Langton Burnell added to World Champs Team

Ben Langton Burnell is the latest Kiwi athlete to be added to the New Zealand team for the 2017 World Championships to be held in London next month.

The 24 year-old javelin thrower won the Oceania Championships in Fiji three weeks ago and earlier in June threw a personal best of 82.44m on his home ground, 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.

The IAAF have confirmed Langton Burnell will be invited to the World Championships following his Oceania title, coupled with his current good form. The Athletics New Zealand Selectors and Board have ratified his selection.

London will be the former Manawatu athletes first major international event. He competed at the 2015 World University Games in Korea where he finished 10th with 74.39m. Hell be heading to Taiwan following the World Championships to contest the 2017 edition of the University Games.

The Cambridge accountant who lives and trains in Hamilton leaves with coach Debbie Strange next Wednesday for Cardiff where the New Zealand team is assembling for their final preparations for the World Championships in the London Olympic Stadium on 4 August.

Langton Burnell becomes the ninth New Zealand athlete named for the World Championships, joining 10,000m runners Camille Buscomb and Zane Robertson along with shot putters Tom Walsh and Jacko Gill, pole vaulter Eliza McCartney, sprinter Joseph Millar, 800m runner Angie Petty and race walker Quentin Rew.

There could be further selections announced next week with the qualification window closing on 23 July.

- This story has been automatically published using a media release from Athletics New Zealand