ZÜRICH, SWITZERLAND, September 09 — Among jumping and throwing events the LJ & SP were contested downtown on the first day of the Weltklasse meet. Here are our reports on the other 5 men’s field events:
Men’s High Jump: Tamberi Loves Him Some Fans
One track & field moment from Tokyo that went majorly viral was the sharing of high jump gold by Mutaz Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi. Their heartfelt emotions tugged at many a heartstring.
Barshim wasn’t here, but consummate showman Tamberi thoroughly entertained the crowd nonetheless, repeatedly orchestrating them into boisterous support. The Italian isn’t just a lounge act, as he proved by never being out of the lead as he cleared his first 5 heights without a miss.
It was the fourth of those, 7-5¼ (2.27), that put him into the lead alone. Four others cleared the height, but Andrii Protsenko and Maksim Nedasekau needed a pair of attempts, and Ilya Ivanyuk and Django Lovett each required the full three shots.
Tamberi was perfect again at 7-6½ (2.30), while Protsenko and Ivanyuk each needed all available chances. Lovett went out and Nedasekau missed once then passed to 7-7¼ (2.32).
For the first time on the day Tamberi missed, but so did everybody else. The others missed a second time, but Tamberi was spot-on. Ivanyuk missed a third time and Protsenko elected for having one try at 7-8 (2.34), which was a fail and the title was Tamberi’s. He made on his second attempt and called it a day.
After posing for many selfies with fans in the front rows he said, “I really wanted to win the Diamond because I have never done it. And when I cleared 2.30, I understood I could jump even higher. At 2.32, I just said, ‘I will jump it for [the crowd].’ Because these were all the inspirational guys. I did not have fun competing without fans. High jump is not that much fun without the fans. But this was amazing and I would compete even 50 times even if I am tired if we had the crowds like this. Zürich is the best.”
Results
1. Gianmarco Tamberi (Ita) 7-8 (2.34) (7-1, 7-2½, 7-4¼, 7-5¼, 7-6½, 7-7¼ [2], 7-8 [2]) (2.16, 2.20, 2.24, 2.27, 2.30, 2.32 [2], 2.34 [2]); 2. Andrii Protsenko (Ukr) 7-6½ (2.30) (7-1, 7-2½, 7-4¼, 7-5¼ [2], 7-6½ [3], 7-7¼ [xx], 7-8 [x]) (2.16, 2.20, 2.24, 2.27 [2], 2.30 [3], 2.32 [xx], 2.34 [x]); 3. Ilya Ivanyuk (Rus) 7-6½ (7-1, 7-2½, 7-4¼, 7-5¼ [3], 7-6½ [3], 7-7¼ [xxx]) (2.16, 2.20, 2.24, 2.27 [3], 2.30 [3], 2.32 [xxx]); 4. Maksim Nedasekau (Blr) 7-5¼ (2.27); 5. Django Lovett (Can) 7-5¼; 6. Donald Thomas (Bah) 7-4¼ (2.24).
Men’s Vault: More Vintage Mondo
When Mondo Duplantis is on, he’s as dominant a vaulter as the world has ever seen. That’s correct: right up there with the likes of Warmerdam and Bubka. Unfortunately for the other fiberglass adepts of the 21st century, he’s virtually always on.
Zürich was just the latest in the WR holder’s sequence of utterly dominant performances, featuring majestic cookie-cutter clearances at lower heights, then simply repeating his form when the altitude got thinner.
Friend/rival Sam Kendricks didn’t go down without a fight, clearing four heights in a row through 19-1½ (5.83) without a miss, but at 19-5½ (5.93) the American turned mortal, requiring a pair while the Swede needed only one (need it be said it was a big clearance?). It was a seasonal best for Kendricks, but he would go no higher. Nor would Timur Morgunov, who had scaled the height for an SB of his own.
Both Kendricks and Morgunov could not clear 19-7½ (5.98) in two tries, but Duplantis did on his second. The Russian missed a third time while Kendricks saved one last gasp for 19-9¼ (6.03), which Mondo skipped after his buddy’s miss.
