Shot putter Tom Walsh has thrown a personal best and national record of 21.58m in the world championships final at Beijing to finish fourth, 11cm behind Jamaican O'Dayne Richards.
Walsh rose to third with his fourth attempt, which briefly took him into unprecedented territory. No New Zealand male has earned a medal in any event across 32 years of outdoor world championships.
American Joe Kovacs won the title with his fifth attempt of 21.93m, while double world champion David Storl of Germany settled for silver with 21.74m in the same round.
Jacko Gill produced a credible top eight throw of 20.11m, meaning he was allowed his final three attempts, but could not advance his position.
However, the prospects burn bright for the Rio Olympics if both men continue their current trajectories.
Walsh and Gill advanced to the final 12 competitors out of a field of 31. Walsh ranked seventh in qualifying with 20.49m and Gill was 12th with 19.94m.
Kovacs (21.36m) was top qualifier with Storl (21.26m). No one else threw over 21m.
Elsewhere, Quentin Rew took 18th place in the 20km race walk. He maintained a consistent pace to finish in 1:22:18, seven seconds outside his personal best set in Melbourne in December.
Portia Bing finished 16th in the heptathlon with a total of 6057 points. She secured personal bests in the shot put, high jump and 100m hurdles.
