Walsh sets record in Timaru
Tom Walsh has set a New Zealand residents’ record in front of his hometown fans.
Walsh had no trouble winning the inaugural Super Shot men’s title in Timaru yesterday, hurling the shot out to 22.06m and beating his own residents record of 21.87m, set at the Porritt Classic meet in Hamilton in February.
The world champion said it will be a tough couple of weeks in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games as he continues his busy block of shot put events.
Walsh, 26, has two more competitions in New Zealand, and now has the Games on the Gold Coast now firmly in his sights.
"I’ve had a great start to the year winning the world indoors and now I’ve just got to keep it going and keep throwing 22m.
"The world record’s 23.13m and if I don’t get there soon then someone else will so that’s my goal.
"I hope the Timaru crowd enjoyed themselves because I sure as hell did in this circle."
Walsh admitted putting pressure on himself before his homecoming, saying he wanted to win for his home fans.
"It’s good that I threw so well and took care of business.
"I thought I probably could have thrown a little bit further but that’s just the way it is."
In yesterday’s women’s Super Shot event, Canadian national record holder Brittany Crew was dominant throwing 17.89m.
The next best was fellow Canadian Taryn Suttie, throwing 16.99m.
The three-leg series now moves to Christchurch for The Big Shot in central Christchurch on Friday, and the final leg at Waitakere in the Sir Graeme Douglas International Track Challenge on March 25.