Diamond League: Shawn Barber places 2nd in pole vault in Stockholm
Reigning Olympic champ Lavillenie clears 5.73m for victory
It was a familiar scene at rainy and cool Stockholm Olympic Stadium Thursday night.
For a third consecutive Diamond League track and field meet, Canada's Shawn Barber finished second to rival Renaud Lavillenie of France in men's pole vault. In their first showdown of the season in mid-May, Lavillenie and Barber were 2-3 in Shanghai, China.
The 22-year-old Barber, who cleared 5.73 metres last week in Oslo, Norway, made 5.65 on his third and final attempt on Thursday before missing each of his three tries at 5.73. His record is 0-6 this season against the reigning Olympic champion.
Lavillenie also needed a third attempt to clear 5.65. He was successful on his second try at 5.73, and then missed three attempts at 5.80, his winning height in Oslo.
Lavillenie, who has jumped six metres 19 times, hadn't had much success in Stockholm before Thursday. Two years ago, his streak of 22 straight victories came to an end on a windy night in Sweden.
Lavillenie is now 12-2 in his career against Barber.
Nettey, Hyacinthe struggle
Long jumper Christabel Nettey and sprinter Kimberly Hyacinthe were the other Canadians in action Thursday and turned in disappointing performances.
Nettey's jumped 6.45 metres for sixth place, down from 6.68 in Oslo and the recent Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon. The 25-year-old's season best is 6.75, set in mid-May at Shanghai Diamond League.
Serbia's Ivana Spanovic had a winning leap of 6.90, followed by Americans Brittney Reese (6.88) and Tianna Bartoletta (6.68).
Hyacinthe crossed the line fifth in the women's 200 in a wind-aided 23.43, so the Montreal runner's season best remains 23.02.
Dina Asher-Smith of Great Britain stopped the clock in 22.72 for the victory. Jamaica's Simone Facey was second in 22.81 and Great Britain's Desiree Henry set a personal best of 22.88.
Canada's Tim Nedow began the two-day event with a third-place finish in men's shot put on Wednesday, posting his best Diamond League result of the season with a throw of 20.44 metres.
Diamond League on CBC Sports
CBC Sports will provide live streaming coverage of all 14 Diamond League meets this season at CBCSports.ca and via the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices. TV coverage will be featured as part of the network's Road To The Olympic Games weekend broadcasts throughout the season.
The following is a list of upcoming Diamond League meets on CBCSports.ca and the CBC Sports app:
- Monaco (July 15, 2 p.m. ET)
- London (July 22-23, 3 p.m., 10 a.m. ET)
- Lausanne (Aug. 25, 2 p.m. ET)
- Paris (Aug. 27, 2 p.m. ET)
- Zurich (Sept. 1, 2 p.m. ET)
- Brussels (Sept. 9, 2 p.m. ET)