News & Updates

Dame Valerie Adams produced a season’s best performance and her longest throw for five years with an outstanding 19.75m effort in her final pre-Olympic competition at the Kamila Skolimowska Throwing Festival in Poland overnight.

The 36-year-old double Olympic champion, who elevated herself to number four on the World Lists, executed an outstanding series as all six of her throws went beyond 19m.

The shot put star hinted at her current form after securing a first Diamond League victory in five years in Stockholm on July 5 with a 19.26m effort, and her performance in Poland offered more compelling evidence she will be a major threat in Tokyo.

Opening with a 19.31m effort, she followed up in round two with a 19.21m toss before unleashing her monster 19.75m with her third throw – a mark which surpassed her season’s best set at the Sir Graeme Douglas International in Auckland in February by 10cm.

Adams maintained her consistent series with a 19.49m throw in round four followed by 19.54m with her penultimate effort. She climaxed her competition in the final stanza with 19.32m.

Chase Ealey of the USA, who finished seventh at the 2019 World Championships, banked second with 18.23m with Poland’s Klaudia Kardasz claiming third courtesy of an 18.05m toss.

It was Adams’ longest throw since she also achieved 19.75m in Bad Koztritz, Germany in August 2016.

Kiwi Tom Walsh also claimed victory in Poland, hurling the 7.26kg shot out to 21.60m to extend his winning streak to six competitions.

The three-time world champion could not quite match the form which earned him a season’s best throw of 22.22m in Szekesfehervar, Hungary last week.

However, a best effort of 21.60m in round five earned the Christchurch-based thrower top spot by a margin of 10cm from Josh Awotunde of the USA. Michal Haratyk of Poland completed the top three (20.64m).

Tokyo-bound Lauren Bruce was also in action in the women’s hammer. The New Zealand record-holder placed fourth with a best of 69.82m – behind 2017 World Championship bronze medallist Malwina Kopron of Poland, who snared first with a best of 75.28m.