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≡ WHAT THEY SAID ≡
The Wanda Diamond League meet in Shanghai (CHN), the second stop on the schedule, as a good one, with world-leading performances in five events, especially American Cordell Tinch’s eye-popping 12.87 win in the men’s 110 m hurdles, moving him to equal-fourth all-time.
Naturally, Tinch was thrilled; asked how it felt to be no. 4 all-time:
“It sounds pretty good.
“I felt like I was going to run something fast, but it is matter of trying to finish those races when I get out well. Because I get out well and I get a little relaxed towards the end. I didn’t know it would be 12.8 fast, but I thought it would be at least faster than 13.06 [from the Xiamen Diamond League].
“I just want to go out there and compete after winning last week. As I continue to go through the season I try and get better each week. I’ve changed a lot [over the winter] in my everyday life and the training.
“It takes a while in your first year as a pro, it is a learning process. Technically, last year was my first full season as a pro. I’ve learned a lot from the older people that I’ve been around and sometimes the younger people. There is a lot of things that I’ve added to be the best athlete I can.”
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Norwegian star Karsten Warholm took the 400 m hurdles in a world-leading 47.28, but was hardly ecstatic:
“It was a very messy race. I hit a couple of hurdles, so actually 47.28 with such a messy race shows potential. I don’t think I learned anything from today I almost stopped and lost quite a bit of time. Still a win is a win and 47.28 is not too shabby.
“Now it is going back home to training and prepare for Oslo [12 June]. You always want to use every occasion to send a message, the message I sent is my potential is very good, once I clean up my races, which I’m sure I will.”
Similarly, Swedish vault superstar Mondo Duplantis wasn’t too pleased, even with an outdoor world leader of 6.11 m (20-0 1/2):
“The [6.11] jump did not feel that great, and the run did not feel that great either. So to have a good attempt while not feeling my best is actually a really good thing.
“I will keep working on my speed. I am going to take another month with no competitions; just train hard and make sure I can build up to a really good, healthy, and strong season leading into Tokyo [World Championships] in September.”
He did take three tries at a world record 6.28 m (20-7 1/4), but missed all three times.
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A lot of attention was focused on Jamaican sprint star Kishane Thompson, in his first outdoor race since his Paris Olympic men’s 100 m silver, and barely finished second to Akani Simbine (RSA) by 9.98 to 9.99:
“I came to win in the beginning of the season and I am happy with the result. I have not been racing since Paris last year and I need the competition to positioning for the season.
“I know what I need to work on after this race and I just need to move on quickly. Just focusing on executing perfectly and same for the rest of the season. I would not say too much at this moment for the target, too early for the season, but after the race I can easily tell what I need to further work on and definitely we can do better and better.”
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The U.S. got five more wins in Shanghai:
● Chris Bailey/men’s 400 m in a lifetime best of 44.17:
“I am happy about refreshing my personal best [44.17] after last week, it felt great. It was not my best race, but I cannot complain about the result. Everything has worked out pretty well right now.
“I have a lot of faith in my coach. Every time we step on the track together, there is always great competition. I expect everyone to run their best. For the rest of the season, my main goal is to stay healthy and maintain my momentum.”
● Anavia Battle/women’s 200 m, in 22.38:
“I am getting used to winning at the Diamond League. It is such a good feeling. I wouldn’t say that was the best execution for a race that I have had, I had to work today and I need to put some pieces together when I get back. It is a really good place to be in May.
“I really enjoy the Diamond Leagues in China. I hope to do the Rome Diamond League [6 June] and then work some things out with the [Los Angeles] Grand Slam meet. I’m willing to do both the 100 m and the 200 m at the U.S. Championships and hopefully make the team for the World Championships.”
● Chase Jackson/women’s shot, in a world-leading 20.54 m (67-4 3/4), the no. 5 performance in American history:
“I felt really good tonight. On Tuesday, I had a breakthrough in my training so I kind of knew either I could throw really far or I will not be able to hold the breakthrough, but I was able to hold it in, so I am happy with that.
“I have been working on using my left arm more, and I felt what I needed to feel during my training, and I was able to carry it over to the competition. I think I just got a little to excited, so I did not really get hold of the change that I wanted, but I was happy about where I went. I was hoping I could throw a little bit further to get a national record, but I know it will come soon though.”
● Valarie Allman/women’s discus, at 70.08 m (229-11) for her 20th win in a row:
“I feel so excited about this competition tonight. In my first meet in Xiamen last week my nerves got the better of me and today I just knew I was going to go for it. To see 70 meters pop up gives me a lot of confidence and momentum, so I’m leaving China happy and excited to go home.
“I go with a lot of good perspective of what these next few months need. I try not to think about the winning streak. I face my own nerves and worries whether it is time zones or travel and I try to take it just one meet at a time.
Unfortunately, no comments were shared from Grace Stark after her win in the women’s 100 m hurdles. The next Diamond League meet is in Doha (QAT) on 16 May.
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