Birkinhead gets Oly shot put qualifier

Australian shot putter Damien Birkinhead has bettered the Olympic qualifying standard with a big personal best of 20.80m at a meet in New Zealand.

The 23-year-old Victorian finished 3cm behind local Jacko Gill at the Big Shot and Street Mile event in central Christchurch on Monday.

Birkinhead's previous PB was 20.40m.