Youngsters contest Halberg award

Shot putter Jacko Gill. Photo / Paul Estcourt

World junior shot put champion Jacko Gill heads a quartet of talented emerging athletes in line for a presitigious Halberg award.

Gill won the world under-19 title with a put of 20.76m in July when still aged 15.

He is one of four finalists in the running for the emerging talent award, which includes a $15,000 sporting scholarship.

Gill is joined by Wellington swimmer Gareth Kean, who took silver in the 200m backstroke at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, and is currently ranked seventh in the world.

Tyler Bleyendaal, who captained the New Zealand under-20 team which won this year's junior world rugby championships, and rower Julia Edward - who made the final of the women's lightweight double sculls with Lucy Strack at the world championships on Lake Karapiro - complete the contenders.

The emerging talent award is designed to identify and reward potential Olympic and world champions. It is limited to athletes who have not competed at the Olympics or an open world championships.

The winner will be named at the Halberg Awards dinner on February 10.

- NZPA