The New Zealand junior shot putters Jacko GILL and Tom WALSH wanted to have an opportunity to perform before the end of the year and , thanks to the Millenium institute Auckland and sponsor Graeme AVERY , a shot put invitational series of 3 competitions with the best New Zealand throwers have been organized at the Sovereign stadium Auckland (5th-12th-19th december). The 1st competition was really a success with both athletes breaking records . With the 7kg , Jacko GILL broke his New Zealand senior record at his 1st attempt with 20,38m , also an Olympic qualifier . He could not improve in the next attempts , probably trying too hard after a promising warm up throw well over 20,50m. Tom WALSH , improved 4 times his 7kg PB (18,42m-18,43m-18,56m and 18,83m) to rank now 2nd junior in the world with this implement this season and come up to the 4th position on the NZL all time rankings. With the 6kg shot , Jacko GILL was a little less tensed and had 3 PBs (22,09m - 22,29m and 22,31m) to improve his NZL junior record by nearly 1m and achieved the 2nd all time junior best performance after 22,73m world record by David STORL. All performances of Jacko GILL with 7 and 6kg were also World best ever performances for 16 and 17 years old !
The best NZL shot put throwers will meet again on the 12th december and launch a second offensive against the New Zealand and World records and best performances . Will Jacko GILL make it to 21m with the 7kg and 23m with the 6kg ? Will Tom WALSH get over 21m with the 6kg ? Every body is impatient to watch the second round of these Millenium shot put series. DP