By Michael Oliver, with NZN
Kiwi shot put sensation Jacko Gill has set a new national record in qualifying for the 2012 London Olympics at a meet in Auckland on Monday night.
Gill sailed past the Olympic qualifying mark with his first throw of 20.38 metres, smashing his own national record by 37 centimetres.
The throw was also a world record for athletes between 16 and 17-years-old.
Had Gill thrown at this year’s World Championships in Korea, he would have finished eighth with his first throw.
As a 15-year-old, he threw 18.57m in October 2010, following that up in April this year with a massive 20.01m effort which broke Les Mills' long-standing New Zealand record of 19.80m which had stood since 1967.
New Zealand's second-ranked shot putter, 19-year-old Cantabrian Tom Walsh, will also be hunting a mark over his personal best of 18.26m in Auckland on Monday.
On December 12, Gill will throw with the under-20 6kg weight, looking to better his world best of 21.34m for 16- and 17-year-olds. A week later, he will attempt to improve his under-18 world best of 24.35m with the 5kg shot.
3 News / NZN