Early-season form has Walsh content
New Zealand Sportsman of the Year Tom Walsh has broken his own New Zealand resident shot put record ahead of his world indoor title defence.
The Cantabrian hurled the shot out to 21.87m at the Porritt Classic meet in Hamilton last Saturday.
Just two days earlier, a kilt-clad Walsh had collected the Sportsman of the Year trophy at the Halberg Awards.
The Porritt Classic performance added 7cm to his New Zealand resident record set on the North Shore a year ago.
It was his ninth best all-time effort and improved on his 21.14m throw at the Potts Classic in Hawke’s Bay a fortnight ago.
Walsh - who will put his title on the line at the world indoor championships in Birmingham from March 2 to 4 - was looking for a
22.00m effort in Hamilton but was reasonably happy with his form leading into the world championships.
‘‘It wasn’t too bad, I just feel like I’m knocking on the door which is a good thing, it’s very close and I know that when I get there I’ll be in good shape because it’s the furthest I’ve thrown this early in the season,’’ he said.
‘‘I feel like every competition I’m getting a lot better as well.
‘‘So overall pretty happy but also I always want more.’’
Walsh produced an impressive series of throws, 20.99, 21.87, 20.77,
21.44 x, 21.33.
He is looking forward to getting back on the world stage.
‘‘In the men’s shot put at the moment there’s 22 guys last year over 21 metres and that’s a hell of a number so that kind of shows you how competitive the men’s shot put is at the moment but it even makes it more worthwhile when you win,’’ he said.
Ryan Ballantyne and Nick Palmer who will both be competing at the world junior championships in Finland in July competed with the 6kg shot Ballantyne winning with 18.84m to Palmer’s
18.04m.
The New Zealand 3000m championship races were closely contested affairs, Olivia Burne winning the women’s title and Peter Wheeler the men both with superior finishing speed over the final 50 metres.
Burne recorded 9:22.83, Lydia O’Donnell was second in 9:23.86 and early leader Hannah O’Connor third in 9:36.44 with 40 year old Penny Peskett fourth in
9:55.82.
Ben Moynihan provided the bulk of the early pace in the men’s championship, before Oli Chignell made a bid for victory.
National cross-country and half-marathon champion Criag Lautenslager looked to have it sewn up entering the straight but Wheeler had the final say winning in 8:21.66, from Lautenslager (8:22.61) and London and Rio Olympian triathlete Ryan Sissons (8:22.74).
Michael Dawson ran the perfect race in the men’s 800m to beat the more fancied James Preston in a personal best 1:50.93. The women’s race went to Ariana Harper in
2:12.49 from Krystie Solomon.