Walsh top qualifier at world championships

Tom Walsh is top qualifier fo rthe men's shot put final at the World Athletics Championships PHOTO: ATHLETICS NZ

New Zealand shot putter Tom Walsh has qualified top for the men's final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo

Thirty-three-year-old Walsh's second-round throw of 21.74 metres saw him safely over the automatic qualifying mark of 21.30 metres.

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Only three throwers joined Walsh in the auto-qualification positions, Americans Adrian Piperi and reigning world champion Ryan Crouser also making it.

New Zealand's Nick Palmer finished 15th on debut, 20 centimetres shy of a qualifying spot.