Kiwi shot putter Tom Walsh has taken a huge step towards September’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo after producing a season-best throw to win the latest Diamond League event in Rome.
The 33-year-old’s first round attempt of 21.89m was enough to claim top spot, a season’s best distance by 18cm.
He finished 22cm clear of Italy’s Zane Weir, with Jamaica’s Rajindra Campbell third with 21.64m.
Speaking to Newstalk ZB’s Jason Pine on Weekend Sport, Walsh was ecstatic with his consistent performance, as he also produced throws of 20.74m, 20.97m and 21.33m.
“What I wanted from today’s comp was to give myself six good goes at throwing it a long way, and that’s exactly what I managed to do,” said Walsh.
Walsh will now head to the United States where he will meet up with his family, but there will be plenty of preparation before the World Athletics Championships.
“I’ll spend that time in America training, regrouping and doing a bit of a reload phase in the gym, along with some technical throwing work,” said Walsh.
“But also just trying to get into that rhythm of throwing well, trusting the work we’ve done, and making that ball go a long way.
“Then I’ve got a few comps back in Europe to get ready for Tokyo in September.”
Two other New Zealanders also competed in Rome but didn’t have as much success.
Olympic high jump champion Hamish Kerr finished sixth in his event with a best clearance of 2.20m, while Imogen Ayris was eighth in the women’s pole vault with 4.50m.
Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.
