Athletics: Ratcliffe poised to book Rio spot

Julia Ratcliffe of New Zealand competes in the Women's Hammer throw. Photo / Getty Images

The New Zealand throws team eligible for the Rio Olympics could grow by one as soon as this weekend.

With Jacko Gill earning his qualification mark at a meet in Christchurch, those qualified are beginning to take shape.

Hammer-thrower Julia Ratcliffe set a New Zealand residents record on Sunday and national throws coach Dale Stevenson says she's within touching distance of qualification.

She says she needs 70m to be in the mix for Rio and they don't think it's too far away.

Gill has spent a couple of years switching to the heavier shot, Dale Stevenson says everything is beginning to fall into place for Gill.

He says it's an ongoing process and you do have to be able to handle competing in the senior ranks.

Gill and Tom Walsh are scheduled to meet at the Auckland Track Challenge in just over two weeks, after the latter pulled out of their meeting in Christchurch.