NZ team for World Championships finalised

The New Zealand team for the IAAF Athletics World Championships is complete and has risen to 12 athletes with the naming of hammer thrower Julia Ratcliffe and discus thrower Marshall Hall today.

Ratcliffe, the New Zealand record holder at 70.75m was marginally short of the Athletics NZ B selection standard of 71.00m, but recently had a big throw of 70.35 in the US and has received an invitation to compete through the roll-down system designed to have 32 competitors in each throwing event at the championships.

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

Ratcliffe, who took a study break in 2016 to try and qualify for the Rio Olympics 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 thrower Marshall Hall from Invercargill, but living and training in Auckland, has a recent performance of 64.55m, like Ratcliffe just short of the Athletics NZ B selection standard of 65.00 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 has spent two recent training blocks in the US with coach Matt Dallow and will be representing New Zealand at a major championships for the first time.

The eight times NZ discus champion has previously represented New Zealand at four Oceania Championships winning two gold medals and two silver medals. He also placed 7th at the 2015 World University Games.

Halls focus had been on qualifying for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, but his recent good form has thrust him into contention for higher honours ahead of schedule.

For six of the 12 athletes, it will be their first senior world championships. The team is dominated by throwers, making up over 40% of the team and the highest representation on the team is from the Hamilton City Hawks club with three athletes.

Full team for 2017 IAAF World Championships London 4 - 13 August

Camille Buscomb Hamilton City Hawks 5000m, 10,000m

Jacko Gill Takapuna Shot Put

Marshall Hall Invercargill Discus

Ben Langton Burnell Palmerston North Javelin

Eliza McCartney North Harbour Bays Pole Vault

Joseph Millar Tauranga Ramblers 200m

Angie Petty University of Canterbury 800m

Julia Ratcliffe Hamilton City Hawks Hammer

Quentin Rew Wellington Harrier Athletic 50km Race Walk

Zane Robertson Hamilton City Hawks 10,000m

Tom Walsh South Canterbury Shot Put

Nick Willis Lower Hutt 1500m

NZ team details

Marshall Hall story

Julia Ratcliffe Story

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