Hometown hero Tom Walsh has added a 10th National title to his ever growing list of achievements.
The shot putter threw 21.70m for the win at the Jennian Homes National Championships in Christchurch.
“Three of throws were really good, I’ve got a bit more distance in me for sure but the picture is looking better as a whole.
“It’s hard to believe it’s my 10th title, you’re making me feel old”, said Walsh.
In the days other action Teenage sprint sensation Edward Osei-Nketia took out the men’s 100m title while Taranaki’s Zoe Hobbs claimed the women’s
Earlier Portia Bing defied the dire conditions to retain her 400m hurdles title with an assured display.
The chilly and wet conditions at Ngā Puna Wai ruled out Bing having a realistic crack at the World Championship qualification mark of 56.00, but the 25-year-old Aucklander still had more than enough to be crowned national champion.
Bing, who last month posted a national record of 56.04, stopped the clock in 59.63 to strike gold.
“Conditions were what they were,” says Bing. “Sometimes you compete with different goals and today was all about winning a national title.
“I’m coming off a big high with three PBs and a national record and I’m very appreciative of these times.”
Kayla Goodwin defied the bleak conditions to strike double as the gifted teenager enjoyed a record-breaking opening day in Christchurch.
Goodwin started her unforgettable day by bounding out to national U18 and U19 records with a leap of 12.74m to strike gold in in the women’s U20 triple jump.
Then the 17-year-old backed that up to earn a surprise victory in the women’s senior long jump competition.
“I’m quite amazed,” explains Goodwin of her double gold success. “You always hope that you can do PBs and I couldn’t ask for a better way to do - at national champs.
“I thought I didn’t have enough warm clothes for the day, so I just wanted to get out there and see what I could do. In the long jump I knew I had a big one in me; I just had to show I could do it."
The action continues in Christchurch tomorrow.
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