Athletics: Runners added to world champs team

Adrian Blincoe. Photo / Chris Skelton

Two 5000m runners have been added to the New Zealand team to contest the world athletics championships in Daegu, South Korea, beginning on August 27.

Beijing Olympian Adrian Blincoe has made the team on the back of an A standard 13min 18.27sec in Spain last weekend, while fast-improving 21-year-old Jake Robertson bettered the B standard with a 13min 22.38sec effort in Belgium in May.

Hurdler Andrea Miller, originally named in the initial team selection in April this year, has withdrawn due to a long-term back injury.

Blincoe and Robertson join Olympic champion shotputter Val Adams, Beijing 1500m silver medalist Nick Willis and Commonwealth Games medalists Stuart Farquhar (javelin) and Nikki Hamblin (800m, 1500m).

Decathlete Brett Newdick 50km walker and Quentin Rew were also selected earlier.

Further additions are possible following August 8.

- NZPA