Athletics: Adams adds 20cm to her record throws

Nikki Hamblin leads the pack in the women's 800m final. Photo / Otago Daily Times

Valerie Adams was delighted with her form and record-breaking performance in the shot put on Saturday, collecting her 11th national title in the event.

The Olympic and world champion threw 20.54m at the Caledonian Stadium in Dunedin, adding 21cm to her New Zealand all-comers and resident record.

The national record, which she set overseas, is 21.07m.

"I came out today to try and break my own resident and all-comers record; I'm really happy with my series, the best series this season, I'm pretty stoked to throw 20.54m today," said Adams.

She will return to Switzerland this week to begin building up to the world championships - in August in Korea - with coach Jean-Pierre Egger.

"I now go back to really do the base work - lots of lifting and throwing, real heavy stuff, heading towards the world champs."

Jacko Gill set a world's best for 16- and 17-year-olds and improved on his national M19 and M18 record with a performance of 21.34m in the 6kg shot.

This improved on his own age 16 best of 20.76m and bettered the age 17 distance of 21.08m set by German David Storl in 2008.

While pleased to get another couple of best performances, Gill was disappointed he didn't get out to 22.73m, which would also give him the records for 18- and 19-year-olds.

"I definitely wanted a lot further today, but there are a lot of other opportunities to do it," said Gill.

"There are a few technique things that are wrong."

Tom Walsh of South Canterbury provided plenty of competition for Gill, coming second with 19.91m.

Walsh was aiming to break the 20m barrier.

"[I] just missed, I wasn't staying low enough. It will come as I have another six months to get there."

He appreciates the competition Gill provides.

"We push each other and keep pushing to the next extreme, which is good.

"I don't think either of us would be throwing this far if the other one wasn't here so it's good both of us are here at the same time and also not good at the same time," said Walsh.

Stuart Farquhar, silver medallist at the Delhi Commonwealth Games, collected the national javelin title - his 11th in a row. Despite the atrocious conditions yesterday, Farquhar hoisted the javelin to a respectable 75.47m.

Nikki Hamblin, double silver medallist at the Delhi games, comfortably won the first of her two title defences: 800m in 2m 5.49s. But in the 1500m Katie Wright and Kellie Palmer tested her right to the finish.

Wright led into the final lap and was holding the pole line heading into the final straight, but Hamblin swung wide and, with Palmer chasing hard on the outside, held on until the end to finish in 4m 29.76s. Palmer was second in 4m 30.06s and Wright third in 4m 30.33s.

Hamish Carson retained his senior 1500m title, outgunning Hayden McLaren over the final lap.

Alex Jordan, of Tasman, was outstanding in the senior 400m, winning in the fourth fastest time by a New Zealander with 46.40s. He followed that up yesterday with an equally impressive victory in the senior 200m in 21.33s.

Julian Oakley, son of Dame Susan Devoy, outkicked Jonathan Jackson to win the M19 1500m in 4m 1.38s. Coached by world championship representative Gareth Hyett, Oakley said he stuck to the plan and proved that he had the speed when it counted over the final 80m.

Andrea Koenen of Auckland won the women's sprint double yesterday, adding the 200m to the 100m she won on Friday.

James Mortimer, seven times New Zealand 110m hurdles champion, successfully moved to 400m hurdles, winning in 50.83s and beating arch rival Michael Cochrane from Waikato.

Louise Jones of Auckland retained her senior women's 400m title in 54.36s.