Kerr takes gold at Diamond League Final
- Dave Worsley
- 7 hours ago
- 2 min read
New Zealand high jumper Hamish Kerr has won the Diamond League Final in Zurich with a leap of 2.32m to beat Ukranian Oleh Doroshchuk by two centimetres.
Kerr's winning height was just a centimetre below his season best and is the perfect buildup to the World Championships in Tokyo next month.
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The Olympic champion had a few issues early on and missed at 2.22m before he found his form.
Twenthy-nine-year-old Kerr takes home $85,000 in prizemoney for his win.
"Coming in, I was not sure what is coming, we were not sure with the weather and the conditions, so it was about trying to compete and I am glad I was able to do that and grab that win," said Kerr.
"That is my first Diamond League overall victory so that means a lot for me and my career. I am very proud of what I did today.
"I had a few frustrating competitions but with my team, we made sure that I am in a good shape now and I am pretty confident about my jumping at the moment. And in Tokyo, I am pretty sure that I will jump good as well."
Taranaki sprinter Zoe Hobbs finished sixth in the women's 100m with a time of 11.09 seconds. up from her qualifying position of ninth.
The race was won by Olympic champion Julien Alfred, of St Lucia, with a time of 10.76 seconds
The World Championships gets underwayt in Tokyo on September 13.