Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar competes in the high jump during the IAAF Diamond League Prefontaine Classic in Eugene.
By Agencies/Eugene
Mutaz Essa Barshim rekindled his Hayward Field magic and added to his growing resume in the high jump at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Eugene, going over a meeting record of 2.41m on Saturday.
The Qatari didn’t miss a jump all day at the famous Prefontaine Classic meeting and had first time clearances at 2.24m, 2.28m and 2.35m but, after passing 2.38m and then watching China’s Zhang Guowei, go clear at that height and add three centimetres to his personal best, Barshim needed to go higher to win.
He was up to the task and did so. Victory secured, Barshim did not make any further attempts.
LAVILLENIE BREAKS DIAMOND LEAGUE POLE VAULT RECORD
Pole vault star Renaud Lavillenie said he would only show up if he was ready to compete and the world record holder from France kept his word Eugene on Saturday.
The 2014 World Athlete of the Year had questions about surrounding his health after he showed up to the Prefontaine Classic press conference on Friday with a wrap on his right shoulder – the result of an injury he suffered while competing in a relay at a club meeting in France – but he still cleared an IAAF Diamond League record of 6.05m.
However, the shoulder problem didn’t seem to bother him in the pole vault competition at Hayward Field where he set an outdoor personal best and an IAAF Diamond League record of 6.05m.
It equalled the second best vault ever seen outdoors, and was a personal best for Lavillenie when exposed to the elements. “It’s just the beginning of the season I have a lot of work to do,” commented Lavillenie rather modestly.
As has happened sometimes in the past, the early heights proved challenging for him and he needed a third attempt to get over 5.70m. From there, he required two tries at 5.86m before making first time clearances at 5.96m and 6.05m.
He then took three unsuccessful attempts at 6.16m, hoping to match his indoor best and his world record.
Last year, he admits he took it slightly easy after he set the world record, combined with the fact that he injured himself indoors and also didn’t have good weather throughout the summer.
This season, he thinks it is just a question of when he brings the outdoor mark into alignment with his world record, set indoors.
“This summer could be a very good test, a very interesting season,” said Lavillenie.
Saturday was also Lavillenie’s first competition this summer with a full run-up. He vaulted at the Drake Relays last month, but only used a 16-step approach as opposed to his normal 20 steps.
USA’s Sam Kendricks finished second, vaulting 5.80m, and Germany’s 2013 world champion Raphael Holzdeppe placed third at the same height.
For Holzdeppe, who surprisingly beat Lavillenie to the world title in Moscow, it was his best height in almost two years after struggling with injuries since the start of 2014.