Australia has shown itself on the world stage this week, claiming five podium finishes and two national records in the opening round of the Diamond League series in Xiamen, China.
From Olympic legends to Diamond League debuts, the Australians have proven themselves as they look ahead to round two in Shanghai where they will continue their push for the Finals in Switzerland, in August.
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Lachlan Kennedy
Sprinter Kennedy made an impressive debut at the Diamond League, finishing fifth in the 100m, falling just 0.01 seconds short of a spot on the podium with a run of 10.18.
The 21-year-old turned heads by beating out Paris Olympics 200m champion Letsile Tebogo, who ran a time of 10.20.
Kennedy clocked a photo finish alongside USA sprinter Christian Cloeman and defeated Jamaican national champion Rohan Watson.
As the second-fastest man in Australia, the Paris Olympian has a strong future ahead of him.
It was South Africa’s Akani Simbine who took out the gold, clocking in at 9.99.
Handicap too much for Gout Gout | 01:10
Rose Davies
Long distance runner Davies made waves on Saturday, as she beat her own 5000m Australian record by 0.82 seconds, clocking a time of 14:40.83.
Against 13 East African runners, the 25-year-old was the first non-African across the line, finishing the race in ninth.
Davies was welcomed back into the international arena after a month’s absence with a knee injury and was proud to have opened her campaign with a personal best and national record.
“I’m stoked. I feel like I’m still trying to get my stride this season,” Davies told Australian Athletics.
“It’s only my second 5km race after Nationals last week but I’ve been injured for the last month or so. I’m really happy that I came out and got out there with a national record.”
Abbey Caldwell
Fellow distance runner Caldwell put her name in the Aussie record books as she beat the national 1000m record, taking out second place with a time of 2:32.94.
Caldwell was followed closely behind by compatriot Sarah Billings in third place, who set a time of 2:33.45, the new second-fastest by an Aussie.
19.84s! Gout Gout SMASHES Aussie record! | 00:37
Liam Adcock
Amazing fans in his Diamond League debut, Adcock won silver in the Men’s Long Jump with a jump of 8.15m.
Adcock had the lead in the event until the fifth round, where China’s Mingkun Zhang took the gold with a jump of 8.18m.
Following his bronze at the World Indoor Championships, Adcock was ecstatic to move one step up the podium, celebrating his victory with a backflip for the Xiamen crowd.
“The crowd was so good, I had fun out there. It’s been good for my first Diamond League for me, but I hadn’t quite got used to the timezone yet and it’s late at home, so I think I could have got more in me,” Adcock said to Australian Athletics.
Eleanor Patterson and Nicola Olyslagers
Olympic medallists Patterson and Olyslagers again proved themselves on the global stage, finishing second and third respectively in the Diamond league’s high jump contest.
Both Australians cleared 1.94m, with Patterson taking out the silver while Olyslagers secured bronze.
The two lost out on gold to the Ukrainian Olympic champion, Yaroslava Mahuchikh, who secured victory as the only competitor to make a 1.97m clearance.
“It was a lot of fun out there, I’ve enjoyed my time in Xiamen. I would have loved to have jumped a bit higher though,” Patterson said to Australian Athletics.
“It was a really fast track and there was a huge clearance over 1.94m, and then my rhythm got lost over 1.97m. It’s so fast, so I think a lot of the girls weren’t quite ready for that. I’m ready to jump a lot higher and this is a good stepping stone for that.
“It’s the first Diamond League of the year and we get to settle into China a little bit more, with our next comp next week so I’m really excited.”
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