Not Built in a Day | Rome Diamond League

The picturesque Rome Diamond League witnessed three Australians grace the track and field for leg five of the series, lead by a seasons best from Brandon Starc and another sub two-minute performance by Catriona Bisset.

Since a 2.35m clearance at the Tokyo Olympic Games took Brandon Starc (Alex Stewart) to fifth place, the Australian record holder had been unable to jump higher than 2.20m - until tonight.

The resilient Starc made his way up and over 2.24m in Rome to take a leap in the right direction, as he locked away equal fourth at his second Diamond League of the season. The result comes after Starc returned home to “iron out some kinks” after a rough start to 2022, determined to find his best form ahead of the World Athletics Championships and Commonwealth Games.

"Seasons best today is definitely a step in the right direction. I was able to figure thing sout today especially at 2.24m, it actually felt lke a high jump," Starc said.

"Earleir in th year I had a bit of a setback due to an issue with my PCL. We tried to get it ready for World Indoors which ultimately set me back further. My trip to Japan and Doha was always going to be a 'working it out' trip as I hadn't had many jumps prior to leaving."

"Getting more jumping under my belt and being comfortable with running at a bar have been the key things I have been working on, I'll take the good feelings from today and build on them for my next competition."

Starc cleared the same height as Olympic champion Gianmarco Tamberi (Italy) on the night, as the event was won by Harrison JuVaughn (USA) with a 2.27m clearance.

Australian record holder Catriona Bisset (Ned Brophy-Williams) dipped under two-minutes for the third time this season to finish in seventh place of the 11-woman field assembled for the 800m, clocking 1:59.73 in the star-studded affair.

Bisset raced aggressively as the bell spurred her to launch an attack, progressing through the field but ultimately fading in the home straight in slick company – providing a strong foundation to build on ahead of the international opportunities that lay ahead this year.  

The race was won in a world leading time of 1:57.01 by reigning Olympic champion Athing Mu (USA).

Matthew Denny (Ben Thomson) was unable to emulate the form that took him to his maiden Diamond League podium in Rabat earlier this week, throwing 63.53m in the discus at Rome to finish in seventh place.

After battling illness throughout the week, Denny says that he is frustrated with the result despite the interrupted preparation - eager to build on his 67.07m personal best from Rabat.

“I wasn’t originally supposed to throw in Rome but I got a late call up the next morning after Rabat. When I got to Rome, I ended up getting sick so I wasn’t able to train at all for the sake of not completely fatiguing myself,” Denny said.

“It was frustrating because I feel like I could have built really well off that 67m throw and could have gone further, but I’m not too stressed at all about today – my preparation is still going really well.”

The Diamond League is headed to Oslo next week where a host of Australians are set to feature at the coveted Bislett Games.

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 10/6/2022