New Zealand’s Hamish Kerr delivered a composed and clinical performance to win the men’s high jump at the Wanda Diamond League in Rabat on Sunday, clearing 2.25m.
Kerr, the Olympic and world indoor gold medallist, entered the Rabat meet determined to bounce back after narrowly losing to Shelby McEwen in Doha earlier this month. Their duel has quickly become one of the sport’s marquee matchups, following an epic jump-off showdown at the Paris Olympic Games last year, where Kerr edged McEwen for gold.
In Rabat’s Stade Olympique, Kerr was steady throughout, clearing each of his heights on first attempts up to 2.25m, before bowing out at 2.28m. Italy’s Marco Fassinotti pushed him all the way, equalling his season best of 2.25m, but had to settle for second on countback. Australia’s Yual Reath, another rising figure in the event, also managed a season best 2.25m to claim third place.
Shelby McEwen, meanwhile, struggled to find his rhythm and finished joint fifth with a best clearance of 2.21m, unable to match the heights that earned him victory in Doha. JuVaughn Harrison of the USA, a consistent contender in the Diamond League circuit, managed 2.25m for fourth.
Emerging talents like Italy’s Matteo Sioli and Jamaica’s Romaine Beckford equalled his season best at 2.21m.
After two of six qualification meets, Kerr now leads the standings with 15 points, followed by McEwen on 12, and Fassinotti on 10. The captivating high jump rivalry enters its next chapter as the series approaches mid-season.
The world lead remains with Oleh Doroshchuk of Ukraine at 2.34m, but with both Kerr and McEwen in top form and hungry for supremacy, that mark could soon be under threat as the Diamond League progresses.
The upcoming Rome meeting will captivate athletics fans worldwide as the fierce rivalry continues.
