The national track and field championships in Hastings on March 5-7 will be another event where they clash before considering the prospect of going overseas ahead of the Tokyo Olympics in July, Covid-19 permitting, and Gill is in career-best form while Walsh, a former world champion and medallist at the last Olympics (bronze) and Commonwealth Games (gold), is stuck in a rut. Meanwhile, Dame Valerie Adams saw off the challenge of Maddison-Lee Wesche to comfortably win the women’s shot put, throwing longer than 18m with all six throws.
Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images
Dame Valerie Adams won the women’s shot put in Hamilton (FILE PHOTO).
Sunday, 14 February 2021, 6:51 am
In perfect summer conditions, the Porritt Classic served
up a New Zealand resident record, six meeting records, a
pair of national Para records and a slew of personal bests
on a thrilling day of action in Hamilton.
Led by
Portia Bing’s blistering New Zealand resident record in
the 400m hurdles, a formidable hammer throw by Lauren Bruce
and yet another shot put victory for Jacko Gill over Tom
Walsh, the day was chock full of outstanding memories on a
great advertisement for the strength in depth of New Zealand
athletics.
In one of the first track events of the
Double Olympic gold medallist Dame Valerie Adams is working her way back into form, twice bettering the Tokyo Olympic qualifying standard at the Porritt Classic in Hamilton on Saturday.
Thursday, 11 February 2021, 12:12 pm
One of the most enthralling storylines of the sporting
summer will open its next chapter on Saturday when Tom Walsh
and Jacko Gill resume their rivalry in the shot-put circle
at the Porritt Classic in Hamilton.
Gill, 26, is
currently riding the crest of a wave with three straight
victories over Walsh and a career-best throw of 21.52m at
the International Track Meet in Christchurch last
weekend.
But he will be wary of the constant threat of
three-time world champion Walsh, who has improved in
distance in each of his outings this season.
The
28-year-old started with 20.14m at the Night of 5s meet in