St Albans javelin thrower Mitchell Dutton is confident he can time his run to top form to perfection as he looks to defend his title at the IWAS World Junior Games in Holland.

Dutton was named among the 21-strong team announced on Wednesday for the Games in Stadskanaal from July 2-8.

The 19-year-old, who competes in the F38 javelin, certainly has previous experience at the competition, having set a new junior world record of 39.73m on the way to gold in Stoke Mandeville last year, in what was his first ever Great Britain appearance.

The 2015 edition will bring up another milestone for Dutton too, with the competition in Holland his first on foreign soil.

And while he may not be firing on all cylinders just yet this season – his furthest mark being 38.12m at the Hertfordshire County Masters at the start of May – St Albans Athletics Club thrower Dutton is not hitting the panic buttons just yet.

“The season has been going OK, I’ve only had a handful of competitions as it’s only the start of the season but the main aim this season is the World Junior Games so I’m on target for that,” he said.

“I was so happy when I got named in the team, I couldn’t believe it. It will be just as special in it this time around.

“Last year was so much fun and a real confidence booster. I didn’t think I would ever win and then to get a junior world record on top of that was great.

“It was a new experience for me, getting to know the other athletes but I feel I am better prepared this time around.

“I’ve been working hard in training on making sure I maintain my speed and technique. I really want to retain my title.

“This will be my first ever competition abroad so I’m really looking forward to it.”

In previous seasons, Dutton has split his time between the three disciplines of shot put, discus and javelin. But with the focus on trying to make the Great Britain team for next year’s Paralympics in Rio, he admits all his efforts will be going into the latter this year.

“I really want to make the team for Rio 2016, it’s my lifetime goal to compete at a Paralympic Games,” he added. “I don’t know what the qualification mark is but I’m just focusing on the javelin and trying to get on the team through that.

“It’s a long season this year, I’ve got the cerebral palsy World Games in Nottingham in August and a few other competitions as well, so there’s lot to keep me busy.”

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