Vili named top shotputter by American sports magazine

Valerie Vili has been rated the world's best female shotputter for 2007 by authoritative American athletics magazine Track and Field News.

Vili was ranked No 1 ahead of the woman she beat for the world title in Japan in August, Nadzeya Ostapchuck of Belarus.

Kimberley Smith is the only other New Zealander ranked in the top 10 of their event, being listed at fifth in the women's 10,000m behind No 1 Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia.

Smith finished fifth when Dibaba successfully defended her world crown in Osaka.

- NZPA