Kiwi shot-putter Maddison Wesche has finished just five centimetres out of the medals at the world indoor athletics championships at Glasgow.
The Aucklander showed she is a genuine medal propsect for the Paris Olympics, continuing a run of setting personal bests at Tokyo 2020 and the last two world championships, proving her temperament for performing at the highest level.
After flirting with early elimination, Wesche, 24, unleashed 19.62m toss in the fifth round, adding 11cm to the distance she achieved last year, when finishing seventh at the world outdoor championships.
Canadian Sarah Mitton (20.22m) beat out German Yemisi Ogunleye (20.19m) for the title, with world outdoor champion Chase Jackson (19.67m) of the United States edged Wesche for the podium.
The Kiwi fouled her first attempt and managed only 15.71m on her second, leaving her just one more throw to qualify for the final. Her 19.32m effort in the third round elevated her to fifth and earned another three throws.
"I'm super happy," she said. "It was my first indoor competition and I couldn't have asked for more than a PB.
"Being so close to a medal is tough, but this gives me confidence going into Paris.
"Nerves were definitely present for the first two throws, but that’s all part of the game and I’ve been in this position before. Experience took over and I was pumped I could have three more throws.
"I’m happy with 19.62m and I have lots of takeaways from my first indoor comp. I'm excited to get back home and start the next build up for the outdoor season."
Meanwhile, James Preston set a national indoor record of 1m 47.59s over 800 metres, but could not progress past his hear, while sprinter Tiaan Whelpton narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 60 metres semi-finals, clocking 6.67s and failing to progress by just 0.01s.
