High jump winning streak reaches 39 for Lasitskene, who produces one of seven world-leading marks

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Maria Lasitskene said Saturday through her interpreter, “I do not count how many victories, I leave that for the journalists,” following her latest win at the Shanghai Diamond League.

For the record, the winning streak of the Russian star and authorized neutral athlete reached 39 meets following a world-leading clearance at 6-5.50 (1.97m) in her outdoor opener at Shanghai Stadium, trailing only the 42 consecutive hammer throw victories of Poland’s Anita Wlodarczyk among the sport’s longest active runs.

Lasitskene, who hadn’t competed since winning the IAAF World Indoor title March 1 in Birmingham, missed an opportunity for a seventh clearance of 6-6.50 (2.00m) or better this year, but still produced one of seven world-leading marks to secure her 13th career Diamond League win, including her eighth in a row.

“I am really pleased with the preparation and the way the competition went,” Lasitskene said. “My aim now is to continue in the Diamond League and target the European Championships.”

China’s Lijao Gong took over the world lead in the women’s shot put with a 65-7 effort (19.99m) in the second round for the seventh Diamond League victory of her career.

Colombia’s Caterine Ibarguen also took over the world lead in the women’s triple jump with a final-round effort of 48-6.75 (14.80m), giving her an impressive 30 Diamond League wins.

South Africa’s Luvo Manyonga improved on his own world lead in the men’s long jump with a sixth-round leap of 28-1 (8.56m) to not only overtake China’s Yuhao Shi, but earn a fifth career Diamond League victory.

France’s Renaud Lavillenie cleared 19-0.75 (5.81m) to win the men’s pole vault, securing his 36th career Diamond League win by prevailing against Poland’s Piotr Lisek on fewer misses.

In a rematch from their showdown last week in Doha, Americans Brianna Rollins-McNeal and Keni Harrison squared off again in the women’s 100-meter hurdles.

Not only did Rollins-McNeal secure her first victory against Harrison since the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials by clocking 12.50 seconds, she also took down the 2009 meet record of 12.56 set by Dawn Harper-Nelson.

Sharika Nelvis was second in 12.52, Harrison placed third in 12.56 and Jasmin Stowers finished fourth in 12.71, as Americans took the top four spots and five of nine overall.

Dalilah Muhammad was the only other American to prevail in Shanghai, as the 2016 Olympic gold medalist edged Commonwealth Games champion Janieve Russell of Jamaica by a 53.77 to 53.78 margin in the women’s 400-meter hurdles.

Muhammad elevated to No. 2 in the world this year, trailing only Kentucky freshman Sydney McLaughlin at 53.60, to capture her fourth career Diamond League victory.

Bahamian sprinters Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Steven Gardiner continued to excel against elite competition.

Miller-Uibo ran a wind-legal 22.06 in the women’s 200, eclipsing the 2014 meet record of 22.36 set by Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor, to ascend to No. 2 in the world this season and secure her 10th career Diamond League triumph.

Gardiner produced a second straight sub-44 effort in the men’s 400, clocking 43.99, with American triple jumper Christian Taylor placing fifth in 45.24.

Jamaica’s Omar McLeod equaled the world lead by running a wind-legal 13.16 in the men’s 110 hurdles to prevail against Spain’s Orlando Ortega (13.17) and earn a sixth career Diamond League victory.

Kenya produced a trio of victories, including Wycliffe Kinyamal running 1:43.91 in the men’s 800 to break the 2008 meet record of 1:44.63 set by Wilfred Bungei.

Timothy Cheruiyot ran a world-leading 3:31.48 in the men’s 1,500, just missing the 2011 meet record of 3:31.42.

Beatrice Chepkoech prevailed in the women’s 3,000 steeplechase in 9:07.27.

Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew held off Paul Chelimo by a 13:09.64 to 13:09.66 margin in the men’s 5,000, a race that produced the top nine times in the world this year.

Great Britain’s Reece Prescod upstaged China’s Su Bingtian in the men’s 100-meter dash, edging the national hero by a 10.04 to 10.05 margin. Justin Gatlin finished seventh in 10.20 and Andre De Grasse took eighth in 10.25.

China’s Huihui Lyu improved on her own meet record in the women’s javelin throw with a third-round mark of 219-4 (66.85m).