Steven Gardiner

The International Association of Athletics Federations’ (IAAF) Diamond League season continued yesterday in Lausanne, Switzerland, and two of The Bahamas’ best were in action.

Bahamian national record holder in the men’s 400 meters (m) Steven Gardiner and high jumper Donald Thomas contested in their specialty events, looking to pick up some points toward the season-ending Diamond League trophy, which is awarded to the top athlete in each discipline.

Gardiner finished second in the men’s 400m in a time of 44.745 seconds. Former World and Olympic Champion LaShawn Merritt was first in 44.50 seconds and Liemarvin Bonevacia of The Netherlands was third in 44.75 seconds.

Gardiner is currently ranked No. 9 in Diamond League men’s 400m-point standings with six. Merritt leads the way in that category with 30.

Gardiner earned the silver finish against a loaded field. All of the men that were in the race have ran under 45 seconds in their careers, and two of the eight under 44 seconds. The 21-year-old track phenom came into the race off a semi-final appearance at the 31st Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Over in the field, Thomas finished sixth against a high jump field that was loaded as well. He had a best clearance of 2.25m (7’ 4 ½”). Thomas skipped over 2.29m (7’6 ¼”) and elected to go straight to 2.32m (7’7 ¼”), but couldn’t clear it in the three allowed attempts.

Essa Mutaz Barshim of Qatar won the event with a best leap of 2.35m (7’8 ½”). Robbie Grabarz and Erik Kynard finished second and third with best leaps of 2.32m. However, it took Kinkaid three attempts to get over 2.29m, compared to just one by Grabarz.

Thomas currently ranks No. 11 in the Diamond League men’s high jump point race with three. Bohdan Bondarenko of Ukraine ranks first in that category with 29.

Thomas had a best clearance of 2.29m (7’6”) at the Olympics, finishing in a three-way tie for seventh overall.

Donald Thomas

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