Sarah Mitton delivered a more consistent performance in shot put while fellow Canadian Regan Yee inched closer to the Paris Olympic qualifying standard in steeplechase at Saturday’s Diamond League track and field meeting in Suzhou, China.
Mitton led with a throw of 19.86 metres in Round 1 — her best outdoors this season — and it stood up for second place behind American rival Chase Jackson, who answered with a 20.03 toss in her second of six attempts, 20 centimetres off Gong Lijiao’s 2015 meet record.
The two-time reigning Diamond League champion, Jackson topped Mitton over their final three throws. The 29-year-old was third last week 900 kilometres to the south in Xiamen, where Jackson threw 19.62 while she worked on technical changes.
“I have been working on new [things] which could have gone one way or the other [Saturday] so I’m pleased to win,” said Jackson, the world’s top-ranked women’s pole vaulter who won a gold medal at last year’s World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
I’ve been away from home for six weeks, so I take a lot of confidence from today. To throw 20 metres this early in the season, and it felt nice and easy, is good leading into the Olympics.”
WATCH | Mitton ‘really happy’ with 19.86m throw in Suzhou, China:
Sarah Mitton of Brooklyn, N.S., had her best throw of 19.86 to claim second spot at the Diamond League meet in Shanghai/Suzhou.
Mitton, coming off a 19.35 performance for fourth in Xiamen, took charge early at Suzhou Olympic Sports Centre. After fouling on her second throw, she went 19.64 on her third — the best of her competitors — and surpassed 19 metres on two of her final three tries (19.25, 19.17).
A week ago, the 27-year-old from Brooklyn, N.S., threw 18.89 and 18.75 late in the competition.
2nd at 2023 Diamond League Final
“I’m really happy, considering I did not feel that great with the ball,” said the world No. 2. “I had never started my [outdoor] season with a Diamond League like I did last week.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time in China, the people have been so welcoming and lovely.”
Mitton was second at the 2023 Diamond League Final and won her first event on the circuit at the Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway last June 15.
Two months ago, Mitton twice broke a Canadian record on her way to women’s gold at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow.
Song Jiayuan thrilled the home crowd on Saturday, placing third (19.83) in a field of 10, one spot ahead of teammate Gong, who threw 19.61 after prevailing in Xiamen.
“I really appreciated the audience,” Song said. “They encouraged me a lot. It was a bit nervous and intense for me at the beginning, but I adjusted quickly.
“In the future, I [will] be more focused on training, make myself more relaxed and enjoy [the event].”
Jessica Schilder of the Netherlands, who holds the world lead at 20.31 on Feb. 17, was 10th on Saturday (17.81) and didn’t attempt a throw after the third round.
5 seconds faster in 1 week
Like Mitton, Yee made gains in Suzhou. More important than her ninth-place finish (she was eighth) in Xiamen was her time of nine minutes 26.12 seconds.
It was a 5.35-second improvement from a week ago and brought the native of South Hazelton, B.C., closer to the 9:23.00 automatic entry standard for Paris.
But Yee’s performance Saturday will be important to her standing within the top 36 in the world ranking quota for Olympic selection. She entered the weekend 22nd and ahead of Canadians Ceili McCabe (25th), Grace Fetherstonhaugh (27th) and Alycia Butterworth. Canada can select a maximum of three athletes, per gender, in each event.
Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech topped the field for a second consecutive week, clocking 9.07.36 to beat Peruth Chemutai of Uganda by over eight seconds (9:15.46) and Germany’s Gesa Krause (season-best 9:16.24).
WATCH | Ailing Chepkoech collects 2nd victory in a week:
The Kenyan distance runner cruised to victory by more than eight seconds, while Regan Yee, of South Hazelton, B.C., finished ninth at 9:26.12.
Chepkoech, who boasts a world-leading 8:55.40 from last week’s race in Xiamen, fell 2:43 shy of her 9:04.53 meet record from May 18, 2019 in Shanghai, where Saturday’s meet was originally scheduled to be held but was moved as Shanghai Stadium is being refurbished.
“It feels so good to win a second Diamond League race in a week,” said Chepkoech, who captured silver at worlds last summer. “I did not feel well. I had stomach issues [Saturday] but decided to compete.
“The goal is to win [at] the Olympic Games.”
The Diamond League returns May 10 in Doha, Qatar, where Canadian sprinter Aaron Brown is scheduled to race after he competes at the Bermuda Grand Prix on Sunday and the May 4-5 World Relays in Nassau, Bahamas.
