Athletics: Tom Walsh smashes national record, hurls biggest throw in 15 years

Tom Walsh. Photo / Photosport

Tom Walsh has unleashed shot put's biggest throw in the last 15 years, hurling a mammoth 22.67 metres at the Sir Graeme Douglas International Track Challenge in Auckland.

The new national record and personal best throw is the biggest throw in the sport since 2003, while nobody has thrown longer than Walsh's mark since 1990.

His record effort easily surpassed his previous best of 22.31 metres, and the 22.67 mark sees Walsh now tied for ninth on the all-time list.

Walsh knew his attempt was good coming out of the hand, but was surprised to have shattered his previous best.

"It felt pretty easy and felt pretty good – I got through it pretty well. I knew it was far I just didn't know it was quite that far – it was great to just put that one throw together."

The world record has stood for 28 years, with Randy Barnes - who was later banned for life due to doping - hurling 23.12 metres in 1990.

Walsh believes that record is bound to fall, and believes he could be the man to break it.

"Every day it gets more and more of a possibility – the closer and closer you get to it the more and more you believe. Considering how easy that was, I think it's there.

"I know I've got more up my sleeve still."

Walsh won the event by over a metre and a half, and his dominance further enhances his massive favouritism for the Commonwealth Games.

"Looking at the Comm Games, it's looking pretty good – hopefully I'll be dropping some more bombs."

Dame Valerie Adams has won the women's event, with a season's best throw of 18.48 metres.

Canadian Brittany Crew threw the same distance on her second attempt, but was pipped by Adams via countback.

Eliza McCartney also came out on top in the pole vault, clearing 4.75 metres. She had three attempts at 4.85 - which would have been a new national record - but fell just short.

McCartney had mixed emotions after her performance.

"I'm kinda happy that I'm a little bit frustrated with only jumping 4.75, it's a good consistent height now. It's quite exciting that it's almost not good enough yet.

"Just to be attempting [personal bests] all the time – that means you're in a good place at least, gotta be happy with that."

The Olympic bronze medalist had cleared 4.90m last week, but the run-up didn't meet international standards, and she couldn't quite topple her official personal best of 4.82.

"It just wasn't quite coming together today and that happens sometimes. My training at the moment is going so well, so it's just a matter of getting it together on the day at the Commonwealth Games."

That day is looming ever closer, and there could be a gold rush awaiting for New Zealand on the Gold Coast.