World Record holder in the men’s Pole vault, Renaud Lavillenie topped the list of athletes that dominated the Field events at the Zurich Diamond League on Thursday, even as the Frenchman secured a historic seventh Diamond Race Trophy at the Stadium Letzigrund.
The Olympic Silver medallist shared the win with Bronze medallist Sam Kendricks, with both jumpers stopping at 5.90m, while Olympic Champion, Brazil’s Thiago Braz da Silva placed 3rd, retiring at 5.84m.
Reigning Olympic Champion in the women’s Discus throw, Sandra Perkovic made history by becoming the first woman to win five Diamond Race trophies, having maintained an unbeaten run in the Diamond League series this season.
The Croatian won the title with her final throw of 68.44m, as French woman Mélina Robert-Michon and World Champion Denia Caballero followed with 63.91m and 62.80m.
It was a perfect climax to the 2016 season for 37-year old Ruth Beitia who dominated the women’s High Jump, landing the trophy with her winning height of 1.96m, as USA’s Inika McPherson and Sofie Skoog followed in 2nd and 3rd respectively with a clearance of 1.93m.
Meanwhile Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch denied Olympic Champion Thomas Rohler the Diamond trophy in the men’s Javelin throw with his superior mark of 87.28m in his final attempt. The German had led the field with his first attempt of 86.56m and will rue losing this opportunity in Switzerland.
Brittney Reese exerted some revenge from teammate Tianna Bartoletta in the women’s Long Jump, as the latter finished 6th with a leap of 6.51m, while Reese won with an impressive 6.95m secured on her fourth attempt.
That notwithstanding, Serbian Ivana Spanovic’s consistency in the Diamond League series this year made her $40,000 richer as she clinched the Diamond Trophy, having finished 2nd with her leap of 6.93m.
New Zealand’s Tom Walsh demonstrated that his victory at the Paris Diamond League was no fluke, upstaging Rio 2016 GOLD and Silver medallists, USA’s Ryan Crouser and Joe Kovacs to win the men’s Shot put event with an Area Record of 22.20m, which he threw on his third attempt.
Crouser tried to respond in his fourth throw but fell short, recording a distance of 22.00m. Kovacs was 3rd with a mark of 21.20m.
Reigning World and Olympic Champion in the men’s Triple Jump, Christian Taylor totally outclassed his rivals at the Zurich Diamond League, confirming his status as the world’s best jumper in his generation.
Taylor leapt to a Meeting Record (MR) of 17.80m, jumping in excitement and delight after the weight of his achievement dawned on him. Guyana’s Troy Doris was the only other athlete on the field who throw beyond 17m, recording a mark of 17.01m.
Chris Carter was 3rd in 16.75m, while Nigeria’s Tosin Oke placed a distant 10th with 16.29m.
