Tom Walsh is chasing fourth world shot put title in Oregon

Tom Walsh will be chasing his fourth world title when he competes in the men’s shot put final at the World Championships in Athletics in Oregon, United States, on Monday afternoon.

Walsh was one of two South Canterbury athletes competing in the qualifying round this weekend for a shot at a world title in their chosen sport.

Walsh performed well and qualified second with a 21.44m throw, behind American Ryan Crouser’s 22.28m.

Meanwhile, Lauren Bruce was unlucky to miss a spot in the women’s hammer throw final by just one centimeter with her 70.86m throw.

READ MORE:
* Lauren Bruce launches Tokyo Olympics build-up with national record hammer throw
* Coach and club delighted with South Canterbury’s double Olympic squad
* Jacko Gill takes personal record win over Tom Walsh in second shot put event of the day
* Lauren Bruce breaks national record and shows she is well on track for Tokyo Olympics

Bruce and Walsh are in Eugene, Oregon, competing in the World Athletics Championships – a nine-day race that started on Saturday (NZ time). The event is less than two weeks away from the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, which start on July 28.

Walsh’s parents, Peter and Karen Walsh, are in Oregon to support their son as he competes in the World Championships.

Peter Walsh said on Sunday that his son had performed well in the second qualifier.

“He threw really well, he’s in good shape and in good shape,” said Walsh.

“He has a very good chance of winning the final and finishing second in qualifying.”

Walsh said his son will not be the only kiwi shot putter to enter the circle for the final, he will be joined by Jacko Gill.

“He says he’s not there to come second, although he always says that,” Walsh said of his son.

The men’s shot put final of the World Championship will take place on Monday at 1:27 p.m. New Zealand time.

Bruce’s qualifying event kicked off at 7am NZ time on Saturday.

Her mother Adrienne Bruce said her daughter had performed well and had been able to watch television from the family home in Timaru.

“She did absolutely well, she’s happy with how she went, and she did well because this was her first event with a huge audience watching her,” Bruce said.

“She didn’t make it to the final by only about 1cm, so she was 13th, but she threw well.

“Lauren is always 100 percent committed and gives 100 percent every throw, so she definitely did her best. Hammer throw is a very complex sport.”

Bruce said her daughter will now focus on training for the Commonwealth Games, but she was confident she would support her teammates in Oregon.

Bruce’s Commonwealth Games event will take place in early August and her parents will fly to Birmingham to support her, where they will meet Walsh’s parents, she said.