Alysha Newman 2nd in Zürich pole vault to secure Diamond League Final berth
Fellow Canadian record holders Marco Arop, Sarah Mitton will join her in Brussels
Alysha Newman is headed to her fourth Diamond League Final, and first in five years, after nearly matching her Canadian record performance from the recent Paris Olympics.
She cleared 4.82 metres for second place behind Olympic champion Nina Kennedy of Australia to open the Weltklasse Zürich Diamond League track and field meet on Wednesday.
In Newman's only previous appearance in Zürich, the 30-year-old also posted a 4.82 clearance on Aug. 28, 2019.
"This is one of my favourite competitions in the year. I love the intimacy of the crowd and getting all this energy from the crowd. You feel that people want us to succeed," she said of competing indoors at Zürich's central train station.
"Of course, I would have like to beat Nina today. She is such jumping so consistently and beautifully."
Newman cleared 4.73 a week ago at the Golden Gala in Rome in her first competition since a 4.85 effort for bronze at Stade de France on Aug. 7 when she became Canada's first-ever Olympic medallist in women's pole vault.
WATCH | Newman clears 4.82m for 2nd place in Zürich:
On Sept. 6, 2019, the native of London, Ont., jumped 4.77 at the AG Memorial Van Damme in Brussels for third in the Diamond League Final.
Newman was also third in the 2017 championship when she set a then-Canadian mark of 4.75, one year after going 4.42 in her DL Final debut, also in Brussels.
On Sept. 14 in Brussels, she will compete for the Diamond League Trophy and $30,000 top prize against Kennedy, Angelica Moser of Switzerland, Molly Caudery of Great Britain and Americans Sandi Morris and Katie Moon.
Joining Newman in Belgium will be Edmonton middle-distance runner Marco Arop in the men's 800m and shot putter Sarah Mitton, from Brooklyn, N.S.
Lopes-Schliep Canada's 1st Diamond League champ
Last year, sprinter Andre De Grasse was the first Canadian since shot putter Dylan Armstrong to win a Diamond League Trophy, racing to a season-best 19.76 in the men's 200m.
Former world No. 1 hurdler Priscilla Lopes-Schliep of Whitby, Ont., was Canada's first Diamond League champion in 2010 when the 2008 Olympic bronze medallist clocked 12.54 seconds in the women's 100m event in Brussels the day after her 28th birthday.
Back to Newman, who suffered a Grade 2 right ankle sprain on Feb. 29 while cooling down after a training session, two days before the start of competition at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Scotland.
"I always felt like two to three weeks behind [after returning to competition]. Even today, I think I was missing some speed because of this," Newman said Wednesday. "But, hey I got [a] bronze medal at the Olympics, so I cannot complain."
Like Newman, Moon jumped 4.82 on Wednesday but finished third after recording four missed attempts to Newman's two.
Moser back to full health
Moser rebounded from a 4.43 clearance in Rome to jump 4.77 in Zürich for fourth that will count as an indoor personal best. She cleared 4.80 in the Olympic competition.
"After Paris I was sick, had fever and a cold," said Moser. "I have not trained for a whole week since. Then I competed in Rome. Today I wanted to show what I am still capable of."
Kennedy, who cleared a 4.90 season best at the Paris Olympics, picked up her seventh victory of 2024. Her 4.91 PB was achieved at last year's Weltklasse Zürich.
"I do not know if I am unbeatable. 2024 has been the best season," she said. "What is still missing is a new PB. … But I still have Brussels.
"[This year I have] jumped more consistently. I am maturing as an athlete, just finding my rhythm in this sport."
WATCH | Pole vaulter Duplantis wins sprint showdown against hurdler Warholm:
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