TNN/PA Media/DPA
London
Qatar’s Olympic champion Mutaz Essa Barshim chose to withdraw from the men’s high jump of the London Diamond League on Saturday following a technical issue.
Following Barshim’s last-minute withdrawal, world indoor champion Hamish Kerr of New Zealand won the event with a best jump of 2.30m.
Barshim later said, "Yeah, you know, I didn’t jump, unfortunately. I’m disappointed. There was no space; it was a technical mistake, I think, from the organization, and it was very tight. So, when I tried to set up my run-up to jump, it was impossible. There was no place to do it.
"I’ve been jumping officially for about 15 years. This is only the second time in my career that something like this has happened. Of course, I’m frustrated, not only for myself but also for everyone who came out there to support me. I feel bad because I don’t like letting people down. I’m not injured; I wanted to come here and perform at my best. But, as I said, things happen.
"It’s frustrating, but we move forward. We have the Olympics soon, so I’m looking forward to that.”
Meanwhile, Qatar’s Ismail Abakar achieved a personal best (PB) of 47.72secs in the men’s 400m hurdles finishing third. The event was won by Brazilian Alison Dos Santosh (47.18) while Jamaican Roshawn Clarke was second in 47.63sces.
"That was a huge PB for me so I am very excited now for Paris. I knew I could do it and now I can go there and I really feel I can get to the final. To take this much off my PB puts me really in the right place for the Olympics,” said a delighted Abakar.
Briton Keely Hodgkinson laid down a new national women’s 800 metres record of 1 minute 54.61 seconds at the London Diamond League meet ahead next week’s Paris Olympics.
In breaking her own national record of 1:55.19, set last September in Eugene, the Tokyo Olympic and world silver medallist became the sixth-fastest woman in history at her signature distance.
The world-leading time was a clear message from the 22-year-old to her Paris competition, six days before the Olympic opening ceremony, and inspired British team-mates Jemma Reekie and Georgia Bell to personal bests for an all-British top three.
Hodgkinson said: "It was a little bit of bravery and fearlessness with a great atmosphere like this, I didn’t want to waste the opportunity.
"The Brits know how to put on an athletics meet, I wish there were more in this country because it’s the best crowd I’ve ever run in front of.
"I’m feeling really good and confident ahead of Paris. Obviously the main aim is just to get to the final first and then once we’re there we can discuss getting medals.” British world 400m silver medallist Matthew Hudson-Smith issued a statement of his own, beating his own European record of 44.07 seconds in 43.74.
Reigning world 100m and 200m champion Noah Lyles set a new personal best 9.81 in the men’s 100m curtain-closer, where a trio of Britons missed out on a top three rounded out by South Africa’s Akani Simbine and Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo.
American Lyles looks big favourite for sprint glory in Paris, with the athletics coming in the second week.
It was ultimately an easy victory for Dutch 400m hurdler Femke Bol while German star Malaika Mihambo won the long jump as she returned from a coronavirus infection in fine style ahead of Paris.
Bol hints at epic
Olympic showdown
The Netherlands’ Femke Bol stormed to victory in the women’s 400m hurdles before her eagerly anticipated showdown with American world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in Paris.
Bol set a meeting record of 51.30, one week after running the third-quickest time in history of 50.95.
Briton Jessie Knight ran a season-best 54.15 for fifth, while Lina Nielsen, also in GB’s Olympic squad, was eighth.
In the men’s event, Brazil’s Alison dos Santos took a dominant victory in 47.18 before an Olympic showdown with Norway’s Karsten Warholm and American Rai Benjamin, while Britain’s Alastair Chalmers finished eighth.
Jamaica’s Nickisha Pryce set a world-leading time this year in the women’s 400m, taking victory in 48.57 ahead of Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek.