Haruka Kitaguchi, the women's javelin thrower who participated in the "final" of the "Diamond League", the world's most prestigious track and field tournament to decide the yearly champion, finished 3rd, becoming the first Japanese player to stand on the podium in the final of the Diamond League. I did it.
The "Diamond League", which is positioned as the world's highest competition in track and field, will have 12 races this year, and only the top-performing athletes will be able to participate in the final round, the "Final", which decides the annual champion.
On the 8th, at the "Final" of this year held in Switzerland, 24-year-old Kitaguchi, who won the Diamond League twice and won the bronze medal at the World Championships in July, and a university student who holds a Japanese record in the men's 3000m steeplechase. Two Japanese players, Ryuji Miura, participated.
Kitaguchi placed third in throws over 60 meters on his second throw, and improved his record to 63.35 meters on his third throw.
He did not increase the distance in the next two innings, and in the final sixth inning, aiming for a comeback, he marked 63.56, the best of the day.
He finished 3rd, 16 centimeters behind the 2nd place player, and became the first Japanese player to stand on the podium at the Diamond League Final.
The winner was American Kara Winger.
On the other hand, Miura, a men's 3000m steeplechase, gradually caught up in the middle stages of the race, overtook one rival in the final straight, and finished 4th with a time of 8:12.65, his personal best of the season. .
The winner was Sufianu Elbakari of Morocco.
What is Diamond League
The "Diamond League" in track and field is a tour-style tournament hosted by World Athletics Federations around the world.
In principle, the competition is characterized by the fact that the world's top athletes who are invited without qualifying compete against each other, and unlike the Olympics and the World Championships, there are no restrictions by country or region, so there are times when only athletes from powerful countries are occupied. There is a high level of competition.
Starting in 2010, 12 races will be held this year, points will be given according to the results in each competition, and only the top points players can participate in the "final" to decide the annual champion.
The player who wins the Diamond League Finals and is crowned champion of the year will receive $30,000 in prize money and a diamond-encrusted trophy.
This year, women's javelin thrower Haruka Kitaguchi became the first Japanese player to win the championship at the Paris tournament in June, and she won her second victory at the tournament in August, making her first final in this event. I was.
In addition, Ryuji Miura, a men's 3000m steeplechase, also made it to the final for the first time in Japan.
In the final of the Diamond League since 2017, when the format of the tournament was changed, the 5th place recorded by men's high jumper Naoto Tobe in 2019 was the highest for a Japanese player.