Kerr Wins In Rabat – First Diamond League Victory For 2025 As Kiwi Contingent Impresses On World Stage
Hamish Kerr secured New Zealand's top result at the Rabat Diamond League, claiming his first Diamond League win of 2025 in the men's high jump. Competing at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, the fourth stop on this year's Diamond League circuit, Kiwis featured across five disciplines against some of the world's best in one of athletics' premier global series.
Kerr continued his early-season form with a clean scorecard through 2.16m, 2.21m, and 2.25m, securing the lead ahead of a strong field that included JuVaughn Harrison (USA) and fellow Oceanian Yual Reath (AUS). When no athlete managed to clear the next height of 2.28m, Kerr was awarded victory on countback.
Kerr relished the competition in Rabat 'The crowd was great and it's my first time in Africa, I'm already looking forward being back next year.'
'Just being patient this season, I feel like I'm building nicely, each comp we're learning and developing and pushing a bit deeper into the curve and the run up….I'm very happy with where I'm at, obviously wanting a little bit more but that's the nature of the beast. I'm Looking forward to Rome [Diamond League] in a couple of weeks.' Said Kerr, reflecting on his performances in Rabat.
In the women's pole vault, Imogen Ayris recorded her best-ever Diamond League finish, clearing 4.50m to place fourth. After comfortably clearing 4.30m, she made an impressive first-time clearance at 4.50m before exiting the competition with three attempts at 4.63m. Olivia McTaggart also opened at 4.30m, needing three attempts to progress, and finished ninth overall after being unable to clear 4.50m.
Tom Walsh, coming off a strong second-place finish in Zagreb, continued his early-season campaign with a best throw of 21.41m in round five to finish sixth in the men's shot put. The field featured eight athletes throwing over 21 metres, including world-leading competitors like Payton Otterdahl (USA), Joe Kovacs (USA), and Leonardo Fabbri (ITA).
In the women's 100m, Zoe Hobbs clocked 11.16s to finish fifth, which was just shy of her season's best of 11.11 set at the Jennian Homes New Zealand Track & Field Championships. Jamaican sprint star Shericka Jackson took the win in 11.04.
Sam Tanner kicked off his international season in a competitive men's 1500m field. He sat at the back of the pack through the early stages but closed strongly, overtaking five athletes over the final lap to finish 13th in 3:34.71. The race was won by USA's Jonah Koech in a meeting record and world lead of 3:31.43.
Next up on the Diamond League calendar for the Kiwis is the Rome Diamond League on 6 June, with Tanner, Kerr and Walsh set to return. Hobbs and Walsh will compete on the World Athletics Continental Tour at the Irena Szewińska Memorial in Bydgoszcz, Poland on the 30th of May.
1 www.athletics.org.nz
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