Walsh smashes NZ record in Diamond League win

Tom Walsh has smashed his own New Zealand shot put record, winning the Diamond League event in Paris.

A week after securing an Olympic bronze medal in Rio, Walsh threw considerably further to head a strong field which featured Olympic champion Ryan Crouser and runner up Joe Kovacs, both of the United States.

The 24-year-old from Timaru produced a massive 22.00m heave in the final round to edge ahead of Crouser's third round effort by 1cm.

Crouser led the contest after the opening round, throwing 21.28, but the Kiwi responded with a personal best and NZ record of 21.81m in the second round.

The American grabbed the lead back with a big 21.99m on his third attempt and seemed to have the competition won, but did not count on Walsh producing a huge 22.00m throw on his final attempt.

The distance was a New Zealand and Oceania record. It surpassed Walsh's previous outdoor (21.62m) and indoor (21.78m) marks and was well clear of his best effort in Rio of 21.36m.

Both distances eclipsed the Paris meeting record of Swiss great Werner Gunthor, which had stood for 24 years.

"I knew I was in good shape but I didn't expect to throw so far," Walsh said.

"After Rio, I had something to prove. The stadium, the fans, everything was perfect tonight."

The win lifts Walsh to the top of the lucrative Diamond League standings, sitting four points clear of American Joe Kovacs. who was well short of his best today, finishing in eighth and outside the points. It will be all to play for at the double-points Zurich finale on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Valerie Adams was also back in the winning circle at the Lausanne Diamond League meeting on Friday, beating American Michelle Cater who had snatched the Olympic title from her in Rio with a last minute USA record of 20.63m.

Adams now has a huge lead in the Women's Diamond League shot put after her 19.94 victory over Carter's 19.49m.

Paris Diamond League Men's Shot Put

1 Tom Walsh NZL 22.00 NR, PB

2 Ryan Crouser USA 21.99

3 Kurt Roberts USA 20.78

4 Ryan Whiting USA 20.65

5 Konrad Bukowiecki POL 20.36

6 Darrell Hill USA 20.30

7 Frank Elemba CGO 20.27

8 Joe Kovacs USA 20.18

Men's Diamond League Shot Put Points

1 Tom Walsh 38

2 Joe Kovacs 34

3 Kurt Roberts 16

4 Konrad Bukowiecki 11

Lausanne Diamond League Women's Shot Put

1 Valerie Adams NZL 19.94

2 Michelle Carter USA 19.49

3 Christina Schwanitz GER 19.33

4 Brittany Smith USA 18.94

5 Anita Mrton HUN 18.60

6 Aliona Dubitskaya BLR 17.81

Women's Diamond League Shot Put Points

1 Valerie Adams 46

2 Tia Brooks 25

3 Anita Marton 25

4 Michelle Carter 12

- This story has been automatically published using a media release from Athletics New Zealand