By Ben Stanley - Teenage shotput sensation Jacko Gill has given himself the ultimate birthday present - a new world record.
Gill, who turns just 17 today, beat his own world under-18 5 kilogram world record at the Millennium Stadium on Auckland's North Shore last night, throwing 24.45 metres.
The throw beats his old record by 10 centimetres, which he set at the Junior World Championship in Lille, France this July.
To put Gill's incredible throwing distance in perspective, the rest of the boys he was throwing against last night were hitting between 15 and 17 metres, with a number of them recording personal bests.
Gill's coach Diddier Poppe said the difference, of up to nine metres, put the teenager's incredible talent in context of what others his age are doing.
"It's very impressive when you see him throwing that far," he said.
"The other boys are good and throwing personal bests. Sixteen metres is a pretty good throw, but Jacko is a long way ahead now."
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