Stockholm, July 31 (IANS) Reigning world champion Caterine Ibarguen of Colombia has completed a hat-trick of Diamond Race titles after winning the women’s triple jump event at the Stockholm leg of the IAAF Diamond League.
Ibarguen, 31, on Thursday extended her impressive unbeaten record to 28 competitions with her fifth round effort of 14.69 metres. Ibarguen’s victory was so overwhelming that she jumped in five rounds and all the five marks she produced were good enough to guarantee the win, reports Xinhua.
Kazakhstan’s 2012 Olympic champion Olga Rypakova finished second at 14.30 metres, followed by Jamaican Williams Kimberly at 14.22 metres.
“I am happy to get another victory. The weather was not what I expected. It was not nice but I did the job,” said Ibarguen, referring to the rain during the event.
“I am happy with my season so far and now I have 28 victories in a row. I am working hard for Beijing and the gold medal is what I expected.”
After the competition in Stockholm, the Colombian has earned 20 points with five diamond league wins this season, while her closest challenger Rypakova only had seven points.
With a maximum of eight points on offer for this season, Ibarguen has already clinched the Diamond Race title and can now concentrate on defending her world title at the World Championships in Beijing next month.
Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has also been enjoying an all-win run in women’s 100 metres of Diamond League. She powered to a convincing 10.93-second win in the Swedish capital to add four more points to a total of 12 following two other wins in Eugene and Paris.
Although her winning mark was 0.19 seconda shy of the world leading time she set in Paris, the season’s reigning world and Olympic champion is satisfied with her performance.
“I am satisfied with the race. The time was not what I wanted but I am grateful I came out here and did my best,” Fraser-Pryce said.
Tori Bowie of the US finished second in 11.05 seconds while Fraser-Pryce’s compatriot Natasha Morrison finished third in 11.22 seconds.
Qatari high jump star Mutaz Essa Barshim managed to maintain his lead in the Diamond Race but failed to register the triumph in Stockholm, settling down as the runner-up at a lackluster 2.29 metres.
Barshim kept a clean sheet at 2.20, 2.25 and 2.29 but failed to clear 2.32, while Jacorian Duffield of the US leaped off 2.32 with his third attempt to snatch the win. His compatriot Erik Kynard also cleared 2.29 but finished third after count-back.
World 100 metres hurdle champion David Oliver was also below par as the 33-year-old American was outraced by the 24-year-old Orlando Ortega although the 13.18 second winning time was well adrift of Ortega’s season best of 12.94 seconds.
