Canada's Shawn Barber vaults to 4th at Rabat Diamond League
Caster Semenya runs this year's fastest time in women's 1,000 metres
Canada's Shawn Barber cleared 5.60 metres to finish fourth in the pole vault at the Rabat Diamond League meet on Friday.
Barber, who won the world championships in 2015, is coming off a Canadian championship victory last weekend in Ottawa that saw him set a meet record.
American Sam Kendricks cleared 5.86 to win.
Earlier in the event, a scary incident occurred as Russia's Timur Morgunov narrowly avoided a serious injury.
During his second attempt of 5.86, Morgunov not only failed to clear the bar but his pole ripped straight through his shorts on the way down.
Fortunately, the 21-year-old came away unharmed and was able to complete the competition finishing third.
Brittany Crew of Toronto threw 18.25 metres to finish fifth in the women's shot put in her Diamond League debut. Germany's Christina Schwanitz won with a toss of 19.40.
Matt Hughes of Oshawa, Ont., ran eight minutes 13.13 seconds to finish fifth in the men's 3,000-metre steeplechase. His time was less than two seconds off his Canadian record of 8:11.64 he set in 2013.
Kenya's Benjamin Kigen ran a world-leading 8:06.19 to win Friday's steeplechase.
Semenya runs fastest time this year
Caster Semenya produced the fastest time in the world this year for the women's 1,000 metres (yards).
The South African athlete opened up a big lead from the start and eventually clocked 2:31.01.
An impressive run from Caster Semenya makes her the 6th fastest 1000m racer in history, just a few seconds off of world record pace<br><br>More from <a href="https://twitter.com/Diamond_League?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Diamond_League</a> Rabat: <a href="https://t.co/g5zmbBY8fG">https://t.co/g5zmbBY8fG</a> <a href="https://t.co/MSZ1AtY192">pic.twitter.com/MSZ1AtY192</a>
—@CBCOlympicsThe previous best time this year was also set by Semenya when she clocked 2:35.43 in Pretoria in March.
Ce'Aira Brown of the U.S. finished second on Friday in 2:35.85, ahead of fellow countrywoman Kaela Edwards (2:36.13).
Coleman wins star-studded men's 100
Rising American sprint star Christian Coleman won a stacked men's 100 in a photo finish. The 22-year-old clocked a time of 9.98, narrowly edging his compatriots Ronnie Baker and Noah Lyles by 0.006 and 0.01 seconds respectively.
In the women's 200, it was the Bahamas' Shaunae Miller-Uibo taking the victory in 22.29. Great Britain's Dina Asher-Smith was second (22.40) and Jenna Prandini of the United States third (22.60).
With files from CBC Sports, The Associated Press