Jacko Gill's new personal best has secured a third straight victory over shot put rival Tom Walsh at the International Track Meet in Christchurch.
Jacko Gill competing at the world athletic champs in London in August. Photo: Photosport
Gill round one throw of 21.52 metres was good enough to beat three-time world champion Walsh's season-best of 21.46.
Notably, it was Gill's second competition of the day, having earlier thrown 21.19m at an event to mark the tenth anniversary of Shaka Sola's Throwing Academy in Lower Hutt before flying down to Christchurch.
Dame Valerie Adams also threw a season's best of 18.41 metres in the women's shot put.
The early effort suggested the two-time Olympic champion was in the mood to go beyond the automatic Olympic qualifier of 18.50m but she struggled to find her groove in the second half of the competition and it was not to be on this occasion.
Paralympic champion Anna Grimaldi lit up the women's long jump as she added six centimetres to her T47 national record with a first-round effort of 5.78m.
Former heavyweight champion boxer Leon Spinks dies
Boxer Leon Spinks, who won an Olympic gold medal and then beat Muhammad Ali to become the undisputed heavyweight champion, has died after a long battle with cancer.
Spinks, 67, passed away with only a few close friends and family present due to Covid-19 restrictions.
"Leon fought his battle with numerous illnesses resiliently, never losing his trademark smile,' The Firm PR said in a statement sent to Reuters. "Showing true Spinks determination, he never threw in the towel."
Spinks, recognizable by his gap-toothed grin, rose to fame winning the light-heavyweight gold medal for the United States at the 1976 Montreal Olympics but shocked the boxing world just two years later when in only his eighth professional bout defeated Ali in a split decision.
That would be the highlight of Spinks' career as Ali would get his revenge in the rematch seven months later in New Orleans.
Spinks would fight for a heavyweight crown only on one other occasion losing to Larry Holmes in 1981.
He would retire at the age of 42 with an unremarkable record of 26-17-3
- Reuters
Fox four shots off lead
New Zealand's Ryan Fox has dropped to a share of seventh after a one-over par third round at the European Tour event in Saudi Arabia.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Tied for the lead at 10-under after his second round, Fox mixed four bogeys with three birdies to fall to nine-under overall heading into the final day of the tournament.
The Aucklander's third round came alongside world number one American Dustin Johnson, who carded a four-under-par 66 to go 13-under overall and take the outright lead.
Despite a double-bogey on the par-four 13th when he found the water, Johnson recorded six birdies to be two shots clear of Frenchman Victor Perez.
Johnson had an opportunity to make amends for the double bogey with an 11-foot eagle putt on the 18th but watched as it agonisingly missed the cup for the 36-year-old to settle for a birdie.
- RNZ, Reuters
Root racks up double ton
England captain Joe Root has become the first batsman to smash a double-hundred in his 100th Test, crafting a massive 218 runs to put his team in charge of the opening match against India in Chennai.
Photo: AFP
The 30-year-old registered his second double-century in three matches as England amassed 8-555 on a flat wicket at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Root was seen battling cramps in the final overs on day one but returned to hound India's bowlers when England resumed on 3-263.
The right-hander looked typically solid against an Indian attack which could manage only a couple of half-hearted lbw appeals against him in the first two sessions.
Root was more than happy to let Ben Stokes dominate their 124-run collaboration for the fourth wicket as the boundaries flowed.
Playing his first test since August, Stokes smashed 10 boundaries and three sixes in a typically entertaining 82.
- Reuters
Proteas, Pakistan test well poised
South Africa's George Linde has overcome injury on the opening day of the second Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi to bowl his side back into contention to win, after taking three key wickets.
Left-arm spinner Linde recorded figures of 3-12 in nine tight overs as Pakistan closed the third day with a 200-run lead and four second-innings wickets remaining on a wearing pitch.
Faf du Plessis, left, and fast bowler Kagiso Rabada. Photo: Photosport
But it is remarkable that Linde is bowling at all after badly injuring the little finger on his left hand while trying to stop a rocket shot off his own bowling on the first day.
The finger is heavily strapped, but he has been able to bowl, and his wickets late on the third day have kept the tourists in with a chance of sharing the two-game series.
South Africa have passed 300 just once in their last 17 away innings and their batting has been brittle again this series, not matching the excellent work done by the bowlers.
But all-rounder Linde is optimistic they can chase down anything under 300 with two full days remaining, though he admits quick wickets are needed on the fourth morning.
- Reuters
Rafa returns to court
World number two Rafa Nadal eased fears that a back injury might prevent him from playing in next week's Australian Open with a full-blooded training session on Saturday.
The 20-times Grand Slam champion took to the John Cain Arena court in the late afternoon and appeared unhampered as he hammered balls across the net with trademark ferocity.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Nadal pulled out of Spain's ATP Cup tie against Australia on Tuesday with a lower back problem and said later in the week he was still far away from the level required to play at the year's first Grand Slam.
Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley told local media that he was in daily communication with Nadal and that the Spaniard had skipped the ATP Cup out of "extra caution".
The 34-year-old, who has suffered regularly from back injuries throughout his career, rarely plays competitive matches in the week before Grand Slams.
He said last weekend that during his 14 days of obligatory quarantine in Adelaide he had trained for only 2 1/2 of the five hours he was allowed under health protocols.
- Reuters
EPL clubs condemn racism
Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Everton have joined forces to condemn the racial abuse suffered by players, officials and supporters on social media.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
United's Marcus Rashford, Axel Tuanzebe and Anthony Martial, Chelsea's Reece James, West Bromwich Albion's Romaine Sawyers and Southampton's Alex Jankewitz are among those to have received racist abuse online in recent weeks.
With United set to host Everton on Sunday (NZ time) and City travelling to Liverpool on Monday, the four clubs came together with the mayors of Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City Region in a show of solidarity.
"Today Manchester United, Everton, Manchester City and Liverpool have come together to support Hate Crime Awareness Week in Greater Manchester," the clubs said in a joint statement.
"We condemn the racist abuse that too many players, officials and supporters continue to encounter, most recently on social media platforms," the said.
Top English players including Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and former international Karen Carney discussed online abuse and discrimination with government ministers last month.
- Reuters
