Athletics: Surprise defeat for Valerie Adams in Christchurch

Valeria Adams during The Big Shot in Christchurch. Photo / Photosport

At the past three Commonwealth Games, Valerie Adams has convincingly won shot put gold. Her quest might be trickier on the Gold Coast next month.

Adams suffered a rare loss in competition at the Big Shot event in Christchurch today, being beaten by Canada's Brittany Crew.

In just her second competition since the birth of her daughter in October, Adams threw 18.06 metres - not enough to eclipse Crew, who shone on her last throw with a distance of 18.42.

Fellow New Zealander Victoria Owers finished in third, with a best throw of 16.8 metres.

Adams will surely improve as she gets more competition before the Games, but with just under a month to go, time is running out.

Her gold medal prospects are further clouded by the form of Jamaica's Danniel Thomas-Dodd, who finished second at the recent World Indoor Championships, throwing a national record of 19.22 metres.

To win her three Commonwealth golds, Adams threw 19.88, 20.47, and 19.66 metres, and while her best is far superior to that of her competitors, Commonwealth Games gold is no sure thing given her shortened preparation, and improvements will be required in the next month.

The same can't be said for Tom Walsh, who continued his solid form, backing up his win in Timaru with another victory in Christchurch.

Walsh had three throws of more than 21 metres, his best being a 21.65 metre effort which comfortably placed him over a metre ahead of second-placed Jamaican thrower O'Dayne Richards.

Walsh had mixed feelings about his performance.

"For me to throw consistently around that 21.50 mark, [I'm] really happy with, but I'm also frustrated, I felt I was just sitting back and not getting everything through it as well as I did the other night in Timaru."

Walsh is pleased with his progress towards the Commonwealth Games, but admits he hasn't found his top form in New Zealand.

"Probably subconsciously I'm a little bit off my peak because it's not World Indoors anymore and the Commonwealth Games are right around the corner. It's been two comps in three days so it's always a little tough to be in top form."

The third and final leg of the shot put series is in Waitakere on March 25.