Diamond League
IAAF Diamond League, Shanghai – 18 May 2013
Nick Willis’ chance of a top three placing was thwarted by a fall at the top of the finishing straight, to end his winning streak of eight straight wins.
Willis was moving out from the pole line with 80 metres to run to get around the leaders when he clipped the heels of one of the Kenyans in the field, sprawling to the track and losing all chance of a good result. He got back to his feet and finished 13th in 3m 40.72s, eight seconds behind winner, Beijing gold medallist Asbel Kiprop of Kenya.
Willis said that he had the best first 1000m of his diamond league career.
“But I had a mental lapse going into the bell, and a bunch of Kenyans caught me off guard and went around me, while I got trapped on the inside stuck behind a tiring Daniel Komen.
“With 300m to go I was 20m back, but finally got out, and caught back up to the leaders with 100m to go. As I moved out wide, I clipped one of the others feet, and tumbled to the track.
“I got up and finished, but very disappointing to come all the way to China and not have my performance reflect my fitness. Regardless, I ran a poor tactical race from 1000-1200m, and that cost me a chance at the win. Even if I hadn’t tripped, third was the best I could have finished. Good prep for my upcoming races in the U.S,” said Willis.
In the same race Zane Robertson struggled through to 15th in 3m 42.08s, 5 seconds off his best time.
Robertson said that he had some hamstring problems coming into the race.
“The pace was choppy from the start, especially where I was towards the back. I was hoping to get a bit of a ride, but it turned out to be the opposite, I kept getting chopped because the Chinese guys were going with the pace which was fast and slow. There was no rhythm. At 800m I was already feeling my hamstrings tight. It is not good man,” said Robertson.
“I was to run the 5000m in New York Diamond League next week, but there is no point to me continuing racing when I’m like this. I will take a bit of a break and get back to training,” he added.
Javelin thrower Stuart Farquhar had a disappointing competition, throwing 76.36m on his final throw, almost 10 metres below his best set 12 months ago in Japan. The competition was won by Tero Pitkamaki from Finland with a 2013 world leading throw of 87.60m.
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