Walsh betters 22m

New Zealand’s Tom Walsh has produced a timely reminder that he’s trending in the right direction ahead of next month’s world athletics championships in London. In his last event in the United States ahead of his departure for the UK on Tuesday, the 25-year-old Olympic shot put bronze medallist produced a season’s best throw of 22.04 metres to send a message to favourite Ryan Crouser that he will have some competition at the London Olympic stadium. Giant American Crouser has emerged as the dominant force in men’s shot put, following up his emphatic Olympic gold in Rio with a run of 10 consecutive meet wins, including all seven of his starts this year. The 2.03m 24-year-old has topped the 22m mark in six of those seven victories in 2017. But Walsh, the world indoors and 2016 Diamond League champion, remains confident he can challenge Crouser for the gold medal in London, with their competition being held early in the championships, on August 5 and 7 (NZT).