Athletics: Adams hits straps for 14th national title

On top of the world ... Double Olympic shot put gold medallist Valerie Adams reacts after...
On top of the world ... Double Olympic shot put gold medallist Valerie Adams reacts after breaking the 19m mark at the national athletics championships in Dunedin yesterday. Photo: Gregor Richardson
The smile said it all - Valerie Adams is back.

After struggling in an event in Auckland last month, Adams hit her straps in front of a large crowd at the national athletics championships at the Caledonian Ground in Dunedin yesterday.

The double Olympic shot put gold medallist won her 14th national title with a 19.43m put, the best by any woman in the world this year.

Adams showed plenty of emotion, including after her fourth attempt, when she let out a large groan in frustration. But her mood quickly changed after her next attempt, when she celebrated her 19.38m put by turning to the crowd and flexing her muscles.

She saved her best for last, and applauded the vocal crowd for their support after landing the 19.43m attempt.

Adams, who also won the title in Dunedin in 2011, arrived in the city on Saturday morning.

She and her entourage spent the day looking around the city, including a visit to Baldwin St, the world's steepest street.

"Are you crazy?" she said when asked if she had walked up it.

"I didn't walk up the steepest street, I drove up. But let me just say, when I was driving up, I was praying the whole time, 'Please don't flip, please don't flip'.

"But we got up there. It was very nice."

Adams, who had already qualified for Rio before yesterday, was one of a few hundred athletes in Dunedin for the three-day national championships, which doubled as an Olympic qualifier.

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