Athletics: Bay shot putter denied world champs crack

BIG FUTURE: Hawke's Bay's Nick Palmer is ranked third on the Australasia under-20 shot put rankings. PHOTO/DUNCAN BROWN

Political unrest in Kenya has denied Hawke's Bay shot putter Nick Palmer a crack at a world title but he isn't complaining.

Recent form suggests Palmer, 16, would have been a serious contender at the world under-18 champs scheduled to be held in Nairobi in July. The Karamu High School year 11 student accepts Athletics New Zealand's decision not to send a team, based on safety concerns, was the right one and he agreed there will be plenty of opportunities in the future for him to compete at international level.

New Zealand has joined Great Britain, Australia, Canada and Switzerland as non-participating countries for the champs. Other countries are considering their options.
Earlier this month the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's (MFAT's) status for Kenya was high risk, with kidnapping, hijacking, terrorism and violent crime among major concerns.

MFTAT advised against all tourist and other non-essential travel to Nairobi.

Last weekend Palmer, the Kiwi No 1 on the under-18 rankings, finished third in the Junior Men's under-20 section, throwing the heavier weight of 6kg, at the Big Shot event in Christchurch with a throw of 17.91m. New Zealand's No 1 under-20 competitor Ryan Ballantyne of Christchurch won with a 19.54m effort and Australia's top under-20 shot putter Aidan Harvey was second with an 18.11m throw.

"I was aiming for a throw around 17 metres. I was stoked to go almost a metre further," Palmer recalled.

"All the pressure was off because I've got another three years in this age group. I just wanted to enjoy it and kept calm. But having three Aussies there fired me up, you know what Trans Tasman rivalry does for any Kiwi ... it was one of the biggest events I competed in."

This results placed him No 2 in the country on the New Zealand under-20 rankings and No 3 on the Australasia under-20 rankings. He also broke the Hawke's Bay-Gisborne 19 years and under male record of 15.56m which had stood since 1985.

Should his March 17-19 national championships campaign in Hamilton go to plan Palmer, the 2016 Hawke's Bay Secondary Schools Male Athletics Athlete of the Year, should be selected for the July Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas.

"My long-term goal is to try and qualify for the World Junior Champs in Finland next year. The qualifying mark with the 6kg shot is 18.60m so I'm on track with 12 months to do it," Palmer said.

With two days of training with his Christchurch-based coach, former Australian athlete Dale Stevenson, before the one-day comp Palmer returned home knackered. He has had a break from training this week and will resume training on Monday.

"It has been good re-charging my batteries and catching up on school work."

His next meet will be the March 8 East Coast Secondary Schools Champs in Hastings. From March 26-30 Palmer will be in action at the Australia national champs.

Palmer's decision to have a spell this week was just as sensible as ANZ's decision to withdraw from the world under-18 champs.

The Christchurch trip helped Palmer make a key decision related to his long-term future.

When he leaves school he will head to Christchurch to study sports science and coaching.
This will enable him to be closer to Stevenson who also coaches Kiwi Olympian Tom Walsh and Ballantyne.