McSweyn back on podium, Kennedy claims second spot in Lausanne
Published Sat 27 Aug 2022
Australia’s contingent at the Lausanne Diamond League has impressed as world championship bronze medallist Nina Kennedy scores her seventh international podium of the year, while distance supremo Stewart McSweyn claims his first of the season.
Australia’s contingent at the Lausanne Diamond League has impressed as world championship bronze medallist Nina Kennedy scores her seventh international podium of the season, while distance supremo Stewart McSweyn claims his first for the season
Fresh off the back of her Monaco Diamond League win, Kennedy (Paul Burgess & James Fitzpatrick) placed second with a final-attempt clearance of 4.70m in the Women’s Pole Vault.
Although both a consistent and stunning result, the Western Australian was forced to pull out all stops to secure her eventual placing, missing one clearance at 4.50m and two at 4.60m. Despite equalling the clearance height of first-place getter Tina Šutej (Slovenia), the errors saw the Commonwealth Games gold medallist finish second on countback.
"I'm stoked with 4.70m and second place. I had a stomach bug on Monday, flew to Europe from Australia on Tuesday and then competed today so I was feeling terrible and it really reflects in those third attempt clearances," Kennedy said.
"In saying that, finishing on the podium again reinforces that I do belong on the world stage. I've struggled with that sense of belonging my whole career so another podium finish proves to me that I am good enough to be out there."
Premier distance star Stewart McSweyn (Nic Bideau) has made a sensational comeback from illness, stopping the clock at 3:30.18 to finish third in a 14-strong field. The time is his second fastest of his career showing there is still much ahead for the King Island product.
A dazzling result after a slow start, McSweyn kept his cool after playing a game of catch ups over the first bend and worked his way through the pack to find himself in fourth place after the first lap.
Battling a hot-field which included compatriot and Commonwealth champion Oliver Hoare (Dathan Ritzenhein), Kenyan Abel Kipsang and world lead Jakob Ingebrigsten, McSweyn kept amongst the front of the pack as Norway’s Ingebrigsten widened the gap in the final lap. A battle ensued between Kipsang and McSweyn, with the Kenyan only just edging out the Australian record holder in the race for second place.
Despite a strong start where he hovered amongst the top three for the first two laps, Hoare was unable to keep apace with the heavyweights of the race, clocking 3:37.41 to cross the line in 12th place.
Ingebrigsten took out the race in 3:29.05 to lower his world lead.
Jessica Hull (Pete Julian and Sonia O’Sullivan) contested the Women’s 3000m, finishing in 11th place after stopping the clock at 8:41.52.
The Diamond League action continues next week in Brussels, as athletes put in their final efforts to book a spot in the Diamond League final in Zurich, taking place the following week.
By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 27/8/2022
