'Ana Po'uhila Tonga's record-breaking hammer thrower [1]
Sunday, July 12, 2009 - 19:00. Updated on Friday, June 13, 2014 - 18:53.
Tongan international shot putter, 'Ana Po'uhila is aiming to make her mark in hammer throwing after setting the new Tongan record at 53,53m in her 2009 French Tour on July 2.
Competing in Aix les bains the Tongan athlete decided to throw the hammer and on third attempt marked a 51,60m breaking her Tongan record of 50,35m.
She again broke this with a longer one of 53,53m in a fourth attempt to finish second in the competition, beating New Zealand champion Jessica Charlesworth, who after three fouled attempts could only manage to throw 52,38m.
Ana also had a good start in discus throwing after winning the competition with 48m on July 2.
Coach Didier Poppe said this is the best performance by an island athlete." 'Ana remains firstly a world class shot-putter but she is looking towards winning the first gold for Tonga in the hammer at the Mini and South Pacific Games this year."
'Ana continued her French Tour on July 3, and competed in the shot put and discus event alongside the best French girls athletes.