Athletes Ranked in the World Top 50 in 2019

Note: Data was sourced from Tilastopaja.org/Athletics Weekly/Athletics International and NOT from the lists. (Indoor marks not included)

Open Men 1 Mile 3:55.45 27th 1 Mile 3:58.41 48th Sam Tanner 2.30m 12th Hamish Kerr 22.90m 2nd Shot Put 21.47m 17th 50km Walk 3:49:48 30th

Open Women 3000m 8:55.42 40th 5000m 14:58.59 28th Camille Buscomb 10000m 31:13.21 22nd Camille Buscomb 400m Hurdles 55.86 40th Pole Vault 4.85m 4th Eliza McCartney Pole Vault 4.46m 50th Olivia McTaggart Shot Put 18.32m 26th Madison-Lee Wesche Hammer Throw 71.39m 29th 10km Walk 44:43 15th

New Zealand Junior and Youth Athletes Ranked in the World Top 30 in 2019

Junior/U20 Men 100m 10.19 6th Edward Osei-Nketia 200m 20.76 20th Edward Osei-Nketia 1500m 3:38.74 6th Sam Tanner 1 Mile 3:58.41 2nd Sam Tanner Shot Put (6kg) 18.99m 27th Nick Palmer (1.75kg) 63.90m 1st Connor Bell

Junior/U20 Women High Jump 1.86m 7th Josephine Reeves High Jump 1.83m 23rd Josie Taylor Pole Vault 4.46m 2nd Olivia McTaggart Pole Vault 4.17m 20th Imogen Ayris Discus Throw 52.91m 21st Tatiana Kaumoana

Youth/U18 Men 1 Mile 4:14.07 4th Liam Back Shot Put (5kg) 19.08m 14th Nikolas Kini Discus Throw (1.5kg) 60.60m 10th Nikolas Kini

Youth/U18 Women High Jump 1.83m 10th Josie Taylor Shot Put (3kg) 17.08mA 6th Mine de Klerk Shot Put (3kg) 16.74m 10th Kaia Tupu-South Shot Put 16.03m 19th Tapenisa Havea Discus Throw 47.94m 24th Kaia Tupu-South 5179pts 29th Maddie Wilson

Athletics International World Merit Rankings 2019

“Here are our annual world top 10 merit rankings. The selection panel consisted of the co-editors of “Athletics International”, Peter Matthews and Mel Watman, with Stuart Mazdon (UK), Mirko Jalava (FIN), Alfons Juck (SVK), A Lennart Julin (SWE) and Ed Gordon (USA), joined by Elliott Denman for the walks. The panel assessed the year’s records of the leading contenders and the ranking order was determined by consensus. The criteria are the traditional ones of honours won, win-loss records and sequence of marks. The World Championships were, of course, the major focus for most top athletes but as usual there were many other major events such as the continental championships and for the elite the Diamond League meetings and World Challenge Meetings. Also, there was the most welcome Europe vs USA match for many. As usual most variances in opinions came with athletes who had thin seasons and also this year just how much weight should be given for the World and other championships against the rest of the big events. Marks made indoors were not considered (apart from when part of outdoor meetings, such as the Zürich pole vault), nor were any athletes who were suspended for 2 years or longer during the year for drug-related offences. In these event-by-event rankings, compiled by Peter Matthews, following each athlete’s name are: date of birth (day/month/year), in brackets: number of years ranked and 2018 top-ten ranking. Then their five/six best marks in 2019 and details of placings and performances in significant competitions. In these results marks in brackets were in qualifying, marks after w/ are best ‘wind legal’ marks in that competition. At some venues dates are given for lesser meetings but not for the top one.” – Athletics International.

Just two New Zealand Athletes appear in the World Merit Rankings for 2019: Tom Walsh, at No.2 again - as he was in 2018, and Jacko Gill who makes a first time appearance. Interestingly, no New Zealand women were merit ranked in 2019.

Merit Ranked No. 2 in the Men’s Shot Put:

2. Tom Walsh NZL 1.3.92 (6y, 2) 22.90, 22.44, 22.30, 22.27, 22.18, 22.15 1 Hastings 21.38 1 Christchurch 21.18/21.01 1 NZL Ch 21.70 2 20.84 1 AUS Ch 21.91 2 22.06 1 Chorzów 22.18 1 Ostrava 22.27 3 Pre 21.76 1 Paris 22.44 1 Thum 22.15 1 Zagreb 21.98 1 Brussels DLF 22.30 2 Chorzów 21.90 3 Worlds 22.90 (21.92)

Merit Ranked No. 9 in The Men’s Shot Put:

9. Jacko Gill NZL 20.12.94 (1y, -) 21.47, 21.45, 21.21, 21.13, 21.12, 20.76 2 Hastings 20.29 1 Hamilton 20.53 2 Christchurch 20.58 2 NZL Ch 20.71 3 Auckland 20.76 1 Oceania Ch 20.75 1 Brno 21.13 2 Thum 2147 1 Ústí 20.78 7 Worlds 21.45 (21.12)

Merit Ranked No.1 in the Men’s Shot Put was USA

“Standards were at the highest ever for this event with a terrific World Champs. It was close at the top with Crouser’s 3-1 win-loss v Walsh being decisive. 23 outdoor performances over 22m were headed by Crouser 10, Walsh 7, Romani 6 and Kovacs 3. There was universal agreement apart from two who preferred Romani to Kovacs.” – Athletics International.