Diamond League: Shawn Barber falters but rival is also bested
Canada's Nettey places 2nd in long jump; Rudisha blames poor result on crowded track
A rough start for Canada's world pole vault champion translated into a less-than-stellar finish on Saturday at the IAAF Diamond League event in Shanghai, China.
Shawn Barber finished in third place, bested by his main rival, Renaud Lavillenie of France, as well as a poor start.
The 21-year-old began his attempts at 5.52 metres, but missed twice and passed on the remaining attempt at that height.
The reigning world champ needed to successfully clear 5.62 on his final, do-or-die attempt, and succeeded.
Lavillenie didn't begin his attempts until that height, and the three-time European champion was successful on his second attempt.
Both men cleared the 5.70 height with no problem, however Barber faltered at the 5.78 height. He elected to pass on his remaining attempt after two failed tries.
The gamble on clearing 5.83 also failed, leading to the Canadian's exit from the competition.
Lavillenie cleared the 5.83 mark, but his victory was halted by Sam Kendricks. The American successfully hit a personal best of 5.88 while Lavillenie missed twice and passed on his final attempt, but also missed on 5.93 to hand the victory to Kendricks.
Season best for long jumper
Christabel Netty, of Surrey, B.C., was the other Canadian athlete with a top-three finish in Shanghai, securing a second-place finish in the long jump, thanks in part to a season-best attempt of 6.75.
The 25-year-old Nettey finished fourth at worlds in Beijing last August with a jump of 6.95, and her previous season best was 6.66. The University of Arizona grad set a personal best and Canadian record of 6.99 last season at Stockholm's XL Galan track and field meet. The Olympic standard is 6.70.
In the men's shot put event, Canada's Tim Nedows registered a fifth-place finish. His throw of 20.40 was a metre off of the leading throw by American Kurt Roberts.
Big throws in the final round from <a href="https://twitter.com/kurt_roberts70">@kurt_roberts70</a> & <a href="https://twitter.com/TomWalshSP">@TomWalshSP</a>. The American takes the win with 21.40m <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShanghaiDL?src=hash">#ShanghaiDL</a> <a href="https://t.co/LsbSbkxbnp">pic.twitter.com/LsbSbkxbnp</a>
—@iaaforgThe Brockville, Ont., native secured his first outdoor victory of the year in April, with a winning throw of 20.77 at the Kansas Relays, well clear of the Olympic standard of 20.50.
Canadian high jumper Michael Mason also picked up a fifth-place finish with a season-best jump of 2.20.
Gatlin tops in the 100
American sprinter Justin Gatlin's preparations for the Rio got off to a solid start with a win in the 100m
Gatlin easily won the 100 in 9.94 seconds, several strides ahead of Qatar's Femi Ogunode in second. His main rival in Rio, Olympic and world champion Usain Bolt, did not compete in Shanghai.
Rudisha upset
Olympic 800 champion David Rudisha of Kenya faded on the final straight and finished fifth after a poor start he blamed on field competitors crowding the track.
Rudisha was passed by countryman Ferguson Cheruiyot Rotich, who won the 800 in one minute, 45.68 seconds.
Afterward, he blamed the result on confusion over the javelin throwers and high jumpers who were still on the track as the race was starting.
"We tried to raise our hands up, but the gun went off," he said. "I lost almost two seconds of my time...It's unfortunate. The technical guys — I don't know what they're doing there."
Diamond League on CBC Sports
CBC Sports will provide live streaming coverage of all 14 Diamond League meet this season at CBCSports.ca and via the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices. TV coverage will be featured as part of the network's Road To The Olympic Games weekend broadcasts throughout the season.
The following is a list of upcoming Diamond League meets on CBCSports.ca and the CBC Sports app:
- Rabat (May 22, 12 p.m. ET)
- Eugene (May 28, 4 p.m. ET)
- Rome (June 2, 2 p.m. ET)
- Birmingham (June 5, 9 a.m. ET)
- Oslo (June 9, 2 p.m. ET)
- Stockholm (June 16, 2 p.m. ET)
With files from The Associated Press