by Alfonz JuckSHANGHAI FLASH-BACK
SHANGHAI (CHN): Bershawn Jackson has said he is “mentally back” after winning the Shanghai Diamond League and wants to “go out with a bang” in his last season in the sport. “I had a terrible season last year. I lost my father and my best friend. This season I’m mentally back. I’ve had a long career and this will be my last year in the sport. I just want to go out with a bang,” he said.
SHANGHAI (CHN): After running a lifetime best of 19.90, teenager Noah Lyles has confirmed he will focus on the 200m this season and has two more races planned before the US Trials. “The expectation for the rest of the season is to focus on the 200m – I think that is my strong suit. I next plan to run in the Adidas meet [in Boston] and Rome Diamond League then it is on to US Trials. I’m certainly excited by my start to the season and I hope there is more to come,” he said.
SHANGHAI (CHN): After winning the Shanghai Diamond League, Gong Lijiao is planning to compete in at least two more Diamond League meetings before the World Championships in London. “The competitors pushed me hard and motivated me to throw better. Later this month I will go abroad for training and I will compete in the Rome and Lausanne Diamond Leagues,” she said.
SHANGHAI (CHN): Hellen Obiri is aiming to improve her 5000m PB again in the Rome Diamond League on 8 June
. Obiri won in Shanghai with a lifetime best of 14:22.47. Also Genzebe Dibaba and Almaz Ayana are announced there what means the best possible field will be there.
SHANGHAI (CHN): Reigning 110m hurdles world champion Sergey Shubenkov said that rivals met him with positive attitude at Shanghai DL after his almost two year absence from international arena. “I’m full of power, but it’s very important to transform all my energy into the speed. I need to perform as much as possible after such a long break,” Shubenkov told Rusathletics.com. Likewise, his coach Sergey Klevtsov noted that Shubenkov “felt not very comfortable. He’s far from the physical and technical peak,” coach said.
SHANGHAI (CHN): Renaud Lavillenie was satisfied with his season opener 583 and second place in Shanghai. It was his second best opening result of the summer season (the same also in 2016), the best was in 2012 when he cleared in Ostrava 590. His next competition will be this Sunday at French Clubs League in Aix-les-Bains. Informs L´Equipe.
