19 Aug 2016

NZ shot putters qualify for Rio final

6:44 am on 19 August 2016

Rio 2016 Olympics - The New Zealand shot putters Tom Walsh and Jacko Gill have both qualified for the final in Rio.

New Zealand's Tomas Walsh competes in the Men's Shot Put Qualifying Round during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 18, 2016.

Tom Walsh in the men's shot put qualifying round in Rio. Photo: AFP

Walsh passed the automatic qualification distance of 20.65m with his first throw of 21.03m.

The 24-year-old from Timaru, who won this year's World Indoor Championships, finished second best overall in the field.

Meanwhile Gill, who's still recovering from a broken foot, passed the mark with his third and final throw, recording a distance of 20.8m, which is just short of his personal best.

The top qualifier was American Ryan Crouser who stamped his authority early with a 21.59m throw.

World champion Joe Kovacs was in the same qualifying group as Gill and threw a 20.73m on his second attempt.

The final is later today (11:30am NZ time).

- RNZ

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