Greece’s Miltiadis Tentoglou completed the set of major long jump titles at the World Athletics Championships by uncorking a sixth round winning effort of 8.52m and the Greek demonstrated his ability to perform under pressure once yet again on Thursday (31) evening in the Zurich Diamond League.
Trailing Jamaica’s Tajay Gayle heading into the final round, the perennially unflustered Tentoglou was coolness personified once more. He pulled out a winning mark of 8.20m on his last attempt to take the victory ahead of Gayle (8.07m) and Jarrion Lawson from the United States (8.05m).
After his victory, Tentoglou said this was his last competition of another stellar season which was highlighted by his third successive European indoor title in Istanbul and then a last gasp victory at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
World record remains a target for Duplantis
Armand Duplantis notched up another victory and six metre-vault before three world record attempts in the pole vault.
Duplantis cleared 6.00m on his first attempt to defeat a rejuvenated Sam Kendricks (5.95m) before taking a full complement of attempts at a world record height of 6.23m, none of which were particularly close on this occasion but something which remains a goal in the last few weeks of the season for the Swede.
"Such a height is not easy only four days after the World Championships. Coming down from that high was draining. My legs felt flat. I wanted to get myself back into world record mentality. I have two more Diamond League meetings left and I really want to jump these 6.23m," he said.
Muir takes a commanding 800m victory
Sixth in the 1500m at the World Athletics Championships, Laura Muir dropped down in distance and took a commanding victory in the 800m at the Letzigrund.
Last but one after 200 metres, the European indoor and outdoor 1500m champion made her strength show by moving gradually through the field before hitting the front with 250 metres remaining.
And looking decidedly fresher than her rivals who contested the 800m which occupied the latter days of the World Athletics Championships programme, Muir won by a decisive margin in 1:57.71 - the second fastest time of her career - ahead of Australia’s Catriona Bisset (1:58.77) with former Brit-turned Jamaican Adelle Tracey third in 1:59.05.
“I am running in Brussels and Eugene, and I know I am in really good shape over 800, so I wanted to get a time down, run fast, and be competitive. I thought I could win today, but you just never know,” she said.
Vadlejch gets his revenge on Chopra
The bronze medallist in the javelin at the World Athletics Championships, world leader Jakub Vadlejch had the beating of Indian hero Neeraj Chopra just four days after he became his country’s first ever gold medallist in World Athletics Championships history.
Vadlejch’s fourth round throw of 85.86m set the standard and narrowly survived Chopra’s final round gambit which was measured at 85.71m. European champion Julian Weber improved on his fourth-place finish from Budapest with third in Zurich with 85.04m.
In the pre-programme, European indoor champion Jason Joseph powered to victory on home soil in the 110m hurdles in a Swiss record of 13.08 to move to equal ninth on the European all-time list.
"Running here in Zurich is so special and achieving this national record is magnificent. I cannot believe it. When I ran I did not realise that it was that fast. My race was quite hectic and I somehow made it to the finish line," he said.
Elsewhere in Zurich...
After running a perfect tactical race to win the 1500m title at the World Athletics Championships, Josh Kerr was narrowly pipped to victory by Yared Nuguse from the United States.
Leading into the home straight, Kerr looked on course for back-to-back victories but the Brit left open a sliver of space on his inside which his American rival saw - and took full advantage of.
With a high-powered charge in the closing metres, Nuguse clinched the victory in 3:30.49 to defeat the newly crowned world champion by a mere two-hundredths.
Kerr’s teammate George Mills took full advantage of a late call-up by finishing fourth in a lifetime best of 3:30.95 while the exceptional Dutch prospect Niels Laros, 18, was sixth in 3:31.63.
Karsten Warholm was also pipped for victory in the 400m hurdles by Kyron McMaster, the silver medallist behind the Norwegian at the World Athletics Championships.
Usually untouchable over the last two flights of barriers, Warholm couldn’t quite repel the challenge of McMaster who started quickly on Warholm’s inside before achieving the rare feat of keeping the world record-holder at bay in the last 100 metres, winning in 47.27 to Warholm’s 47.30.
“Nobody wants to lose but at the same time, it is a fast time. McMaster gave me a really nice fight and I respect him for keeping the fight in the last meters. The next time, it will be my time for revenge but we are all very good competitors and it is so good to see him back,” said Warholm.
In the 3000m steeplechase, European champion Luiza Gega finished fourth in an Albanian record of 9:09.64, her first sub-9:10 clocking.