Jacko Gill. Photo: Photosport
Jacko Gill has inflicted defeat on Tom Walsh for a second straight national championships in another memorable clash of the shot put powerhouses.
Gill defended his title with a best of 21.57m to finish 6cm ahead of his long-time rival who two weeks earlier mounted the podium to take silver at the world indoor championships in Glasgow.
With both athletes a little fatigued after their recent extensive travel schedule, neither was at their best but their battle was a highlight of the penultimate day in Wellington as Walsh was denied a 14th title.
Gill said: "I got a little lucky today it has been a long season for us with the travel. My mum and dad weren't there because of Covid, so it's been a strange week. I've been throwing well around 22m but I've just kind of dropped off after World Indoors.
"My first throw of 21.36m helped the confidence and after that you just have to win the battle. Having Tom to compete against helps a lot."
Walsh was phlegmatic about the result.
"I'm not too unhappy. Jacko and myself have done a lot of travel for the past few weeks, and there is a bit of a come down after major championships," he said.
"I obviously don't like losing to Jacko but I'm petty happy with the result and how I moved in the circle today. I didn't line one up, but I got pretty close to it."
Another Glasgow silver medallist, Eliza McCartney, sailed over 4.70m to clinch another national crown.
Eliza McCartney competing at the 2023 National Athletics Championships, Wellington Photo: Supplied / Athletics NZ
The 27-year-old went on to attempt 4.86m - a height which would have equalled the world lead and bettered her New Zealand resident record - but she couldn't quite manage it.
Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Imogen Ayris cleared a best of 4.39m to secure silver with Elaine Zhai rounding out an Auckland clean sweep of the podium courtesy of a PB of 3.69m.
"I was really happy with my 4.70m jump in particular," McCartney said.
"It has been a bit tough on the body coming from the UK and having travelled long haul and to keep going is challenging I wasn't feeling great, so I was really pleased."
Ethan Olivier, 18, underlined his talent by winning the triple jump in a national resident record of 16.62m, adding 18cm to the record he set a week earlier in Auckland.
