TNN/Agencies
Doha/Xiamen (China)
Mutaz Essa Barshim made his season’s best jump at the Xiamen leg of Diamond League athletics meeting in China on Saturday. The world and Olympic champion Qatari cleared 2.27m on a tricky night for jumping with a damp runway.
Barshim, however, ended up second on countback with USA’s Shelby McEwen won the high jump event, also clearing a best of 2.27m. Hamish Kerr of New Zealand was next best with 2.24m.
Barshim cleared 2.15, 2.20 and 2.24 in his first attempts but on 2.27 needed three. Shelby cleared 2.27 in his first attempt but had faltered once each on 2.20 and 2.24.
This was Barshim’s first competition since winning the 2023 Asian Games gold in China six month ago.
“The last six months were more of a relaxing time, to be honest. I was doing my recovery. I had plans to compete indoors but then I had some (injury) issues so we decided not to risk it. Now I am feeling healthy again. My training has been going well. I am happy where I am at the moment,” Barshim had said ahead of the event on Friday.
Barshim is readying for the Paris 2024 Olympics, aiming for a fourth medal. “My fourth Olympics. It’s crazy. Definitely (it) feels different. For me, (competing at) Olympics was a dream. I remember watching the Olympics on TV. I wanted to be there (competing) so bad. I told myself one day I will be there. Here I am - I have been to three Olympics. Two silver, one gold and going for my fourth Olympics. You still get that tingle.. Oh it’s an Olympic year. So, it definitely feels different. I am just going to make sure that I am prepared and ready to fight to be on the podium,” he said.
Meanwhile, in a scintillating display of middle-distance running in the women’s 1500m from Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay, who moved third on the world all-time list by powering to victory in 3:50.30, having passed 800m in 2:02 behind the pacemakers.
“It’s a surprise for me,” said Tsegay. “I knew I was in good shape in training, my mentality has changed. Competition for me is easy. Training is hard.”
Tsegay, the reigning world 10,000m champion, will have a choice ahead about what events to run at the Paris Olympics. “Which one? I don’t know,” she said. “I’ll see with my coach in training. Maybe three (events), maybe two.”
The women’s 200m produced a massive upset as Australian teenager Torrie Lewis claimed the biggest win of her career, the 19-year-old flying home from the outside lane to pass US star Sha’Carri Richardson and win in 22.96 (-0.4m/s) to Richardson’s 22.99. USA’s Tamara Clark was next best with 23.01.
“I felt really good as a season opener,” said Richardson. “I know what I need to work on and I’m excited for the next meet.”
There was another Ethiopian win in the men’s 5000m where Lamecha Girma, better known as a steeplechaser, utilised his impressive speed to outkick Kenya’s Nicholas Kipkorir, winning in 12:58.96 to 12:59.78, with Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew third in 13:00.47.
Marileidy Paulino got her season off to a strong start with victory in the women’s 400m, the world champion edging Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek, 50.08 to 50.29. USA’s Britton Wilson took third in 51.26.
An all-star line-up in the women’s 100m hurdles did not disappoint, with Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn keeping her cool to clinch a big win, the Puerto Rican coming from behind to clock a meeting record of 12.45 (-0.2m/s) and edge world indoor champion Devynne Charlton (12.49) and France’s Cyréna Samba-Mayela, who set a national record of 12.55 in third. World champion Danielle Williams was just behind with 12.56 ahead of world record holder Tobi Amusan (12.58).
Christian Coleman converted his impressive indoor form to the outdoors by claiming victory in the men’s 100m over US compatriot Fred Kerley in a battle of former world champions. Coleman didn’t get his trademark bullet start and had to come from behind to win in 10.13 (-0.6m/s), with Kerley second in 10.17 and Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake third with 10.20.
Pedro Pichardo of Portugal made an impressive return from injury after an 11-month spell on the sidelines to win the men’s triple jump, jumping 17.51m in the final round to extend his earlier advantage over Hugues Fabrice Zango, who jumped 17.12m in second. China’s Su Wen took third with 16.82m.
