Javelin thrower added to NZ worlds team

Waikato’s Ben Langton Burnell is the latest Kiwi athlete to be added to the New Zealand team for the 2017 world championships in London next month.

The 24-year-old javelin thrower has been spared an anxious wait over his inclusion, with his best throw for 2017 coming up just short of the IAAF’s qualifying mark and Athletics NZ’s B standard for selection. Langton Burnell won the Oceania championships in Fiji three weeks ago and earlier in June threw a personal best of 82.44m at his home Porritt Stadium in Hamilton.

It was just short of the 83.00m IAAF standard for the championships and also bettered the standard for nomination for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

But the IAAF have confirmed Langton Burnell will be invited on the basis of his Oceania title and current good form.

Athletics NZ’s selectors and board have ratified his selection. London will be the former Manawatu athlete’s first major international event.

He competed at the 2015 World University Games in Korea, where he finished 10th with 74.39m.