Hamish Kerr. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
New Zealand athlete Hamish Kerr has delivered another impressive performance three months out from the Paris Olympics, beating a strong high jump field at the Diamond League meet in Shanghai.
Reigning world indoor champion Kerr cleared a best height of 2.31m to see off his nearest rival - an Olympic champion - by 2cm and put his name firmly in the equation to challenge for a medal at the Games.
Kerr was 5cm below his personal best but maintained his consistent form of the last two years, which also featured a gold at the Commonwealth Games.
With victory already wrapped up in Shanghai, the 27-year-old went on to fail in two attempts at 2.33m and another at 2.35.
Runner up was Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim, who leapt to fame when he shared gold at the Tokyo Olympics with Italian Gianmarco Tamberi.
"I've been working on a few technical things, so for that to work out tonight, I'm stoked," Kerr said.
"Just to be out there with these athletes who I really look up to like Barshim and to beat them, I still have to pinch myself.
"This gives me a lot of confidence going into the season ahead."
Two other Olympic-bound New Zealanders were in action.
Javelin thrower Tori Peeters threw a season best of 59.11 to place seventh but was nearly 4m behind Japanese winner Haruka Kitaguchi.
In the women's shot put, Maddie Wesche could not match her efforts at the opening Diamond League meet in Xiamen, placing sixth with a best distance of 19.23m.
Duplantis soars
Armand Duplantis. Photo: AFP
Armand Duplantis missed out on another pole vault world record but made a strong statement ahead of this year's Olympics by easing to victory.
The 24-year-old Olympic champion had broken his own world record with a stellar effort of 6.24 metres at Xiamen last week and wrapped up another victory in China with his best of 6.00m too good for the rest of the pack.
With the bar raised to 6.25m, Duplantis was primed to break the mark for a ninth time but he was unable to clear the height in his three attempts, coming agonisingly close in his final chance to leave some fans disappointed.
Akani Simbine powered to victory in the men's 100m race after making a good start and crossing the finish line in 10.01 seconds to deny reigning Diamond League champion Christian Coleman of the United States back-to-back victories this season.
Coleman's pace dropped towards the end and he settled for silver with a time of 10.04 seconds, ahead of compatriot Fred Kerley who clocked in at 10.11 seconds for bronze.
Briton Daryll Neita stunned pre-race favourite Sha'Carri Richardson in the women's 200m with a time of 22.62 seconds.
The Diamond League season continues in Doha on 10 May.
- RNZ/Reuters