TNN/Agencies
Doha/Suzhou
Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim seemed to be flying in the men’s high jump final of Suzhou Diamond League meeting in China on Saturday until he erred at 2.31m and moved straight to 2.33 before choosing to call it a day and save himself for the Doha leg in preparation for the forthcoming Paris 2024 Olympics.
The 32-year-old Olympic and world champion Barshim’s decision to settle for second place was a wise call given the bigger goals he’s set for himself.
In comparatively cooler conditions to that of the Xiamen meeting last week, Barshim began at 2.20m in the eleven-man competition and went on to also clear 2.24, 2.27 and 2.29 – all in his first attempts.
World indoor champion Hamish Kerr of New Zealand, who emerged winner, began at 2.16 needed a jump extra to clear 2.24 and 2.27, and later 2.31 which set the bar battle between him and Barshim.
Unable to get past 2.31 in two attempts, Barshim moved to 2.33 before calling it a day after one attempt. Kerr too had two attempts at 2.33 but without success.
Speaking soon after, Barshim said, “I loving coming back to compete here, and it was a nice week. This is an important season for me and I am really looking forward the next competition. I really love Suzhou and enjoyed it with my wife here. The fans are very supportive and encouraged me a lot.
“Compared to the last meeting in Xiamen, the weather is way better. Due to the rain (In Xiamen) I was really concerned and I did not want to push myself too hard because I did not want to be injured and ruin my season. The Olympics is the goal with my next competition in Doha in two weeks,” he added.
Kerr, who rebounded after his third place in Xiamen, said, “It was great to get the win. I’ve been working on a few technical things so for that to work out tonight, I’m stoked. It wasn’t perfect through 2.24m, 2.27m tonight but I stayed patient and that is the most pleasing thing. Just to be out there with these who I really look up to like Barshim and to beat them, I still have to pinch myself. This gives me a lot of confidence going into the season ahead.”
Turner Vernon of USA was third with a best jump of 2.27.
Meanwhile, Swedish star Mondo Duplantis produced the standout performancesoaring over six metres to maintain his dominance in men’s pole vault.
In front of packed stands at the Suzhou Olympic Sports Centre, the 24-year-old had a perfect record up to and over 6.00m and with the competition won, he then put the bar up to a world record height of 6.25m, coming close in his three attempts.
“It was very important for me to come and jump well today, make sure I got the win over a tough group of guys,” he said. “I never complain when I jump over six metres and get a Diamond league win.”
On the track, South Africa’s Akani Simbine came from behind to beat Christian Coleman in the men’s 100m, Simbine running down the 2019 world champion late to win in 10.01 (-0.1m/s) to Coleman’s 10.04, with 2022 world champion Fred Kerley third in 10.11.
Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn made it two from two in this Diamond League season by winning the women’s 100m hurdles in 12.63 (0.3m/s) ahead of Devynne Charlton (12.64) and Danielle Williams (12.74). The race had some drama after world record holder Tobi Amusan of Nigeria was disqualified for a false start. She went on to run under protest, finishing virtually in line with Camacho-Quinn, but her result did not stand.
Valarie Allman continued her fine form with a season’s best to win the women’s discus, the Olympic champion launching a 69.86m effort in the fifth round. Next best was China’s Feng Bin who threw 67.11m, while Cuba’s Yaime Perez settled for third with 65.59m.
Britain’s Daryll Neita left the field trailing in the women’s 200m, coming home a wide-margin winner in 22.62 (0.2m/s) ahead of US duo Anavia Battle (22.99) and Sha’Carri Richardson (23.11).
USA’s Daniel Roberts backed up his win last week in Xiamen with another victory in the 110m hurdles, clocking 13.12 (0.8m/s) to beat Japan’s Shunsuke Izumiya (13.23) and Olympic champion Hansle Parchment of Jamaica (13.26).
Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega utilised his vicious finishing speed to take the men’s 5000m in a meeting record of 12:55.68, with his countryman Biniam Mehary second in 12:56.37 and Kenya’s Benson Kiplangat third in a PB of 12:58.78. Barega revealed after that the 10,000m would be his chief focus at the Paris Olympics.
Beatrice Chepkoech proved a class apart in the women’s 3000m steeplechase, the world record holder putting on an exhibition despite dealing with “a knee and stomach problem” to win in 9:07.36 ahead of Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai (9:15.46) and Germany’s Gesa Felicitas Krause (9:16.24).
The women’s 400m saw another home-straight demonstration by world champion Marileidy Paulino, the Dominican pulling clear late to win in 50.89 ahead of USA’s Talitha Diggs (51.77) and Sada Williams of Barbados (52.00).
In the men’s 800m, Algeria’s Slimane Moula fought off the charge from Kenya’s Wycliffe Kinyamal to win in 1:44.55 to Kinyamal’s 1:44.88, with USA’s Clayton Murphy third in 1:45.18.
Chase Jackson produced a 20.03m throw to take the women’s shot put, with Canada’s Sarah Mitton second with 19.86m and China’s Song Jiayuan third with 19.83m.
USA’s Marquis Dendy edged a tight contest in the men’s long jump, his second-round effort of 8.05m (-0.2m/s) giving him victory over Chinese duo Wang Jianan (8.04m) and Shi Yuhao (7.99m).
In the women’s javelin, world champion Haruka Kitaguchi of Japan got her season off to a strong start with a victory, throwing 62.97m, with Australia’s Mackenzie Little second with 62.12m and Colombia’s Flor Denis Ruiz Hurtado third with 60.70m.
Marthe Koala of Burkina Faso claimed victory in the women’s long jump, her opening-round effort of 6.68m handing her victory over USA’s Quanesha Burks (6.59m) and Serbia’s Milica Gardasevic (6.52m).
In the women’s 5000m, a non-Diamond League event, Ethiopia’s Mekedes Alemeshete set a world lead and PB of 14:36.70 to take a narrow victory over compatriots Ayal Dagnachew (14:36.86) and Letesenbet Gidey (14:37.13).
