News24 Feb 2016


New Zealand names throws-heavy team for Portland

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Valerie Adams in the shot put at the IAAF World Indoor Championships Sopot 2014 (© Getty Images)

Athletics New Zealand has announced a team of five athletes to compete at the IAAF World Indoor Championships Portland 2016 on 17-20 March.

The team includes one track runner, Nick Willis in the 1500m, pole vaulter Eliza McCartney, and three shot putters: Valerie Adams, Tom Walsh and Jacko Gill.

Adams is the most experienced indoor performer of the team, having competed at five previous editions of the World Indoor Championships and taking gold in 2008, 2012 and 2014.

Walsh competed at his only World Indoor Championships in 2014 and came away with a surprise bronze medal, signalling his emergence as a world-class thrower.

Willis has competed at two previous championships, in 2008 and 2014, getting disqualified at both meetings for stepping inside the track.

Two-time world junior shot put champion Gill and world junior bronze medallist McCartney are newcomers to this level of indoor competition.

Athletics New Zealand for the IAAF

New Zealand team for Portland

MEN
1500m:
Nick Willis
Shot put: Jacko Gill, Tom Walsh

WOMEN
Pole vault:
Eliza McCartney
Shot put:
Valerie Adams