Gold medal to Tom Walsh who retained his Commonwealth shot put title with 22.26m. He is the second New Zealand male athlete, joining Nick Willis, to medal at three successive Commonwealth Games.

Walsh was helped by the raucous crowd in putting in a consistent series of big throws.

“I am really happy with it – obviously I got hold of the last one which was really good,” said Walsh.

“Jacko had a big one on the end there and I knew he was in some pretty good form and I didn’t put the competition to bed as early as I would have liked. To get hold of that last throw was cool, but the other throws were knocking at the door, so I’m really happy with the way I competed.”

Gold medal to Hamish Kerr in the high jump after having a clear run at his first attempt at 2.15m, 2.19m, 2.22m and 2.25m.

Kerr said that it was unreal to come away with the gold medal.

“I knew I came in with some pretty good form but at the same time to get it done is amazing. The stadium is awesome, and I fed off that energy. I’m in shock.

“I was confident, but I knew there were some guys in that field who can jump pretty high.

“I knew I couldn’t take my foot off the accelerator, so I was looking towards the next jump. As the other guys then started to falter, I could see that I was in a pretty good position.”

Silver medal and first international senior podium placing to Jacko Gill. He secured a personal best shot put of 21.90m. It is only the second time that New Zealand athletes have taken gold and silver at a Commonwealth Games joining Peter Snell and John Davies who went one, two in the mile at the 1962 Perth Games.

“It’s probably one of the best moments of my career. To come back from the heart issues has been huge, a really big battle. I lost 25-30kg after my heart issues and I missed the last Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, so to come back here and set a PB means a lot,” said Gill.

“It’s been a long process and to come back after such a long break was really hard. My parents have been a huge support and getting help from Dale (Stevenson) has been awesome.

“I thought my last throw was really good, and I thought I had a 20 per cent chance so I was a little bit disappointed.

‘But to win silver gives me huge confidence. I have been in great form so to finally put one out there is really nice.”

Silver medal to Julia Ratcliffe in the Hammer throw with 69.63m, to go alongside her silver from the 2014 Games and gold from the Gold Coast 2018 Games.

Ratcliffe said that she was encouraged by the roar from the crowd and having family and friends among the spectators.

“I just wanted to leave it all out there. It nearly paid off with that fifth throw, that just went outside the sector.

“There was quite a few fouls out there tonight, so it was cool to be able to soak up that experience and nail a couple of throws early as it really took the pressure off.”

Bronze medal to Imogen Ayris in the pole vault after she cleared 4.45m on her first attempt. Olivia McTaggart also cleared 4.45m but on her third attempt and finished fourth.

Ayris said that the bar rattled at 4.45m but she knew with the way she had jumped it would stay on.

“It is so special (to climb the podium). After my dad (Barny) passed two years ago I promised I’d make him proud, and I feel that I have done more than that today.”

McTaggart, who improved on her ninth-place finish at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, said: “I wanted to enjoy it out there, and I definitely did. I am proud of fourth place.”

Bronze medal to Maddison-Lee Wesche in the shot put with 18.84m.

Wesche thought that she would improve from her opening throw of 18.84m.

“It was a really good opener I thought I would climb from there but I’m not going to complain with a bronze medal.

“The crowd was crazy. I don’t think I’ve ever competed in a crowd like it, you just have to thrive off it. I’d come back to this atmosphere any day. I have at least a couple more years to grow as an athlete, but I I’m getting there.”

Tori Peeters was fifth in the javelin throw with her first-round throw of 57.86m.

Peeters said that the experience and atmosphere were really awesome and all eyes were on the javelin which was definitely something that she has not experienced before.

“Fifth place, I’m happy with the placing. I now have a couple of weeks off, but I’ll stay over in Europe, compete with the girls and continue to chase that big throw. I know there is one sitting there, it is just when it is going to come out. It will be great to be in the mix with them and I still feel like I can stack it with them on the world stage.”

Zoe Hobbs was sixth in the final of the 100m in 11.19 after coming through the heat in 11.09 and the semi-final in 11.15.

Hobbs was ecstatic about making the final.

“Just to make the final was incredible. The field out there was amazing and to run against the Olympic champion at the Commonwealth Games was unreal. To finish sixth, I was so stoked.”

Sam Tanner cut three seconds off his personal best finishing sixth in the final of the 1500m in 3:31.34. Tanner said that as he crossed the finish line he thought that he wasn’t that far off the leader.

