Southlander bound for world champs
Recent strong form has led to Southland discus thrower Marshall Hall being propelled into the New Zealand team that will take part in the athletics world championships.
The 28-year-old social worker, who hails from Invercargill but lives and trains in Auckland, was selected for the team for the International Association of Athletics Federations Athletics World Championships in London next month.
Hall’s mother, Kathryn, of Invercargill, said the championships were one of Hall’s long-term goals and he worked hard to make it happen.
He is in Cardiff at the world championships preparation camp, she said.
Kathryn said Hall trained every day. He had just travelled from the United States to Cardiff this week, she said.
The team of 12 would be in Cardiff for about a week, before moving to London for the championships, being held from August 4 to 13.
Despite being busy training, and over- seas, Kathryn said they were in contact with Hall daily.
Kathryn said she and Hall’s father, Neil, were very proud.
‘‘It really is good to have a Southlander performing on the world stage,’’ she said.
Hall had recently taken part in two training blocks in the US with coach Matt Dallow.
The event would be Hall’s first time representing New Zealand at a major championships.
The eight-time New Zealand discus champion has represented New Zealand at four Oceania championships, winning two gold medals and two silver medals.
Hall also placed seventh at the 2015 World University Games.
His focus had been on qualifying for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
It will be the first senior world championships event for six of the 12 New Zealand athletes.
The team is dominated by throwers, making up more than 40 per cent of the team.