Then it was on to 19-10½ (6.06), which he scaled with aplomb. So why not go for the WR? Up to 20-3¾ (6.19) it was. None of his attempts were particularly close (on the second, perhaps holding too much pole, he stalled out) but he had yet another huge mark.
“The main goal today was just to win that Diamond as I hadn’t done it yet,” he said. “And I am really happy with the way that I jumped. I had some really good jumps. I would have loved to break the record and I really felt like I have it in me this season so I think I am going to look back at the season and I am not going to have too many complaints. Any time I am able to jump 6m, I cannot complain. Mission accomplished.”
Results
1. Mondo Duplantis (Swe) 19-10½ (6.06) (18-3¾, 19-1½, 19-5½, 19-7½ [2], 19-10½, 20-3¾ [xxx]) (5.58, 5.83, 5.93, 5.98 [2], 6.06, 6.19 [xxx]); 2. Sam Kendricks (US) 19-5½ (5.93) (17-9¾, 18-3¾, 18-9½, 19-1½, 19-5½ [2], 19-7½ [xx], 19-9¼ [x]) (5.43, 5.58, 5.73, 5.83, 5.93 [2], 5.98 [xx], 6.03 [x]); 3. Timur Morgunov (Rus) 19-5½ (17-9¾, 18-3¾, 18-9½ [2], 19-1½, 19-5½ [2], 19-7½ [xxx]) (5.43, 5.58, 5.73 [2], 5.83, 5.93 [2], 5.98 [xxx]); 4. Ernest John Obiena (Phi) 19-1½ (5.83); 5. Chris Nilsen (US) 19-1½; 6. KC Lightfoot (US) 19-1½.
Men’s Triple Jump: Pichardo Early & Late
When he bombs a long 3-bounce early in a competition Pedro Pablo Pichardo is tough to beat.
True, when he scored his first Diamond trophy in ’18, he had to respond and overcome when Christian Taylor matched his opener in round 5. The last time PPP lost — in Madrid in June — he had no sufficient answer to Hugues Fabrice Zango late in the comp. But a 2.5 wind on Zango’s 58-6 (17.83) may have been decisive that day, and Olympic champ Pichardo’s slate has been clean since.
On form here, the Portuguese ex-Cuban bounded 56-7½ (17.26) to open and then cruise-controlled after he bailed on his second, which taped out at 52-3¾ (15.94) even though he ran through the pit.
Pichardo sat out rounds 3 and 4, then reengaged when Zango touched the 17m barrier, exactly, on his 4th, 55-9¼ (17.00), and then 56-5¼ (17.20) in round 5. PPP added a centimeter to his series best in response.
Round 6 was active. Texas A&M alum Yasser Triki, the Tokyo 5th-placer, improved by 14-¼ inches (36cm) to clinch 3rd. And while Zango’s 55-11 (17.04) aided him for nought, Pichardo had more in his tank.
Hitting the board 2 inches (5cm) in front of the plasticine, he flew long, tossed sand into the air, followed its arc and fall with his eyes and then stuck out his tongue for good measure. The measurement was 58-1 (17.70).
“I feel it was a good competition here tonight,” he said. “At the beginning, I felt it was a little cold, and I wasn’t feeling warm enough in my legs but eventually I warmed up and a good jump came out. The atmosphere here is great, and every time we have a crowd like this in the stadium, this really has an impact on us athletes — it is very important for us.”
Results
1. Pedro Pablo Pichardo (Por) 58-1 (17.70) (56-7½, 52-3¾, p, p, 56-8, 58-1) (17.26, 15.94, p, p, 17.27, 17.70); 2. Hugues Fabrice Zango (BF) 56-5¼ (17.20) (53-11, 55-4¼, 55-5, 55-9¼, 56-5¼, 55-11) (16.43, 16.87, 16.89, 17.00, 17.20, 17.04); 3. Yasser Triki (Alg) 55-10½ (17.03) (54-7¼, 54-2½, 54-8¼, 54-7½, f, 55-10½) (16.64, 16.52, 16.67, 16.65, f, 17.03); 4. Tobia Bocchi (Ita) 54-10 (16.71); 5. Tiago Pereira (Por) 54-6 (16.61); 6. Donald Scott (US) 53-2¾ (16.22).
