It has been a successful week for Oceania athletes competing in the final leg of the Diamond League Series. Two athletes have walked away with the prestigious Diamond Trophy – Tom Walsh (NZ), Shot Put and Brandon Starc (AUS), High Jump.
26-year old Walsh broke the Diamond League record with a mammoth throw of 22.60m, which is just 7cm shy of his New Zealand National record and Oceania record. This year has been outstanding for Walsh, who also won Gold at the World Indoor Championships and Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
Brandon Starc of Australia soared to victory in the Men’s High Jump Final in Brussels. Starc has had an exceptional season, with multiple PB’s and a Commonwealth Games Title. Starc is only the 4th Australian to win the Diamond League Trophy. He won the title with a height of 2.33m.
Other highlights include Henry Frayne placing third in Zurich the Long Jump with a jump of 8.16m, surpassing the 8m mark for the 10th consecutive time. Kurtis Marschall unfortunately had a no height in the Brussels Diamond League Pole Vault Final after falling between the bags. However, only 2 days prior at the Train Station meet in Zurich, he jumped a 6cm PB clearing a height of 5.86m and placing third.
Stewart McSweyn ran an impressive 14 second PB to place 12th in the 5000m. His time of 13:05.23 is the second fastest time by any Oceania athlete.
Full Oceania Results are as follows;
Zurich Diamond League – 29th-30th August 2018
♦ Tom Walsh (NZ) Shot Put – 1st Place 22.60m – Diamond League Record
♦ Henry Frayne (AUS) Long Jump – 3rd Place 8.16m
♦ Ryan Gregson (AUS) 1500m – 10th Place 3:39.04
♦ Kurtis Marschall (AUS) Pole Vault – 3rd Place @ Zurich Train Station Meet 5.86m (PB)
Brussels Diamond League – 30th-31st August 2018
♦ Brandon Starc (AUS) High Jump – 1st Place 2.33m
♦ Brooke Stratton (AUS) Long Jump – 5th Place 6.57m
♦ Stewart McSweyn (AUS) 5000m – 12th Place 13:05.23 (PB)
♦ Kurtis Marschall (AUS) Pole Vault – No height
♦ Nicola McDermott (AUS) High Jump – 2nd Place 1.87m
♦ Steve Solomon (AUS) 400m – 4th Place 46.62
♦ Brittany McGowan (AUS) 800m – 7th Place 2:07.42
Congratulations to all athletes who competed. All of these athletes will be competing at the upcoming Continental Cup in Ostrava on the 8th and 9th September.
