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Shot put sensation Lisa Adams etched another chapter in her storied career by successfully retaining her world shot put F37 title with a championship record performance on a pumping day two evening session at the Paris 2023 Para Athletics World Championships.

Adams, the Paralympic champion, reaffirmed her status as the world’s dominant women’s shot put F37 thrower as the 32-year-old once again gave a clear demonstration of her gifts inside a steaming Stade Charlety.

The Rotorua-based athlete, who is coached by two-time Olympic champion Dame Valerie Adams, led from her opening round throw of 13.98m before extending her advantage with a 14.29m effort in the second stanza.

Further stamping her dominance on the event, the Kiwi pounded the metal ball out to 14.52m in round three before adding a further 2cm on to her best for the day with her fourth round throw.

After registering a foul in round five and with the competition already pocketed, Adams saved her best for last as she powered the 3kg shot out to 14.84m in round six to add 4cm to her championship record performance from 2019. Reversing their finishing positions from the Tokyo Paralympics – Chinese duo Yingli Li took silver with a best of 13.46m with Na Mi claiming bronze with a best of 12.50m.

Adams said of her win: “I just needed to get a safe throw out there and just build on that which I did.

“We don’t train to finish second you want to come first, and that was the goal. I’m also pleased to get a slot for New Zealand (at the Paris Paralympics next year by finishing top four), I feel that was a good team goal.”

Anna Grimaldi blitzed to a stunning Oceania record time of 12.31 (-0.5) to place second in heat three of the women’s 100m T47 and advance second fastest overall into the final – which takes place at 5am on Wednesday.

The double Paralympic long jump champion has good 100m credentials having placed fourth in the 2016 Rio Paralympic final but today revealed a new level to her sprinting ability with a dazzling display.

The 26-year-old Dunedin-based athlete got out of the blocks well although the Kiwi trailed Kiara Rodriguez of Ecuador who made a bullet-like start. While Rodriguez continued to lead, Grimaldi strengthened her grip on second only to impressively close in on the leader in the final metres – showing hugely impressive strength.

Rodriguez posted 12.20 to head the qualifiers from the three heats, but Grimaldi’s 12.31 – represented a huge improvement on her previous New Zealand record mark of 12.60 set at the Jennian Homes New Zealand Track & Field Championships in Hastings. Grimaldi also lowered the 24-year-old Oceania record of 12.49 previously held by Australian Amy Louise Winters.

Grimaldi, who is coached by Mike Jacobs, said: “All I had in mind was to aggressively attack the start, which has been something which has let me down in the past. My start is something we have worked hard to change over the past six months, and I feel like in the last four weeks it has all come together. In past races I’ve tied up at 70m or 80m but today that didn’t happen.

“I think I was ranked ninth coming into this event and the aim was to make the final. For the final I just want to get to that start line and run a race I am proud of. If I can produce a performance half as good as today, I will be happy.”

Joe Smith climaxed his debut Para Athletics World Championships by producing the second fastest performance of his career to place eighth in the men’s 100m T37 final. The 25-year-old Aucklander who yesterday shattered his long-standing PB with an impressive 12.08, made a solid start in the final and he can be proud of his efforts as he flashed past the line in 12.10 (+0.1) in the final.

At the pointy end of the field, Brazilian Ricardo Gomes struck gold in a championship record 11.21 – 0.06 clear of Indonesia’s Sapatoyogo Purnumo who upgraded on the bronze medal he won at the last edition of the championships in Dubai.

Smith said: “Today wasn’t the greatest execution, so it is a great time considering.

“I’m insanely proud of my efforts in Paris. I didn’t expect to come away with a new PB. I ran two very good races and I’m stoked with how it went. This experience will better prepare me for next year, when hopefully I can execute a bit better.”

Will Stedman will be the sole Kiwi in action tonight as he takes to the blocks in the men’s 400m T36 Final at 7.34pm. Stedman, a two-time Paralympic bronze medallist in this event, qualified second fastest for the final.

***Follow all the action on TVNZ+. Note, the coverage will be taken from the world feed so we cannot guarantee that all events featuring Kiwi athletes will be shown.

***For results go here

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On a memorable day two evening session for New Zealand at the Paris 2023 Para Athletics World Championships:

*Lisa Adams claims back-to-back world shot put F37 titles with a championship record performance

*Anna Grimaldi blitzes to an Oceania record in the heats of the women’s 100m T47

*Joe Smith climaxes his championship with an eighth place finish in the men’s 100m T37 final