The 2024 Olympic Champion, Hamish Kerr, has added another feather to his cap in winning the Diamond League Final in Zurich overnight. Kerr flew to his second-best height of the season, clearing a 2.32m best to defeat the strong field. Kerr’s season’s best of 2.33m was from the Silesia Diamond League meeting earlier in the season.
Kerr’s win has cemented his place as one of the favourites for the podium heading into the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo next month.
“I’m very confident with how my jumping is progressing, and I think that come Tokyo, I’m going to be even better,” proclaimed an energised Kerr after the competition in Zurich.
Watch the full interview with Hamish Kerr here.
Kerr battled back and forth with Oleh Doroshchuck of Ukraine at the higher heights. The Ukrainian passed after one missed attempt at 2.32 to 2.34 after Kerr cleared 2.32 on his second attempt. Knowing that clearing 2.32 would still leave him in second place, Doroshchuck took the risk to take the outright lead by moving up to 2.34.
Neither man could clear 2.34, with Doroshchuck failing on his final two attempts and Kerr only taking one attempt at the height before retiring, victorious.
Kerr continues New Zealand’s strong history in field events at the Diamond League Final, joining Valerie Adams and Tom Walsh as winners of the annual meeting.
Kerr takes home a $30,000 USD payday for winning the meet and now has to contend with hauling the almost 5kg trophy home to New Zealand via the World Championships in Tokyo.
Zoe Hobbs lined up in the 100m final, finishing a very credible 6th in Zurich. There was some contention early with Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith of the Côte d’Ivoire being disqualified for a false start, but running under protest. Ta Lou-Smith was later reinstated into the results to claim the bronze position.
Hobbs’s time of 11.09 was a solid performance on the global stage and sets her up nicely for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
The previous day saw Tom Walsh finish in 5th place in the men’s shot put. Walsh managed a 21.55m best on the day, to be short of the distance delivered by eventual winner Joe Kovacs. The American was well clear of the field, with a best of 22.46m
All three Kiwi athletes will now head down to Tokyo, Japan for the 2025 World Athletics Championships. Meet our Kiwi team and learn how to follow along at the championships on our Tokyo page here.