New Zealand heptathlete Wardell makes Beijing Olympic qualification

New Zealand's heptathlete Rebecca Wardell has been selected for the Beijing Olympics after proving she had overcome injury, New Zealand media reported on Sunday.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee ratified her nomination on Saturday afternoon after she nailed a qualifying score of six-thousand points last weekend in Germany.

Wardell, 30, suffered a serious hip injury and underwent surgery in May last year.

Wardell said her body was getting better in terms of staying injury free and she was confident she will be fighting fit in Beijing.

The Christchurch athlete beat her June 30 qualifying deadline when she posted two world class results in international events this month.

At her most recent outing last weekend, she scored 6,108 points during a meet in Germany, posting personal bests in the shot put, high jump, long jump and 200 meters.

The New Zealand athletics team now stands at nine.

Team selector and NZOC secretary-general Barry Maister said Wardell's strong performances this year demonstrated her ability to finish within the top 16 at Beijing.

"Comparisons with top international competition results over the last three years also indicate this is the case," he added.