Armed with new Canadian mark, shot putter Mitton chasing big throws on Diamond League circuit
De Grasse to run 100m Sunday in Morocco, Shericka Jackson ready for 200 opener
Sarah Mitton describes her latest Canadian record and season world-leading throw as a "gift" during a tough training block.
She said her coach, Rich Parkinson, encouraged her to enter a shot put competition before this Sunday's Diamond League stop in Marrakech, Morocco, believing she could top her 20.33-metre national mark from the 2022 Canadian championships.
Mitton wasted little time proving Parkinson right, unleashing a 20.68 throw on her first attempt last Saturday
Meeting International Mohammed VI was moved from Rabat, where the stadium is closed for renovations. Live streaming coverage from the Grand Stade de Marrakech begins at 2 p.m. ET at CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports App and CBC Gem.
At 1:26 p.m., Mitton will battle American rivals Chase Jackson and Maggie Ewen along with Jessica Schilder of the Netherlands, who held the previous world-leading mark of 20.31. Three weeks ago, Jackson threw 20.03 to win in Suzhou, China over Mitton (19.86) who went 19.35 a week earlier 1,000 kilometres to the south in Xiamen.
"I've been working on keeping both my feet on the ground on the finish of my throw since the beginning of the season," she said, "and I'm starting to see that more and more."
"They can really go any way and everyone knows that" <a href="https://twitter.com/ealey_chase?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ealey_chase</a> thinks that the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DiamondLeague?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DiamondLeague</a> 💎 is the perfect build up to a major championships like the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Olympic?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Olympic</a> Games. <a href="https://t.co/4aUndgH7qb">pic.twitter.com/4aUndgH7qb</a>
—@Diamond_LeagueThe Canadian was fifth last May in Rabat, throwing a best of 18.56 while battling a head cold before struggling with technique and over rotating in the circle. By July, Mitton
Will De Grasse extend Moroccan win streak?
Sprinter Andre De Grasse is the other Canadian competing Sunday in Marrakech, his second 100-metre race of this outdoor season and first of his career in Morocco.
He won a 200 in Rabat in 2017 (20.03 seconds) and in 2019 (20.19).
De Grasse's 10.11 winning effort last month at the East Coast Relays in Jacksonville, Fla., where the Markham, Ont., native resides, is his fastest season opener since April 2021 (9.99).
"The goal is to just run a good race"<br><br>Still early in the season, <a href="https://twitter.com/De6rasse?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@De6rasse</a> is looking to use <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MarrakechDL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MarrakechDL</a> 🇲🇦 to find his competitive edge and run a fast time.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DiamondLeague?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DiamondLeague</a> 💎 <a href="https://t.co/Wj6iX9rKMF">pic.twitter.com/Wj6iX9rKMF</a>
—@Diamond_LeagueThe 29-year-old, who anchored Canada to a 4x100 silver medal at World Relays earlier this month, hasn't run under 10.11 since winning in 10.05 at the Bislett Games Diamond League meet on June 16, 2022 in Oslo, Norway.
Jamaica's Yohan Blake is the only other household name in the nine-man field for Sunday's 3:22 p.m. ET race, but there is no shortage of talent.
All but two athletes have run 9.96 or faster in their career, while 25-year-old Brandon Hicklin of the United States is the only one to dip under 10 seconds this year (9.94).
De Grasse most recently achieved the feat on Sept. 9, 2021 (9.89) at the Diamond League Final in Zurich.
Britain's Jeremiah Azu, also in Sunday's field, won at this week's Meeting Città di Savona in Italy in a 10.08 season best.
WATCH | De Grasse, Canadian teammates grab relay silver in Nassau:
Jackson looks to add to early-season success
One of the more notable events led by an international athlete is the women's 200 at 3:10 p.m. in which Shericka Jackson will race for the first time in the distance this season.
The double world champion from Jamaica withdrew from a series of early-season meetings, including Suzhou.
With reigning world champion Marco Arop idle until he returns home to race the men's 800 at the Edmonton Athletics Invitational on June 13, Kenya's Emmanuel Wanyonyi will be the favourite to win Friday at 2:14 p.m.
After winning the 2023 Diamond League Trophy in a one minute 42.80-second PB, Wanyonyi opened in 1:43.57 in Nairobi on April 20.
Britain's Ben Pattison, the 2023 world bronze medallist, or Kenya's Emmanuel Korir could be Wanyonyi's biggest threat Friday. Korir, a three-time Diamond League champion, only raced four times last year due to injury, including an uncharacteristic 1:48.42 in Rabat.
Diamond League calendar
- Eugene (Prefontaine Claissic) — May 25
- Oslo, Norway — May 30
- Stockholm — June 2
- Paris — July 7
- Monaco — July 12
- London — July 20
- Lausanne, Switzerland — Aug. 22
- Silesia, Poland — Aug. 25
- Rome — Aug. 30
- Zurich — Sept. 5
- Brussels (DL Final) — Sept. 13-14
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