“When I saw that they had run 3:30 I thought, I must have run so fast, and then I looked up and saw the time. I’m stoked, really stoked. I think I must be the happiest sixth place finisher ever,” he said.

“To run 3:31 and finish sixth in one of the most stacked Commonwealth finals – I achieved all my goals.”

Keeley O’Hagan soared to a personal best high jump of 1.89m to finish sixth in the final.

O’Hagan said that once she was in rhythm she was on target.

“I was nervous and tense at the beginning, but as soon as I got 1.81m and 1.85m I felt like a weight had been removed from my shoulders,” she said.

“I knew I was capable of 1.89m, I’ve had some pretty good cracks at doing it. I’ve just reminded myself to trust my processes and backed myself and I managed to put it all together.”

Geordie Beamish finished strongly moving up over the last lap to finish sixth in the final of the 5000m in 13:21.71.

Beamish said that he felt pretty comfortable for the majority of the race.

“But then the Kenyans really turned it on the last mile, and I lost a bit of contact with the second group. The top three are probably in a different league, but I thought I probably could have got fourth I should have hung on to those next couple of athletes. I got stuck in no man’s land with a bit of wind for a while, but I had a good last lap, so I’m not too disappointed,” he said.

Portia Bing starting from the outside lane was seventh in the final of the 400m hurdles in 56.36.

Bing said it was a huge experience.

“When I saw the draw, I knew running in lane nine would be difficult being chased by girls that run 53 low 54 high. I had to go out hard. It was a massive learning experience but only in a really positive way.”

She added that she is happy with how the last month has gone.

“The World Championships and Commonwealth Games were my two goals this year. I’m up against girls who are professionals, athletics is not my full-time professional job, so to be able to compete at this level makes me really excited.”

Connor Bell was eighth in the final of the discus throw with 60.23m.

Bell said that he would have liked to have thrown further.

“But to have produced a 60m throw, I’m really proud. Eight months ago, I didn’t know I would be here because of my ankle, so I’m proud to have gotten the result I have.

“It was super cool to be here with a bunch of guys I grow up watching on the TV. There is an awesome camaraderie between everyone and it was a wicked comp, the most competitive discus throw final ever in the Commonwealth Games.

“Now I will go back home have a review post a break period and try to figure it out from there. I want to go back home, get some work done, add a bit of horsepower and come back even stronger.”

Nicole Bradley was ninth in the final of the hammer throw with 63.10m.

New Zealand finished ninth on the Athletics medal table.

New Zealand results:

2 August: Maddison-Lee Wesche SP qualification 18.00m or least 12 best, 18.08m (2GB) Q. Zoe Hobbs 100m heat 11.09 +1.4 (2H1) Q. Connor Bell DT qualification 65.00m or least 12 best 59.47m (3GB) q. Pakuranga athlete Zachary Saunders representing Jersey 100m heat 10.76 +0.6 (5H3) (50). Imogen Ayris PV final 4.45m (3) 4.25m xo, 4.35m o, 4.45m o, 4.50m xxx. Olivia McTaggart PV final 4.45m (4) 4.35m o, 4.45m xxo, 4.50m xxx.

3 August: Hamish Kerr HJ final 2.25m (1) 2.15m o, 2.19m o, 2.22m o, 2.25m o, 2.28m xxx. Zoe Hobbs 100m semi-final 11.15 0.0 (2S2) Q, final 11.19 +0.4 (6). Maddison-Lee Wesche SP final 18.84m (3) 18.84m, 18.54m, 17.86m, x, x, 18.42m.

4 August: Julia Ratcliffe HT qualification 68.00m or least 12 best 68.73m (2GA) Q 66.41m, 68.73m. Nicole Bradley HT qualification 61.77m (8GA) q. Lauren Bruce HT qualification DNQ xxx. Keeley O’Hagan HJ qualification 1.90m or least 12 best 1.81m (4GB) q, 1.71m o, 1.76m xo, 1.81m o. Sam Tanner 1500m heat 3:48.65 (5H2) Q. Zachary Saunders (Jersey) 200m heat 21.35 +0.1 PB (4H6). Portia Bing 400m H heat 56.32 (3H1) Q. Connor Bell DT final 60.23m (8) 59.44m, 58.88m, 60.23m, x, x, 58.84m.

