Update: 07/09/2022 20:03
Issued by: 07/09/2022, 18:24

Zurich – American shot putter Joe Kovacs won the Diamond League final with a performance of 23.23 meters and placed second in the all-time standings. The only world record holder Ryan Crouser is in front of him, who he beat by 49 centimeters today in Zurich. 2019 world champion Kovacs won the second diamond trophy of his career. He also won in 2015, when he was still decided by the sum of all diamond meetings.

The highly anticipated shot put competition on Sechseläutenplatz got off to a strong start as the two American rivals equaled Crouser’s record from last year with an identical performance of 22.67 meters in the first run. For the second time, Kovacs made the throw of his life. He crossed the twenty-three centimeter mark for the first time, improving his personal best by 32 centimeters and remaining only 14 centimeters from the world record. Overall, it was the third longest shot put attempt of all time, as Crouser recorded another 23.30 meters in his Olympic triumph in Tokyo.

In Zurich, two-time Olympic champion Crouser improved to 22.74 meters, but this time he didn’t come close to Kovacs. After the meeting in Lausanne, he lost for the second consecutive time against Kovacs. His 33-year-old conqueror was delighted to finally cross another goal. “I had a lot of attempts at 22.80 this year, so I feel like I worked on that. It feels good to finally hit it and be a 23-yard shot putter. And I have a longer throw in me, so it’s great to come away with a personal best and want more,” Kovacs said.

He has big plans for next season, even though his wife is expecting twins. “You don’t want to get worse. Once you get to a certain level, you want to stay there. Now with a performance above 23, my goal for next season is to get to 23 and a half yards,” he said. -he declares. said

In the women’s competition, American Chase Ealy maintained her Diamond League unbeaten streak, winning this time with a performance of 20.19 metres.

Francine Nyionsaba of Burundi was unable to defend her triumph from last year due to injury during the 5000m race, which was held on a temporary 560m long tartan circuit. In its absence, Kenyan women have achieved the best results. Béatrice Chebetová won (14:31.03). His compatriot Nicholas Kipkorir decided the men’s race to the finish line himself. In the five-kilometre road race, the stats of which include racing at this specific circuit, with a performance of 12:59.05 he was the fifth in history to drop below the thirteen-minute mark. 35 hundredths later, the representative of the Domnice refugee team, Lokinyomo Lobalu, also did.

The surprising winner of the pole vault competition was Nina Kennedy. The 25-year-old Australian improved her season best to 481 centimeters and claimed another trophy after bronze at the World Championships and triumph at the Commonwealth Games.

Among the weightlifters, last year’s Olympic champion Gianmarco Tamberi defended his title. The 30-year-old Italian exceeded 234 centimeters for the first time this season and, thanks to a better record, overtook American JuVaughn Harrison.

The main program of the Diamond League final with the participation of Czech javelin throwers Jakub Vadlejch and Barbora Špotáková will follow on Thursday at the Letzigrund stadium.

Men:

5000m: 1. Kipkorir (Kenya) 12:59.05, 2. Lobalu (ART) 12:59.40, 3. Fisher (USA) 13:00.56.

Height: 1. Tamberi (It.), 2. Harrison (USA) 234, 3. Lovett (Kan.) 227.

Ball: 1. Kovacs 23.23, 2. Crouser (both USA) 22.74, 3. Walsh (N.Zel.) 21.90.

Women:

5000m: 1. Chebet 14:31.03, 2. Kipkemboi (both Kenyas) 14:31.52, 3. Tesgay (Et.) 14:32.11.

Rod: 1. Kennedy (Aust.) 481, 2. Morris (USA) 476, 3. Šutejová (Slovenia) 461.

Ball: 1. Ealy (USA) 20.19, 2. Mitton (Can.) 19.56, 3. Dongm (Portugal) 19.46.

Note: The abbreviation ART stands for Refugee Team.

Zurich Diamantová athletics final