Sandi Morris was the standout field athlete at the Brussels Diamond League, becoming only the second woman in history to jump 5.00m in the Pole Vault.
It was a remarkable feat that saw the American attempt to better Yelena Isinbayeva’s World Record of 5.06m, asking for the bar to be raised at 5.07m, however it was not to be as she missed all three attempts at that height.
Morris was keenly contesting for the win with Katerina Stefanidi, but from 4.88m, the 2016 World Indoor champion took her destiny in her hands, jumping to a Meeting, American, and Diamond League record of 4.94m.
With Stefanidi withdrawing to 2nd jumping her best height of 4.76m, Morris was competing against herself and went on to better her previous mark, adding an Area record with her leap over 5.00m. Nicole Bucher finished 3rd with 4.56m.
Stefanidi got the Diamond Race trophy nevertheless, but Morris will be delighted how she has bounced back from a career threatening wrist injury and into the history books.
For Caterine Ibarguen, it was normal service order as she not only won the women’s Triple Jump event, she got her fourth Diamond Race trophy which she would have won regardless of where she finished on the day. The Colombian won with a leap of 14.66m, and Olga Rypakova 2nd with 14.41m and Patricia Mamona 3rd in 14.16m
Piotr Malachowski on his part also secured his fourth consecutive Diamond Race trophy, finishing 2nd with a throw of 65.27m to amass a total of 42 points over his closest challengers. the men’s
Daniel Stahl won in the meet, throwing a distance of 65.78m, with Lukas Weisshaidinger finishing 3rd with a mark of 63.56m
Men’s High Jump produced some drama as the trio of: Erik Kynard, Mutaz Essa Barshim and Grabraz were all in the mix to win the DR trophy, but it was the American who clinched it.
Kynard having cleared 2.32m in his second attempt, had the edge over Barshim who needed three attempts to clear his, and it affected the Qatari as they both failed with the bar raised at 2.35m.
In the women’s High Jump, Nafissatou Thiam making her first appearance after winning Heptathlon GOLD at the Rio Olympics, gave her home crowd something to cheer on after winning with a mark of 1.93m
South Africa’s Luvo Mayonga continued with his impressive form in the men’s Long Jump, leaping to a Personal Best of 8.48m. Fabrice Lapierre finished 2nd with 8.14m, and Jarrion Lawson 3rd with 8.04m
