The Diamond League final from Zurich has already given track and field fans plenty to talk about. Day two kicks off at 11:35am ET on Thursday, September 8 with the men’s triple jump. For full and live results, click here.
Men’s Shot Put
The first event of the two day competition came in the form of the men’s shot put. Ultimately, Joe Kovacs earned the title with an absolutely monster throw of 23.23 meters (76 feet 2.5 inches). Not only was this Kovacs’s first time throwing over 76 feet, but it also puts him at #3 all-time. Ryan Crouser finished 2nd with a throw of 22.74 meters.
Coming in, Ryan Crouser and Joe Kovacs were arguably having two of their best seasons. Both athletes notched win after win at events across the world, including a 1-2 finish at the Oregon22 World Championships, with Crouser edging Kovacs by just 5 centimeters for the crown.
Perhaps missed in the dominance displayed by the duo is New Zealand’s Tom Walsh consistently placing top-3 this season, most recently with a second place finish at the Brussels Diamond League meet. Walsh rounded out the podium, earning a bronze medal with a throw of 21.90 meters.
Women’s Shot Put
On the women’s side, Sarah Mitton jumped to an early lead with a 19.56 meter throw. Mitton’s throw held the top spot until the third round when 2022 World Champion Chase Ealey sent out the lone 20 meter throw of the match. Her toss of 20.19 meters earned her the Diamond League title, and was a mere 4 centimeters away from the meet record.
Mitton’s first round throw kept her on the podium, finishing second, with Auriol Dongmo (19.46 meters) in third. World bronze medalist Jessica Schilder finished fourth with a throw of 19.06 meters.
Women’s Pole Vault
For the high flying women, the event came down to 2022 World silver and bronze medalists Sandi Morris and Nina Kennedy, respectively.
Being the remaining athletes after 4.71 meter jumps, Kennedy cleared 4.76m on her second attempt and Morris her third. At the next height of 4.81, Kennedy was the lone clearance, a season’s best, earning the championship on her third and final jump. Tina Sutej earned a third place finish, having cleared 4.61 meter with no prior misses.
World Champion Katie Nageotte did not compete in the Diamond League final, as she had called it a season the month prior.
Women’s 5000 Meters
The women’s and men’s 5000 meter races are being contested on a non-traditional track, consisting of 3-lanes surrounding the Zurich opera house, and at a distance of 563 meters.
World silver medalist Beatrice Chebet earned her first Diamond League title with a time of 14:31.03, half a second ahead of Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi and over a full second ahead of reigning World Champion Gudaf Tsegay.
Tsegay traded the lead with Alicia Monson late in the race, before ultimately being taken over by Chebet, with Monson eventually finishing in sixth, just behind Sifan Hassan.
Men’s High Jump
Much like the women’s pole vault, the men’s high jump came down to the final height, with a battle between Gianmarco Tamberi and JuVaughn Harrison. Both athletes clearing or passing through 2.32 meters, as the bar raised to 2.34 meters, Tamberi was able to clear on his second attempt while Harrison took to his third. With Harrison unable to make a clearance at 2.36 meters, Tamberi was ultimately the victor, repeating as Diamond League champion.
Django Lovett rounded out the podium, finishing with a height of 2.27, and World bronze medalist Andriy Protsenko just off the podium in fourth (2.24 meters).
World Champion Mutaz Essa Barshim was unable to clear beyond 2.18 meters, placing him in sixth for the final.
Men’s 5000 Meters
Nicholas Kipkorir (12:59.05) earned the Diamond League title for 5000 meters, finishing ahead of Domnic Lokinyomo Lobalu (12:59.40) and Grant Fisher (13:00.56) for second and third, respectively. Kipkorir was able to hold off 2021 Diamond League champion Berihu Aregawi, who was leading late in the race, ultimately finishing fifth.
Fresh off his American Record setting performance in Brussels, Fisher surged from fifth to third in the final 150 meters, passing Telahun Haile Bekele and Aregawi to earn his spot on the podium.
