Chasing Diamonds | Diamond League Final Bound for Zurich

Published Wed 07 Sep 2022

The world’s premier annual athletics series is set to reach its crescendo in Zurich, with six of Australia’s top athletes qualified for the Diamond League Final from September 7-8. Back-to-back world champion Kelsey-Lee Barber spearheads the nation’s chase for diamonds and the lofty $30,000 USD winners’ cheque per event, read our preview of all the action below.

Australian viewers can tune in live via Fox Sports / Kayo.

Thursday 8^th September:

Women’s Pole Vault (1:30am AEST):

With a World Athletics Championships bronze and Commonwealth Games gold draped around her neck, Nina Kennedy (Paul Burgess and James Fitzpatrick) will be out to add a diamond to her shiny stash in Zurich.

Ranked third in the contest on seasons best, the 25-year-old is jumping with confidence in 2022 which has taken her as high as 4.80m to date - just two-centimetres shy of her own Australian record. Kennedy’s strong form has extended to the Diamond League throughout the season, reaping two silvers and one gold from her three appearances.

World Athletics Championships silver medallist Sandi Morris (USA) and Finland’s Wilma Murto share the top seeding with 4.85m clearances this year, holding a minor buffer over the Australian who is capable of taking out the title on her day.

Friday 9^th September:

Women’s High Jump (1:55am AEST):

Making a swift recovery from the calf injury that saw her withdraw from the Commonwealth Games final, Nicola Olyslagers (Matt Horsnell) wasted little time in returning to form with last week’s 1.91m clearance for third place in Brussels.

Olyslagers’ brilliance in 2021 headlined by her Olympic silver medal in Tokyo has seen her fly under the radar in 2022, with the 25-year-old clearing a seasons best of 1.96m to finish in fifth place at the World Athletics Championships. The Australian’s consistency throughout the year sees her earn a start in Zurich in the field of six, featuring a trio of Ukrainian athletes lead by world leader Yaroslava Mahuchikh, who last week cleared 2.05m.

Olyslagers’ interrupted preparation waives any pressure from the encounter, allowing her to jump freely in her bid for the 2022 Diamond League title.

Men’s Discus Throw (2:15am AEST):

Big Matthew Denny (Ben Thomson).

The Commonwealth champion has never been better than the form he now finds himself in, throwing a personal best of 67.26m to close out a clinical sequence in Birmingham. The Allora product recorded results of fourth and sixth in Tokyo and Eugene respectively, but will be eager to capitalise on his current shape and force his way onto the Diamond League podium as he continues to close the gap on the world’s premier men.

Sweden's Daniel Stahl leads the rankings with a 71.47m effort this year, with Denny ranked sixth in the field of six, but history suggests the fierce competitor will take some scalps in the tightly contested affair.

Men’s 1500m (4:10am AEST):

The two fastest Australian men in history over 1500m, Stewart McSweyn (Nic Bideau) and Oliver Hoare (Dathan Ritzenhein), form a formidable duo in the metric mile.

The Australian pair add firepower to a star-studded affair headlined by reigning Olympic champion and world leader Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway). Hoare ran his way into history at the Commonwealth Games last month to clinch gold his nation, producing a time of 3:30.12 and the most dramatic of finishes in a race that will forever be steeped in athletics history. McSweyn presents primed for the bout on fresh legs after a turbulent 2022 season, clocking a swift 3:30.18 last week for third place in Brussels to place himself within reach of both the Diamond League title and his own 3:29.51 national record.

Two of the most reliable operators on the Australian athletics scene, Hoare and McSweyn will place themselves in a position to contest for the crown, but can they be good enough for long enough?

The race will be paced by fellow Australian Matthew Ramsden.

Women’s Javelin Throw (4:20am AEST):

The back-to-back world champion Kelsey-Lee Barber (Mike Barber) rounds out the Australian action in Zurich, presented with another opportunity to stamp her authority on the big stage and cap off a dazzling 2022.

Renowned for producing her best when it matters, Barber has cemented her legacy as one of the all-time clutch performers with both the World and Commonwealth titles this season. Having not thrown further than 61.40m in her six competitions prior to Eugene, Barber delivered a monster 66.91m effort to fall just shy of her 67.70m personal best on her way to gold.

The Australian will have her work cut out for her when taking on world silver medallist Kara Winger (USA), who last week threw a stunning 68.11m to claim the world lead and set a new American record. Japan’s Haruka Kitaguchi can force herself into contention if she can muster an effort near her 65.10m seasons best, but everything about the occasion suggests Barber might just be in the mood for mayhem.