All smiles and then some! Valerie Vili after winning the World Shot Put title (© Getty Images)
Reigning World Shot Put champon Valerie Vili combined a world class Shot Put victory at the Black Singlet Invitational with acceptance of the sportswoman of the year and the supreme award in the Halberg Awards at the new Douglas track and field stadium in Waitakere City last evening.
The Black Singlet Invitational is one of a select group of Area meetings at which points can be acquired by athletes to qualify for the 2008 IAAF / VTB Bank World Athletics Final to be held on 13-14 September 2008 in Stuttgart, Germany.
Vili opened the competition with a 19.55m effort and in round two sent the ball of steel out to 20.13m, her best performance this season and the leading distance in the world this year. In the final round Vili also eclipsed the 20 metre barrier with 20.09m.
Kristin Heaston of the USA was second with 17.66m and Ana Po'uhila of Tonga third with 17.37m.
"It was a great comp, twice over 20 metres, a new season's best and to top it off with the Halberg Awards, absolutely a fantastic night," said Vili.
"New Zealand sportsperson of the year is the icing on the cake after winning the world champs, it is an impressive trophy, I might melt it down and make a shot, but I wouldn't," she added.
Vili's coach honoured as well
Vili said that she was still having treatment for a slight niggle in her back.
"I slipped while sprint training on wet grass, but with the treatment it is going away."
To cap a great evening for athletics Vili's coach Kirsten Hellier received the coach of the year award.
Vili said that having Hellier as her coach has been a major part of her success.
"Athletics is an individual sport and can get quite lonesome, we travel the world together, I do my thing and she does hers and we are a great team," said Vili.
Hellier said that there had been some great sporting performances during the past year all backed by some outstanding coaches and to be singled out as the coach of the year was a great honour.
Elsewhere
Australian Dani Samuels, a former World youth and World junior champion in the Discus Throw and still only 19, defeated New Zealand's former World champion with a 60.11 throw, just shy of her 61.38 PB she achieved 10 days ago. Faumuina threw 58.47 for second, with American Aretha Thurmond third with 55.17m.
Jarrod Bannister of Australia won the Javelin Throw with an 81.33m effort, with American Mike Hazle (77.54m) and New ZealandStuart Farquhar (75.15m) third. Last month in Canberra, the 25-year-old Farquhar improved his career best to 83.23.
James Dolphin sprinted to his fastest 200m in the country with a time of 20.74 (+0.9). Jeffrey Thumath was under 21 seconds coming second in 20.97.
Anna Smyth won the women's 100m in 11.73s (+1.1) and April Brough the 200m in 24.20s.
Hamish Carson of Kapiti was impressive in the manner in which he won the 1500m out-kicking Jason Stewart in 3:49.04. Aunese Curreen followed up his sub-four minute mile in Wanganui on Saturday evening with a win in the 800m in 1:51.28.
Murray McKinnon (Athletics New Zealand) for the IAAF
