European discus gold medallist Kristjan Ceh and European U23 110 hurdles champion Sasha Zhoya gained some consolation for their Olympic disappointments, by winning at the Golden Gala Pietro Mannea Meeting on Friday (30), hosted at the Stadio Olimpico, venue for the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships earlier this year.
Roma 2024 men’s discus champion Ceh of Slovenia bounced back to his best after placing fourth at the Paris Olympic Games, winning with a final round 68.61m. He got the better of Olympic gold medallist Roje Stona of Jamaica, who was second with 67.85m and Lithuanian world record holder Mykolas Alekna was third in 67.68m.
“This stadium is lucky for me, since I won the European Champs here as well,” said Ceh. “It is one of the prettiest stadiums and a lot of people come to watch, so I love competing here. Today I was slipping on my first attempts, but then I got a good one on the fifth attempt and on the final, I went all in.
“It clicked, that is what we train for. I feel like I still have something to prove after the Olympics. I was going there hoping to medal and yes, I was sad afterwards, but it was the best men in the world competing, you cannot expect it to be easy. I still have a few competition coming up his season and I feel like I have it in me to throw 70 metres.”
Zhoya grabs second Diamond League win
France’s Zhoya bagged his second Diamond League victory of the season, winning the men’s 110m hurdles in fluent style in 13.18 (+0.4m/s), just 0.03 shy of the personal best he set winning at the Paris Diamond League in July.
The European U23 champion had a disappointing Olympics, where he was eliminated in the semi-finals in front of his home crowd. But he was back on form in Rome, forcing former European champion Asier Martinez (Spain) and former Olympic and world champion Omar McLeod to settle for second and third in 13.27 and 13.28 respectively.
Home expectations were high for Italy’s European champion Lorenzo Simonelli, but he clipped numerous hurdles and stuttered to sixth in 13.34.
“I am happy,” said charismatic Frenchman afterwards. “I was a little down at the Olympics, but things are getting back to normal. If I have to choose, I will choose Paris as my favourite place to compete, but Rome is a close second.
“The one lesson I will draw from this season is that I need to take care of my body. I have had some persistent problems slowing me down. Next year, I hope to stay injury-free and the results should then come.”
Diaz lands home victory for Italain crowd
There was a home victory for Olympic bronze medallist Andy Díaz Hernández of Italy in the men’s triple jump, with 17.32m (+0.8m/s). Meanwhile, in the men’s shot put, Leonard Fabbri returned to the scene of his European gold in June and finished second with a solid 21.70m, but still 79cm short of winner and three-time Olympic gold medallist Ryan Crouser (USA).
In the men’s high jump, Italian hero and former Olympic champion Gianmarco Tamberi couldn’t quite rekindle the fire that resulted in glorious gold at Roma 2024, where he also set a world lead of 2.37m. The crowd favourite had to settle for joint third in the men’s high jump with 2.27m, in a competition won by South Korea’s Sanghyeok Woo with a best of 2.30m.
Britain’s European 200m silver medallist Daryl Neita was third in the women’s 200m in 22.46 (+0.4m/s) behind USA duo Brittany Brown (22.00) and Anavia Battle (22.27) and the Netherland’s Nadine Visser was third in a searing women’s 100m hurdles in 12.52, won by Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent in a world leading 12.24 (-0.4m/s).
Chris Broadbent for European Athletics