I’m finally heading to the world champs.’’
Langton Burnell and coach Strange will leave New Zealand next Wednesday to join the Kiwi team for their Cardiff training camp and a shakedown meet in Bedford July 29-30
Langton Burnell joins 10,000m runners Camille Buscomb and Zane Robertson, shot putters Tom Walsh and Jacko Gill, pole vaulter Eliza Mccartney, sprinter Joseph Millar, 800m runner Angie Petty and race walker Quentin Rew in the team for London.
Dual Olympic medallist Nick Willis should add his name when he races this weekend in Monaco where he is expected to tick off the fast time he needs to qualify for the championships.
Langton Burnell will also attend his second world university games in Taiwan soon after the London champs. He was 10th at the student event in 2015 with a best throw of 74.39m.