5 August: Tom Walsh SP final 22.26m (1), 21.98m, 21.46m, 21.52m, 21.84m, 21.05, 22.26m. Jacko Gill SP final 21.90m PB (2), 20.48m, 20.88m, 20.41m, 21.20m, 21.29m, 21.90m.

6 August: Keeley O’Hagan HJ final 1.89m PB (6), 1.71m – 1.76m o, 1.81m xxo, 1.85m o, 1.89m xxo, 1.92m xxx. Sam Tanner 1500m final 3:31.34 PB (6), 800m split 1:53.4 (11). Julia Ratcliffe HT final 69.63m (2), 67.26m, 69.59m, 69.63m,x, x, 66.93m. Nicole Bradley HT final 63.10m (9), 60.96m, 63.10m, 61.33m. Portia Bing 400m H final 56.36 (7). Geordie Beamish 5000m final 13:21.71 (6), 3000m split 8:04.0 (11).

7 August: Tori Peeters JT final 57.86m (5), 57.86m, 52.86m, x, 54.18m, x, x. Quentin Rew 10,000m race walk final DQ.

COLOMBIA

World Under 20 Championships, The Pascual Guerrero Olympic Stadium, Cali – 2/7 August 2022

Tapenisa Havea finished a creditable fourth in the final of the shot put equalling her personal best of 15.97m, and seventh in the final of the discus throw with 50.97m.

Ethan Olivier was fourth in the final of the triple jump clearing 16.03m +0.4. In the qualifying rounds for the final Olivier, who turns 17 on August 7, improved on his New Zealand under 17, 18, 19 and 20 record jumping 16.04m +0.7.

James Harding was sixth in the final of the 800m in 1:48.35 after coming through the heat in 1:49.30 and semi-final in 1:48.00.

New Zealand results:

1 August: Tapenisa Havea SP qualification 15.70m or least 12 best, 15.51m (3GA) q. Natalia Rankin-Chitar SP qualification 14.37m (9GB). Zane Powell 1500m heat 3:46.56 (4H3) q. Karsen Vesty 1500m heat 4:17.86 (13H2). Macey Hilton 800m heat 2:10.29 (3H4) Q. Tapenisa Havea DT qualification 52.50m or least 12 best, 51.57m (2GB) q. Natalia Rankin-Chitar DT qualification 45.85m (11GA).

2 August: Mia Powell 400m heat 54.04 PB (4H1) Q (15). Lex Revell-Lewis 400m heat 48.66 (6H3) (32). Talia van Rooyen 100m heat 11.94 +0.5 (7H3) (43). Tapenisa Havea SP final 15.97m =PB (4), 15.43m, 15.18m, 15.52m, 15.97m, x, x. Macey Hilton 800m semi-final 2:12.29 (8S2) (22).

3 August: Will Anthony 3000m heat 8:21.13 (12H1) (22). Mia Powell 400m semi-final 54.37 (6S2) (17). Tapenisa Havea DT final 50.97m (7), 45.69m, 49.45m, 48.79m, 49.28m, 50.39m, 50.97m. Zane Powell 1500m final 3:59.19 (12).

4 August: James Harding 800m heat 1:49.30 (2H1) Q. Luke Hitchcock 800m heat 1:49.21 PB (4H3) q. Ethan Olivier TJ qualification 16.04m +0.7 PB (1GA) breaks his own New Zealand under 17, 18, 19 and 20 record of 15.98m set in Cape Town in April.

5 August: Luke Hitchcock 800m semi-final 1:49.36 (6S1) (16). James Harding 800m semi-final 1:48.00 (4S3) q (5). Ethan Olivier TJ final 16.03m +0.3 (4), 15.98m +0.2, 15.86m +0.3, x, 16.03m +0.3, 15.98m +0.2, x.

6 August: James Harding 800m final 1:48.35 (6).

POLAND
Kamila Skolimowska Memorial, Chorzów, 6 August: Tom Walsh SP 21.70m (2), 21.22m, 21.15m, 21.68m, 21.70m, 21.38m, 21.20m. Joe Kovacs won with 21.79m.

BELGIUM

Alibo Flanders Cup Lyra, Lier, 30 July: Noah Macdermid 1500m 3:52.32 (7).

USA
Murphey Classic, Memphis TN, 29 July: Jeff Lautenslager mile 4:07.61 (4). Craig Lautenslager 3000m 8:07.67 (9).