Alkass Digital
Qatar’s Mutaz Barshim was ‘happy’ with his performance as he finished runner-up behind winner JuVaughn Harrison of the USA in the high jump event at the Diamond League meeting in London yesterday.
Harrison, who also bagged victory in the season-opening meet in Doha with 2.32m, scaled 2.35m at the London Stadium to beat the reigning Olympic and world champion.
Barshim had a solid start leaping 2.20m, 2.27m and 2.30m in his first attempts and clearing 2.33m in his second try. However, he failed to jump through the 2.35m bar.
“I think I had a good performance today, solid jumping and I’m happy about it. I didn’t get that 2.35 today but in general I’m really happy,” the 32-year-old, who flew to a world leading 2.36m in Silesia stop last week, said in a post event interview.
JuVaughn Harrison of the US in action, yesterday. PIC: Twitter/@London_DL
He said his focus will now be on the next month’s World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 where he is aiming to clinch his fourth consecutive world title after wins in London in 2017, Doha 2019 and Eugene 2022.
“The Worlds are around the corner so I’ve got to go and fix what needs to be fixed and come back. I’m used to not having long [breaks]between competing so being in Silesia a few days ago is nothing new to me, sometimes the body isn’t as fresh as you want it to be but I plan on focusing on recovery and training between now and Budapest,” he said.
Harrison’s winning jump came in his second attempt after he cleared 2.33m in his last chance.
“I felt good coming into the competition and it was fun to battle with Mutaz Barshim. He’s a great competitor. My hopes are to win in Budapest and get a PB [personal best] which I feel confident that I can do it because I’m having a great season,” the American high jumper said.
Belgium’s Thomas Carmoy and Britain’s Joel Clarke-Khan followed the top two finishers with 2.27m while Ukraine’s Andrii Protsenko was fifth with a jump of 2.24m.