Men’s Discus: Ståhl Almost Tried Too Hard
One and done for Olympic champion Daniel Ståhl as he defended his Diamond League title in a competition full of fouls, reeling off his winning 218-1 (66.49) on his first attempt.
The battle for 2nd featured much more drama, with Austria’s Lukas Weißhaidinger grabbing it in round 1 at 206-8 (63.00). In round 3, Fedrick Dacres went 213-0 (64.92) to stake his claim.
Round 5 featured the most action, as 4 of the 6 contestants hit their bests. Dacres improved to 214-4 (65.33). Then Slovenia’s Kristjian Ceh stepped up for a 214-6 (65.39) to take over the runner-up spot for good. After three straight fouls, Ståhl launched the second-best throw of the day, a 215-4 (65.64).
The final round proved frustrating to all, with 5 of 6 fouling, including Ståhl.
With the successful defense of his ’19 title, Ståhl said, “I am very happy I won today. It is not such a good result, but the most important thing was to win. I tried too much tonight, so my technique and my moves were very short. My first attempt was good, but I hit five attempts very bad, but I did not change anything. The result is bad, but all that counts is the trophy.”
Results
1. Daniel Ståhl (Swe) 218-1 (66.49) (218-1, f, f, f, 215-4, f) (66.49, f, f, f, 65.64, f); 2. Kristjan Čeh (Slo) 214-6 (65.39) (f, 205-8, f, 212-2, 214-6, 210-2) (f, 62.69, f, 64.67, 65.39, 64.07); 3. Fedrick Dacres (Jam) 214-4 (65.33) (206-5, f, 213-0, f, 214-4, f) (62.92, f, 64.92, f, 65.33, f); 4. Andrius Gudžius (Lit) 210-1 (64.04); 5. Simon Pettersson (Swe) 208-11 (63.68); 6. Lukas Weißhaidinger (Aut) 207-4 (63.20).
Men’s Javelin: Still Not A Gold Medal
In a spectacular year marred by the disappointment of finishing 9th in the Olympics, the otherwise undefeated Johannes Vetter found some solace in winning the Diamond League title for the first time.
Jakub Vadlejch, the ’16 & ’17 champ, opened well with a 279-7 (85.22), but Vetter responded with a 284-0 (86.57). As if that wasn’t enough, the powerful German crushed a 292-4 (89.11) in the next round, effectively sealing the win. Only 2 other men have thrown that far this season, and neither was present.
In round 3, Moldova’s Andrian Mardare hit 278-10 (84.98) to move to 3rd. Vetter followed up with his last fair throw of the day, a 278-9 (84.97).
Julian Weber, who struggled in the early going, popped a big 285-6 (87.03) to move into the runner-up spot in round 4. That was the end of the jockeying for places.
In the final round, Weber followed up with a nice 280-1 (85.37) and Vetter, his final throw delayed by false starts in the men’s 400H, fouled.
“I am really satisfied,” he said. “I knew that I had this in me. The 89m is a great result. I would have liked to achieve 90m today. But I should not have done the last throw because this one hurt my body.
“What was more important for me today, the trophy, the $30,000 or the Wild Card? Well, the most important would have been to win the gold medal at the Olympic Games. But because of the [loose runway] circumstances I was denied that; that is bitter.”
Results
1. Johannes Vetter (Ger) 292-4 (89.11) (284-0, 292-4, 278-9, f, p, f) (86.57, 89.11, 84.97, f, p, f); 2. Julian Weber (Ger) 285-6 (87.03) (252-4, 256-4, 241-3, 285-6, 260-9, 280-1) (76.93, 78.13, 73.55, 87.03, 79.49, 85.37); 3. Jakub Vadlejch (CzR) 279-7 (85.22) (279-7, f, f, 266-3, p, 256-9) (85.22, f, f, 81.15, p, 78.27); 4. Andrian Mardare (Mol) 278-10 (84.98); 5. Anderson Peters (Grn) 267-10 (81.65); 6. Simon Wieland (Swi) 256-3 (78.11); 7. Gatis Čakšs (Lat) 225-3 (68.67).