Dos Santos strikes again and Jackson steals tight shot put battle

Following his shock victory over Olympic champion, Karsten Warholm on the Norweigian’s home turf in Oslo earlier in the week, Alison dos Santos struck again with a dominant 400m hurdles display.

The 23-year-old Brazilian clocked 47.01 to follow up on his 46.63 three days ago, as the world champion claimed his third straight Diamond League win of the season, having also taken the spoils in Doha. 

Dos Santos said afterwards: “Here, I feel like I am home - everybody is screaming for me, I feel like I belong to this place. 

“It was a good race - I think we are just proving that we are in good shape. I am excited for these results back to back and I am also looking forward to coming back to training right now. I am going back to Florida, will talk to my coach and will work on what I need to work on. 

“Probably, I will still do Monaco, Paris, London - one of those, just to see where we are and to be ready before the Olympics. I never get tired. Never ever. I am always ready.”

Kyron McMaster of the British Virgin Islands - the world silver medalist - registered a 48.05 season’s best in second place. 

Elsewhere, Chase Jackson took the honours in the tantilisingly-close women’s shot put, reaching 20.00m in the second round. 

The 29-year-old American - who was victorious in the 2022 Stockholm event - added to her Diamond League wins in Suzhou and Rabat this season. 

The two-time world champion said: “Going into the first rounds, I think we were setting up pretty good competition but going into the final, we had a couple of technical things going on so there was a lot of waiting. It cooled us down a little. I think both of us could have thrown further. 

“It was a really good competition and it kind of showed what is coming up at the Olympics. I am pretty excited. I am training through all these meets and focusing on my technique. Today, I am a little sore but the main point is the Olympics. The main thing is that I am still throwing well but the main thing is that I need to be ready for the Olympics. 

“It could be anyone - all these girls are so talented. You never know - me and Sarah could not even be there in the top three but at the moment, she is the one I look up to the most. You cannot really plan anything. Technique-wise, I am glad with my throws. If I can get a little bit more energy in my throws, it will be set. It is coming soon so I am excited - now training in the UK a bit and then home for the trials.”

Canada’s world indoor champion, Sarah Mitton finished runner-up with a best of 19.98m from the second round.

Nicola Sutton for the BAUHAUS-galan media team.