New Zealand shot-putter Tom Walsh admits to have been a little frustrated with how his season has gone so far but he's hoping to make amends at this weekend's National Track Championships in Christchurch.
Tom Walsh Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Walsh will be attempting to win his 11th national senior title on Friday night.
He should get some competition from fellow international Jacko Gill, but he is in doubt following a recent injury.
Walsh would have headed off to China next week to defend his World Indoor title, but that was postponed because of the Coronavirus.
He says that's probably played a part in his current form.
"A little bit frustrated about the season for sure it probably hasn't quite gone to date the way I wanted it to, a little bit down on some distance but with world indoors being taken out of the picture that has taken a bit of the sting out of the season."
He concedes that not being able to defend his world indoor title has taken the edge off.
"Yeh for sure I think anyone in any type of sport knows the feeling going into a major competition whether it's the cricket world cup, the rugby world cup or the rowing world cup, whatever it is, that just adds a little bit extra and without doubt that has taken a little bit off it."
"I'm not trying to use that as an excuse, I'm still going out there and trying to throw as far as a can but I'm feeling pretty good about my chances this weekend and things are slowly starting to come together which is nice."
Jacko Gill and Tom Walsh Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Walsh is hoping Gill lines up at the National Championships so the two can get some good competition against each other.
"Jacko probably doesn't get the kudos he deserves, he and I have been in the last three World Championship finals together which is a hell of a feat for a country like New Zealand to have two guys in the top eight in the world, so he's getting better and better every year and any competition he brings to the table is good."
While the Coronavirus is disrupting a lot of sporting events around the world and has meant there are plenty of nervous people wondering what it may do to the Olympics, Walsh is trying to not be one of them.
He's also unsure what may happen to this year's Diamond League series.
Walsh says all he can do is carry on training and wait and see.
"It's just going to happen, if it's called off, it's called off, if it's not, it's not."
"There's nothing I can do about it so I'm not trying to think about it, I'm not trying to waste too much energy on it, because at the end of the day it's other peoples call if it does go ahead and I'm not in a place to make that call."