Valerie Vili of New Zealand takes bronze in the women's Shot Put (© Getty Images)
World Championship bronze medallist Valerie Adams-Vili produced the longest ever women's Shot Put on home soil to break the New Zealand all-comers and resident record. in her first competition of the new southern hemisphere season. Her 19.38m heave gave her victory at the Porritt Classic meeting in Hamilton, New Zealand, on Wednesday (14).
The 21-year-old former World Junior and World Youth champion added six centimetres to the record she set when winning the New Zealand title in Wanganui in March this year.
Though the performance was the furthest distance ever put in New Zealand, Vili holds the national record of 19.87m set in the qualification round at the World Championships in Helsinki, Finland in August.
"That's sweet, pretty much sweet," said Vili. "It's my first competition of the season, and I needed something to get me going. It's a start, and my preparation is going well, awesome," she added.
Vili, from Pakuranga, leads the Commonwealth and is currently second in the IAAF World Ranking for the event.
Reigning Commonwealth Discus Throw champion Beatrice Faumuina of Waitakere began the build-up to the defence of her crown in Melbourne next March, with an opening season throw of 58.97m, nearly nine metres further than Melehifo Uhi of Tonga.
"It is a good sign. It was dead out there tonight, with the humidity it was like throwing into a thick wall. It was hard to break through," said Faumuina. "It was good to get a win and I now look forward to competing at Sovereign Stadium (North Shore) on Saturday (17)," she added.
Melissa Murrihy of Taumarunui qualified for the World Junior Championships in Beijing, China, next August, in the 3000m Steeplechase with her run of 10:40.99, but Rebecca Forlong, of Counties Manukau who won the race in 10:26.77, was outside the Commonwealth Games target time of 10:05.
Note. The Porritt Classic is one of the qualifying continental permit meetings for the 2006 IAAF World Athletics Final.
Alastair Dunn – Athletics New Zealand - for the IAAF
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