Kiwi duo confirmed for London

Field events duo Julia Ratcliffe and Marshall Hall have had their places at next month’s word championships confirmed, taking the New Zealand team for the London meet to 12.

Hammer throw national record holder Ratcliffe was marginally short of the Athletics New Zealand B selection standard of 71m but threw 70.35 in the US earlier this month.

She has received an invitation to compete through the roll-down system designed to have 32 competitors in each throwing event.

The 24-year-old from Hamilton, who recently graduated from Princeton University, placed fourth at the 2012 World Junior Championships, won silver at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and bronze at the 2015 World University Games in Korea.

Ratcliffe is coached by her father Dave long distance from Hamilton, although the two have been working together in the US for the past month.

Discus exponent Hall threw 64.55m in California in May, like Ratcliffe just short of the Athletics NZ B selection standard of 65m, but is within the top 32 ranking for the championships and has accordingly also received an invitation from the IAAF.

The 28-year-old social worker, who hails from Invercargill but lives and trains in Auckland , will be representing New Zealand at a major championships for the first time.

The eight times national discus champion has competed at four Oceania Championships winning two gold and two silver medals. He also placed seventh at the 2015 World University Games.