News & Updates

Hamish Kerr bounced back from the disappointment of missing out on a final place at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest to finish second in the men’s high jump at the Zurich Diamond League this morning (Friday) with a 2.33m clearance, the second best of his career.

On a chilly night in Switzerland, the 27-year-old Kiwi rediscovered his groove to come within 1cm of his national record set in February and push Olympic champion Mutaz Barshim to his limits as the Qatari claimed victory with a 2.35m clearance.

Kerr, the Commonwealth champion, cleared a best of 2.22m and was eliminated in qualification at the World Championships, but all the stars aligned tonight as he produced the best outdoor clearance of his life and also attained the Paris Olympic qualification mark.

Kerr opened his account with successful first time attempts at 2.15m and 2.20m before encountering a minor stutter at 2.24m, requiring two attempts to advance to the next height. Yet a huge second time clearance at 2.28m – suggested he has much more to come – with only the New Zealander, Barshim, world champion Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy and world indoor champion Sanghyeok Woo of Korea negotiating this height. 

Despite brushing the bar he cleared 2.31m – the joint second best height of his career – with his second attempt before moving the bar to 2.33m, which he managed to successfully wriggle over at the first time of asking.

On a night of world-class high jumping, Barshim cleared 2.35m with his first attempt. However, Kerr missed out twice on what would have been a national record 2.35m before passing his final attempt and gambling at 2.37m. Unfortunately, his one attempt at this height was unsuccessful and he bowed out of the competition in second.

Woo rounded out the podium with a best of 2.31m with Tamberi (2.28m) in fourth.

Kerr said: “Its been an interesting week. (After competing at the World Championships) I went to Croatia with my girlfriend and had some recovery time which was super nice, and I wasn’t quite sure how the energy levels would be going into Zurich. But I felt good warming up and everyone else was looking a bit tired because they competed in the (high jump) final earlier in the week at the (World Championships), so I knew I had an energy kick on them. The heights just kept coming. I was in the groove and I wasn’t really thinking too much about each clearance just enjoying it.

“In terms of the performance I’m a little bit gutted I didn’t do it last week (at World Championships) but at the same time to be able to crack off an Olympic qualifier and get my best jump I’ve ever done outdoors after what has been a tough week shows I can dig deep. It shows we are on track, and it gives me a lot of confidence going into next year. It is a great relief but also mixed in with a bit of regret that I didn’t do it last week.”

Zoe Hobbs placed seventh in a world-class women’s 100m field, recording a time of 11.14 (-0.2). The 25-year-old Kiwi, who finished just 0.01 shy of the qualifiers for the 100m final at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, made her trademark quick start was prominent throughout the first half of the race.

World champion Sha’Carri Richardson seized control in the latter stages as the American pulled clear to gap the field and take victory in 10.88. Jamaican Natasha Morrison grabbed second in a photo-finish from her fellow Jamaican Elaine Thompson-Herah, the Olympic champion, as both were credited with a time of 11.00.

The other Kiwi in action tonight inside the Letzigrund Stadium, Sam Tanner placed 11^th in the men’s 1500m, clocking 3:32.16. In a rapid race, Tanner held a mid-pack position for much of the race and produced another consistent performance – within less then a second of his lifetime best of 3:31.24. Victory went to American Yared Nuguse who edged world champion Josh Kerr of Great Britain by 0.02 to win in 3:30.49.

Results here