Tori Peeters Places Fifth In The Women's Javelin

Tori places fifth to wrap up the Kiwi challenge in Birmingham

New Zealand record-holder Tori Peeters, the last Kiwi athlete to compete inside a pulsating Alexandra Stadium at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, placed fifth in a high-class women’s javelin final.

The 28-year-old Cambridge-based athlete improved on her performance from the World Championships two weeks ago, when she did not advance from the qualification pool, to produce a best for the day of 57.86m on a sunny morning in central England.

Tori, who set her national record of 62.40m when taking the New Zealand title in Hastings in March, opened with her best of the day and after round one sat in provisional bronze behind the top-class Aussie pair of Mackenzie Little (64.03m) and world champion Kelsey-Lee Barber (63.52m).

There was no change to the medal order in round two as Tori recorded a throw of 52.86m but in round three she slipped to fourth as Canadian Liz Gleadle flung out a 59.79m effort and Tori recorded a foul.

Struggling to find her best rhythm her round four throw landed out to 54.18m and she was relegated to fifth after Annu Rani of India moved into provisional bronze, recording 60.00m.

Unfortunately for Tori she could not respond to the challenge with both of final two throws nosediving harmlessly to the ground some distance short of what was required, and she was happy to concede a foul on both occasions.

In a dramatic final round, Barber knocked long-time leader Little off top spot with a clutch 64.43m effort. Rani of India held on for the bronze.

Tori needs to take the positives out of an outstanding season and a fifth place finish is the best result by a Kiwi in the women’s javelin at a Commonwealth Games for 28 years.

Tori said: “It was pretty unreal. The experience and atmosphere was really awesome and all eyes were on the javelin, which was definitely something we have 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.”

There was disappointment for the other competing Kiwi on the final day of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games as Quentin Rew was disqualified from the men’s 10,000 track walk.

The three-time Olympian, who recently made a record-equalling sixth World Championship appearance for a Kiwi, quickly dropped off the pace and he was later awarded three red cards by the judges, which resulted in a one-minute penalty. Shortly after re-entering the race, he was awarded another red card resulting in his disqualification before the halfway mark.

The 17-strong New Zealand athletics team produced an outstanding effort at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games banking six medals, 12 top six places and three personal best performances.

Medals

Gold

Tom Walsh – Men’s shot

Hamish Kerr – Men’s high jump

Silver

Julia Ratcliffe – Women’s hammer

Jacko Gill – Men’s shot

Bronze

Maddi Wesche – Women’s shot

Imogen Ayris – Women’s pole vault

For full results go here

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