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Jacko Gill - Source: Photosport -
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Rising New Zealand shotput star Jacko Gill has qualified for the London Olympics at the Sovereign Stadium tonight.
The Junior World Champion, who is just 16 years-old, threw the senior weight of 7.26kg over the qualifying mark of 20.30m with his very first throw to ensure he would be flying the New Zealand flag on the world stage next year.
While Gill's throw was just 8cm over the qualifying mark, he bettered his own New Zealand record by a whopping 37 centimetres. The performance is also a new world's best for athletes aged 16 and 17.
"I obviously wanted more today but it is Olympic qualification so I have to take it", Gill told ONE News. I have six months until the Olympics and I think I can really do well there."
"Obviously I have got a lot to improve on - technique was bad but I think it (throwing) was a lot longer in warm-ups. But it is good to get the Olympic qualification so I can't be angry."
Gill was too young to compete at this year's World Championships in Daegu, Korea, but with tonight's performance, he would have qualified for the final and placed 8th overall but the teenage sensation thinks he do even better next year.
"It's hard to know but I think my warm-up throw was about 30cm off the pace at the last world champs so I think if I can improve that little bit I think I'm chance (of winning or getting a medal) if I can get over the 21s (metres)," he said.
Gill turns 17 in just over two weeks' time on December 20 and he is looking to ramp up his preparations between now and July.
"There is going to be a lot of hard work between now and then but you have to expect that and you have to expect hard work. If you're a sportsperson you have to work hard."
Next Monday, Gill will throw with the 6kg (under-20) weight seeking to improve on his world-best of 21.34m for 16 and 17-year-olds.
On December 19, he will attempt to improve his under-18 world-best with the 5kg weight for 16 and 17-year-olds. He holds the world under-18 record at 24.35m.
Meanwhile New Zealand's second best Shot Putter Tomas Walsh,
from Timaru, who is also still a junior set a personal best of
18.83 metres in the competition tonight.
