Walsh heaves biggest throw in four years

Tom Walsh competing at the London Diamond League meet.
Photo: Michael Dawson

Shot putter Tom Walsh has unleashed his longest throw in four years to finish second at the London Diamond League athletics meet.

Walsh threw 22.58m, his biggest effort since the 2019 World Championships.

The 31-year-old Commonwealth champion’s best effort came with his second throw of the day with Walsh finishing behind World and Olympic champion Ryan Crouser, who set a meet record of 23.07m to clinch victory in a high-class competition which whets the appetite for their re-match next month at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

Competing in front of a sell-out 50,000 crowd inside a vibrant London Stadium, Walsh opened his competition with a 21.75m to sit third after round one behind American Joe Kovacs (21.87m) and a 22.07 throw from Crouser.

However, Walsh stepped up to another level in round two producing his mighty heave of 22.58m – although Crouser retained top spot registering a 22.63m effort.

Kovacs, the former world champion, with that first round 21.87m, grabbed the final podium spot.

“I’m starting to really find my timing with my throws and I’m pretty happy with the performance. I was the stadium record holder before this, but records are made to be broken – Ill take it back next time!,” said Walsh.

Walsh will now head to for a stint in Loughborough in England for ten days before heading to a World Championship pre-camp in Montpellier, France and then onto the world champs in Budapest which run from 19-27 August.

New Zealand champion Jacko Gill posted 21.11m to finish fifth.

In other events high jumper Hamish Kerr finished sixth and Sam Tanner was tenth in the men’s 1500m.

-RNZ