Further Information 

Competition Stats

AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS:
400 metres - 2007 - 3rd, 2008 - 1st, 2009 - 5th

INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS:
World Youth Championships: 2003 - 400m 4th semi (48.83)
World University Games: 2007 - 4 x 400m 2nd (3:02.76)
World Indoor Championships: 2008 - 4 x 400m 5th heat (3:12.69)
Olympic Games: 2008 – 400m 3rd semi (45.06), 4 x 400m 6th (3:00.02, split 44.28)

ANNUAL PROGRESSION:
400m
2003 47.73
2004 47.43
2005 47.11
2006 47.01
2007 46.54
2008 44.80
2009 45.83

EVENTS / PERSONAL BESTS:
100m: 10.85 - Sydney, 27/10/07
200m: 21.41 - Sydney, 27/10/07
400m: 44.80 - Beijing (CHN), 18/08/2008

Interesting Facts

Joel is currently completing a psychology course at Macquarie University.

Sporting Career

2008 – Breakthrough year winning the 400m at the Zatopek Classic, Sydney Track Classic and Canberra Athletics Classic – including an impressive 45.19 at the NSW championships. A niggling hamstring injury kept him out of the Sydney Athletics Grand Prix and IAAF World Athletics Tour in Melbourne. Won his first national 400m title, defeating John Steffensen and Sean Wroe, to confirm his individual and relay position on the Australian Olympic team. Competed in the 4x400m relay at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Valencia alongside Wroe, Dylan Grant, Daniel Batman and Mark Ormrod – the team failed to qualify for the final after a fumbled baton pass. Joel broke 45 seconds, setting a new personal best for the first time in Europe. On his Olympic debut, Milburn finished second in his 400m heat in a new personal best (44.80). In his semi-final he ran a gutsy third (45.06) narrowly missing the final. Joel then raced in both the 4x400m heat and final – the team finishing sixth in the second fastest time ever by an Australian men’s 4x400m team.

2009 – Tipped to challenge visiting US sensation Xavier Carter at the Sydney Track Classic in February, Joel placed seventh in a time of 46.51. He bettered that place to finish third at the World Athletics Tour Melbourne in March but could not improve his time, stopping the clock at 46.84. Lining up as title defender at the national championships Joel was unable to make it back-to-back wins, finishing fifth in the field in 46.54.