Tom Walsh

Tom Walsh held on to his crown in Birmingham despite a career-best effort from Jacko Gill.

Gill's silver is his first Commonwealth Games medal in his second appearance after he was forced to miss the Gold Coast Games due to a myocarditis [heart inflammation] diagnosis. Walsh added he knew his first throw - the 21.98m effort - was enough to put him out of reach of most of the field but he knew Gill had something special in the wings. Gill was quick to make it a Kiwi one-two in the final with his first throw of 20.48m making the New Zealand duo the only ones to pass the 20m mark in the first round. However, he told 1News his latest medal had a special footnote to it after his rough performance just over a month ago at the World Athletics Championships in the US where he finished fourth. Walsh stayed in the 21m range with his next two throws but was unable to improve on his initial mark while Gill reduce the deficit slightly with his next effort - a 20.88m throw. In front of a packed out Alexander Stadium against the backdrop of a picturesque setting sun, Walsh sent a firm message to the rest of the field with his opening throw in the final with a 21.98m effort - a throw that was bigger than the personal best of every other finalist.

South Africa's Kyle Blignaut endured a difficult night as he only managed seventh place in the men's shot put at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on ...

Fellow Kiwi Jacko Gill hauled out a new personal best of 21.90m in the final round to grab the silver medal, with England's Scott Lincoln claiming the bronze with 20.57m. Walsh, though, was a model of consistency as his first five efforts all went beyond the 21-metre mark, before he celebrated his gold medal in fine style with a huge 22.26m. Cape Town — He skipped the world championships to give him the best possible chance of success at the Commonwealth Games, but it was a difficult night for Kyle Blignaut in the men's shot put final on Friday night.

New Zealand thrower Tom Walsh says he is thrilled with the distance he acheived to win the gold medal in the shot put.

At the lawn bowls the women's triple of Val Smith, Nicole Toomey and Tayla Bruce won bronze. "I am really happy with it - obviously I got hold of the last one which was really good," Walsh said. Walsh, the defending champion, led the field from the first round, securing the gold medal with a huge throw of 22.26 metres in Birmingham.

Tom Walsh lived up to his billing as the heavy favourite in the men's shot put final, blowing away a field that included fellow Kiwi and silver medallist Jacko ...

Smith, competing in her fifth Commonwealth Games, picked up her third career bronze medal and her second of the Games in combination with Tayla Bruce and Nicole Toomey who also won bronze with Smith in the women's fours. Gill's silver was his first medal at a major championships. Ford will no doubt be pleased to claim another medal after being pipped for the bronze in the 2018 edition of the Games.

Walsh has defended his Commonwealth Games shot put title, heaving 22.26 metres in Birmingham, while Gill took silver with a personal best throw of 21.90 ...

Tom Walsh held on to his crown in Birmingham despite a career-best effort from Jacko Gill.

Gill's silver is his first Commonwealth Games medal in his second appearance after he was forced to miss the Gold Coast Games due to a myocarditis [heart inflammation] diagnosis. Walsh added he knew his first throw - the 21.98m effort - was enough to put him out of reach of most of the field but he knew Gill had something special in the wings. Gill was quick to make it a Kiwi one-two in the final with his first throw of 20.48m making the New Zealand duo the only ones to pass the 20m mark in the first round. However, he told 1News his latest medal had a special footnote to it after his rough performance just over a month ago at the World Athletics Championships in the US where he finished fourth. Walsh stayed in the 21m range with his next two throws but was unable to improve on his initial mark while Gill reduce the deficit slightly with his next effort - a 20.88m throw. In front of a packed out Alexander Stadium against the backdrop of a picturesque setting sun, Walsh sent a firm message to the rest of the field with his opening throw in the final with a 21.98m effort - a throw that was bigger than the personal best of every other finalist.

The rock stars of the shot put circle served up a heavy metal performance to remember as Tom Walsh and Jacko Gill secured the first one two for New Zealand ...

It is great for Jacko (to set a PB and win silver), great for shot put and athletics in New Zealand. Every year he is getting closer and it is going to be an interesting domestic season again next year. I lost 25-30kg after my heart issues and I missed the last Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, so to come back here and set a PB means a lot. To come back from the heart issues has been huge, a really big battle. My parents have been a huge support and getting help from Dale (Stevenson, a coaching mentor) has been awesome. To get hold of that last throw was cool, but the other throws were knocking at the door, so I’m really happy with the way I competed. I appreciate that a lot more as a I get older and wiser.” I have gratitude that I am here, physically and mentally in really good nick. Tom followed with his shortest effort of the comp – registering 21.05m. Nigerian Chukwuebuka Enekwechi advanced to outright third with a 20.33m effort while Jacko showed no further improvement with a 20.41m toss. But the competition was not quite finished. The competition then exploded into life in an epic final round. With the Kiwi throwing titans ranked one and two there was an expectation thrust upon the pair and both spectacularly coped with any pressure they may have been feeling.