Valerie Adams, winner of the shot in Lucerne (© Spitzen Leichtathletik Luzern / Ruben Wey)
New Zealand’s shot put superstar Valerie Adams topped the bill in front of her Swiss fans at the Spitzen meeting in Lucerne on Tuesday (15) with a sixth-round effort of 20.42m.
The four-time world champion and double Olympic champion produced another consistent series with four attempts over the 20-metre barrier, extending her streak to 52 consecutive wins.
Her winning throw matched exactly the distance with which she won at her most recent competition, the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Lausanne, also in Switzerland.
“It was a really good competition,” she said. “The series was very consistent. After a rough start due to the injury, my season is going on well. I expect another consistent competition in Monaco on Friday.”
Michelle-Lee Ahye from Trinidad and Tobago, who ran a world-leading 10.85 at the National Championships in Port of Spain at the end of June, won her fourth consecutive 100m race in Europe, clocking 11.09 into a -0.7m/s headwind. USA’s former world long jump champion Tianna Bartoletta finished second in 11.20.
Following her IAAF Diamond League wins in Lausanne and Glasgow, Ahye remains undefeated in the 100m this year.
“My mother is my role-model,” said the Houston-based sprinter, who beat Murielle Ahoure in Lausanne and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in Glasgow. “She has fought hard and got through difficult times. She is my motivation.”
The 22-year-old scored a sprint double in Lucerne, winning over the longer distance one hour later in 22.77 into a -0.9m/s headwind, finishing ahead of double world junior champion Anthonique Strachan (22.98) before pulling up injured after crossing the finish line, clutching at her hamstring.
USA’s Kristi Castlin produced a surprising win in the women’s 100m hurdles in 12.81, beating Olympic champion Sally Pearson (12.90) and world champion Brianna Rollins, who had to settle for third place with 12.95.
Aleec Harris was the surprising winner of the men’s 110m hurdles in 13.28, holding off Cuba’s Orlando Ortega by 0.02. Shane Brathwaite finished third with 13.30.
Olympic pole vault champion Jenn Suhr cleared both 4.50m and 4.60m on her second attempts before failing three times at 4.70m. In second, Swiss record-holder Nicole Buchler vaulted 4.50m as she prepares for next month’s European Championships in Zurich.
Jamaica’s Julian Forte won an all-Caribbean 100m in 10.23, beating Antoine Adams of St Kitts and Nevis (10.29) and Keston Bledman from Trinidad and Tobago (10.30). Former world record-holder Asafa Powell had to be content with fourth place in 10.30.
South Africa’s Wayde Van Niekerk, who earlier this year clocked an outstanding 44.39 national 400m record in New York, cruised to an easy win in the 200m in 20.60, finishing ahead of Jamaican champion Rasheed Dwyer (20.76) and three-time world medallist Wallace Spearmon (20.81).
Olympic finalist Georganne Moline took the win in the women’s 400m hurdles in 55.28, holding off her compatriot Cassandra Tate (55.43).
In the men’s 400m hurdles, Cornel Fredericks edged Roxroy Cato in the final metres to notch up the win in 49.03.
World and Olympic champion Brittney Reese clinched the women’s long jump with 6.46m in the last round to win on count-back over Canada’s Christabel Nettey.
Alexis Copello from Cuba produced a 17.00m jump in the third round to win the men’s triple jump.
Germany’s former world youth champion Christin Hussong threw a national under-23 best of 63.34m to win the javelin. The 20-year-old finished ahead of Ukraine’s Hanna Hatsko Fedususova (63.10m) and 2008 Olympic fourth-place finisher Goldie Sayers (60.32m).
Diego Sampaolo for the IAAF
