19 Jul 2014

Adams wins again

8:57 am on 19 July 2014

New Zealand's double Olympic champion shot putter Valerie Adams has secured a fourth consecutive Diamond League series title after winning the latest meet in Monaco.

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Photo: AFP / file

Adams recorded a best throw of 20.38 metres to claim her 53rd straight win, with none of her rivals breaking the 20 metre mark.

The four-time world champion has won all five of the Diamond League meets she's competed at so far this year, and has wrapped up the overall crown with four meets remaining.

Germany's Christina Schwanitz was second in Monaco with a throw of 19.54 metres, while American up and comer Michelle Carter was third with 19.05 metres.

Adams winning throw was just four centimetres short of the 20.42 metre hurls she recorded at a Grand Prix meet in Lucerne, Switzerland and the Diamond League meet in Lausanne two weeks ago.

The 29-year-old is now unbeaten since 2010 and appears a shoe in for gold at this month's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Nick Willis meanwhile ran a New Zealand 1500m record of 3:29.91 in a fast paced race at Monaco, finishing seventh in the best 1500m field assembled for some time.

The race broke four national records and a world junior record.

In the perfect dress rehearsal before Willis attempts to win his third consecutive Commonwealth medal, the U.S. based runner took 0.44 off his previous record set at the same meeting two years ago.

The time continues an amazing season for the 31-year-old Olympic silver medallist, adding a sub 3:30 1500m to a sub 3:50 mile and a national record over 3000.