Athletics: Vili victory in Valencia

Valerie Vili of New Zealand poses with her gold medal. Photo / Reuters.

Shot putter Valerie Vili has enjoyed a further triumph on the path to the Beijing Olympics in August.

She has won the world indoor shot put title in Valencia this morning (NZ time) with a distance of 20.19 metres, adding to the outdoor title won in Osaka last year.

It's another Oceania and New Zealand indoor record, bettering her 19.72 metres from the qualifying round, and 45 centimetres ahead of her nearest rival.

Belarussian Nadzeya Ostapchuk was second with China's Meiju Li third a further 65 centimetres back.

- NEWSTALK ZB