New Zealand’s Olympic high jump champion Hamish Kerr had to settle for third place at the Doha Diamond League meet on Saturday, clearing a modest (by his standards) 2.23 metres, below his season’s best of 2.30m.
A Step Below His Best
Kerr entered the competition strong, smoothly clearing 2.15m, 2.20m, and 2.23m on his first attempts. However, the bar at 2.26m proved too much, with all three attempts ending in failure.
In contrast, American rival Shelby McEwen soared over 2.26m on his first try to claim victory, while Japan’s Ryoichi Akamatsu also finished ahead of Kerr on countback after both cleared 2.23m.
Early-Season Struggles
Kerr was philosophical in his post-race interview, admitting that his heavy training load and the early stage of the season played a role.
“It’s early in the season, and if I look at how I jumped last week, I’m pleased with my improvement,” he said.
“But as an athlete, I always want more. I’m happy with this result, but I know there’s much more to come.”
Looking Ahead
With the World Championship on the horizon, Kerr’s focus remains on peaking at the right time. His 2.30m clearance in Christchurch in February proves he has the ability to compete with the best—but fine-tuning his form under competition pressure will be key.
For now, Kerr is taking the positives from Doha while keeping his eyes fixed on higher heights.
“The training I’m having at the moment is still quite heavy,” he said.
“For now, I take what I can get.”
As the season progresses, expect Kerr to bounce back stronger and higher.
