Gill improves shot put record

Jacko Gill new Senior Record

Jacko Gill improves on his New Zealand senior shot put record – qualifies for London Olympic Games
Sixteen year old shot putter Jacko Gill set a new National Record and surpassed the London Olympic Games selection standard with a throw of 20.38m at Sovereign Stadium’s North Shore on Monday evening. The throw came on the first round of the competition at Sovereign Stadium on Auckland’s North Shore.

Gill added 37 centimetres to the national record he set in April this year. The performance is also a new World’s best for athletes aged 16 and 17. Gill was disappointed that he didn’t achieve the world’s best for an 18 year old with the 7.26kg shot which is 20.65m set by American Michael Carter on 4 July 1979.
“I wanted a lot more. I wanted 21m, but that’s okay. I’ve got to rest up and try to come out next Monday and get that 21m,” he said.

Gill was too young to compete at this year’s World Championships in Daegu, Korea, but with Monday’s performance, he would have qualified for the final and placed 8th overall.
In a warm up throw Gill was out to 20.75m.

Gill later took up the 6kg shot sending it out to 22.31m to improve on his New Zealand M18 and M19 record of 21.34m. It is also a world best for a 16 and 17 year old. His next goal with the 6kg shot is David Storl’s 2009 world record for 18 and 19 year olds of 22.73m.

New Zealand’s second best shot putter Tomas Walsh, from Timaru, who is also still a junior set a personal best and Canterbury record of 18.83m in the senior competition. Damian Smuts was third with 15.34m. Ana Po’uhila won the women’s shot with 15.91m.