Big shot ready to roll and hungry for more
New Zealand’s shot put success story of 2014 is back on track. Marc Hinton checks in with Tom Walsh ahead of an early acid test.
THERE was Tom Walsh, sleeves rolled up, work boots on, sweating chunks in the Christchurch heat as the temporary shot put circle was laid for this week’s ‘The Big Shot’ in his adopted home town.
You wouldn’t know he was the star of the show that is to follow just a few days later, for there he was doing the grunt work, lending a hand, proving once again that as elite Kiwi sportsmen go, this fellow has to be one of the most grounded we have.
Walsh, of course, is New Zealand’s best shot put exponent not named Valerie Adams. The 22-year-old, 125kg South Canterbury product and part-time builder exploded on to the scene in 2014 when he won a bronze medal at the world indoor championships and followed it with a silver at the Commonwealth Games.
It’s a mark of how far he has come (he’s now ranked sixth in the world) and how quickly he has reassessed his goals, that he still regards that second placing in Glasgow with a tinge of disappointment.
‘‘It was pretty cool, mate,’’ he says of his breakthrough year. ‘‘One thing that would have topped it all off would have been gold at the Commonwealth Games. But I’ve said many times, if you’d told me at the start of the year I’d have that good a season I would have said you’re crazy. It’s funny how your expectations change when you throw far.’’
Now, as Walsh re-enters the competitive arena this week with back-to-back match-ups against in-form giant American Ryan Whiting at Christchurch’s innercity shot put extravaganza on Wednesday, then the Auckland Track Challenge at Waitakere on Thursday, it’s with raised expectations, both within and from an expectant Kiwi public.
The good news is Walsh, who still straps on the builder’s apron three days a week because he likes to stay busy, has made significant physical gains as he launches a season he hopes will peak with something special at the world championships in Beijing in August.
The trick now is to turn increases in weight (he’s gained WHAT to watch at this week’s Auckland Track Challenge (Thursday, February 26: Trusts Stadium, Waitakere, 7.30pm)
MEN’S 5000M
Who: Nick Willis (NZ), Zane Robertson (NZ), Jake Robertson (NZ), Augustine Choge (Kenya), Hassan Mead (US), David McNeill (Australia), Brett Robinson (Australia). What: Potential ‘‘grudge’’ matchup between the in-form Willis and Robertson twins in their first race back on Kiwi soil since they were 17 may be compromised by injury issues for the African-based siblings. But should still be a cracking race, with the pedigree of Choge and Mead, the speed of Willis (who’s twice cracked the NZ indoor mile record recently) and staying about 3kg), strength (his bench is up 5-10kg, squat 10-15kg) and dexterity (vertical jump is up 2-3cm) into bigger throws. It’s a final step he admits he’s still coming to terms with.
‘‘I’m bigger, faster and stronger, all that kind of stuff, but it hasn’t quite connected with my throwing yet,’’ he says. ‘‘Because I’m faster I may be trying to muscle the shot a little which means I lose some timing. It’s a matter of getting used to the new power of Zane Robertson making it likely records could tumble.
MEN’S SHOT PUT
Who: Ryan Whiting (US), Tom Walsh (NZ), Damien Birkinhead (Australia). What: Should be a second straight showdown between the in-form American and Kiwi hope Walsh who will also be the star attractions at Christchurch’s ‘Big Shot’ on the site of the old Crowne Plaza Hotel a night earlier. World championship silver medallist Whiting arrives with a 21.80m under his belt just days ago while Walsh is looking to hit the ground running after a productive off-season. Big boys, big fun.
WOMEN’S 1500M
Who: Zoe Buckman (Australia), horsepower I have.’’
Walsh is hoping to hit a ‘‘minipeak’’ over the next few weeks as he launches his season against Whiting, who’s fresh off a 21.80 metre throw that has Walsh feeling ‘‘a little nervous’’. Down the track he has a sixth straight national title to shoot for, before the show heads overseas.
With a rejigged coaching team (Dale Stevenson and Angus Ross have joined technical guru Ian Baird), Walsh says changes have On track: Nikki Hamblin will renew her rivalry with fellow Kiwi Angie Petty in the 1500m. all been subtle. ‘‘You don’t throw 21m with a bad technique,’’ he shrugs. ‘‘I know I’ve got most of the picture there, I’ve just got to tweak bits and pieces so it all comes together again. ‘‘I don’t want to be that guy that comes out and has one good year. One of the big things for me is to keep building, keep working hard and getting stronger and faster.’’
Walsh is pumped to have Whiting in New Zealand, and more so to launch their head-to-heads in a Nikki Hamblin (New Zealand), Angie Petty (New Zealand), Melissa Duncan (Australia), Magdalene Masai (Kenya). What: Should be another quality track race. Kiwis Hamblin and Petty (nee Smit) have a nice rivalry, and when you factor in a couple of handy Aussies and a classy Kenyan who has run a 9:01 3k, we should have the makings of something special.
WOMEN POLE VAULT
Who: Eliza McCartney (NZ), Alana Boyd (Australia) What: Boyd is the Commonwealth Games gold medallist and McCartney is a young New Zealand athlete on the rise. Boyd’s PB of 4.76m is 31cm better than McCartney’s but expect the world junior bronze medallist to push her hard. specially-convened shot put arena in inner-city Christchurch that he strongly believes is the future for his sport.
‘‘We don’t get too many superstars of the sport here, apart from Val of course. People think I’m a reasonably-sized man but Ryan is 145kg, and 6’5. He’s a big and powerful man, and he’s in great form.’’
He may need to be. Walsh is fast proving to be somewhat of a big shot himself.