Teenage shot putter wants record throws

Jacko Gill, a 15-year-old Auckland schoolboy who is ranked No1 in the world for his shot put age group, steps out at the world junior championships in Canada today.

His coach, Didier Poppe, who has 35 years experience as a professional throwing mentor for the French athletics federation, said Gill was in a league of his own.

"He has got such potential that I honestly have never seen in a young athlete at this level.

"It's really a great experience for me to be part of the process to try and help him reach high levels," Poppe said.

Gill told his father, Walter, he wanted to throw a 6kg shot put more than 20m at the competition today and that he was determined to win the under-18 title at the Youth Olympics in August. The ambitious shot putter is currently bench pressing 142.5kg and has thrown a 6kg steel ball 19.90m in training.

"For a 15-year-old boy he is incredibly strong but looking at him you just would not know it," said Walter Gill.

The shot putter broke three world and four national records at the national track and field championships in Christchurch earlier this year.

He managed to launch a 5kg ball 19.92m at the national championships, leaving a world mark. Poppe said the throw was "even more than we could expect" and his performance sparked four scholarship offers from American universities.

The 15-year-old can throw the shot put further than Olympic champion Valerie Vili. They are both coached by Poppe.

Vili's personal best throw was 21.07m with a 4kg ball.

Jacko Gill has heaved a 5kg ball 21.36m in training.

After the world juniors Gill will travel to France with Vili and Poppe.

Vili will train for a competition in Sweden, while Gill trains for the Youth Olympics in Singapore.

Gill's parents, Walter and Nerida, were former national champions at discus and shot put and are overwhelmed by his success.

"Theoretically you just do not go to the world champs that young," Walter Gill said.

- © Fairfax NZ News