Latest news with #RabatDiamondLeague
IOL News
3 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Zakithi Nene beats personal best time, clocking 43. 76 in dominant 400m at Kip Keino Classic
The in-form Zakithi Nene (centre) is the headline act in the 400m at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi, where he broke his PB on Saturday. | BackpagePix South Africa's one-lap star Zakithi Nene stormed to a world leading time this year of 43.76 seconds, smashing his personal best, in winning the 400m at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi on Saturday afternoon. The sprint sensation finally delivered on the threat to run a sub-44-second time in an individual race, having already done so in the 4X400m relay earlier this year. He also quickly put behind him last week's Rabat Diamond League disappointment, when he was pipped to the line by American Jacory Patterson. Before Saturday's race, the American had also held the world-leading time this year. There would be no close finish this time as Nene flew out of the blocks in typical fashion and only grew stronger as the race wore on. He finished more than a second ahead of Nigeria's Africa Games champion Chidi Okezie (44.98), while local runner Zablon Ekwam finished in third (45.01). Nene's coach, Victor Vaz, had predicted a "comfortable win" for his charge in the build-up to the race that is part of the World Athletics Continental tour. Yet even he could not not have imagined such an emphatic response to last weekend's disappointment.
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Mark English produces career highlight to break his own Irish 800m record in Poland
That rewrote the national record of 1:44.53 that English ran in June last year and continued his fine start to the outdoor season, having clocked 1:44.75 to also win in Los Angeles last weekend. Once again, English unleashed a flying last 100 metres, having run towards the front throughout, and his kick carried him clear of Croatia's Marino Bloudek (1:44.74) and Poland's Filip Ostrowski (1:44.96). The Donegal native has taken time out from his medical career and is currently a full-time athlete, training under the guidance of Australian coach Justin Rinaldi. In March, English claimed his fifth European medal, winning 800m bronze at the European Indoors in the Netherlands. Cathal Doyle also impressed in Bydgoszcz, the Dubliner clocking 3:34.67 to finish third in the 1500m behind Spain's Mohamed Attaoui (3:33.30) and Italy's Federico Riva (3:33.79). Doyle had opened his season with a 3:33.32 clocking at the Rabat Diamond League last weekend and his latest run, while short of the automatic world qualifying standard, will again improve his world ranking and all but ensure his place in Tokyo later this year. Jodie McCann was in action in the women's 1500m in Bydgoszcz, the Paris Olympian clocking 4:09.78 to finish eighth, a race won by Poland's Weronika Lisakowska in 4:01.99.
Scoop
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Kerr Wins In Rabat – First Diamond League Victory For 2025 As Kiwi Contingent Impresses On World Stage
Press Release – Athletics New Zealand 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). 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
Scoop
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
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
