3 September 2015

It was the perfect night for Greg Rutherford (coach: Jonas Tawiah-Dodoo) as he showed his class to add the Diamond trophy to his ever growing collection with victory at the IAAF Diamond League in Zurich.

After adding the world championship crown to his Olympic, European and Commonwealth titles last week, Rutherford commanded the competition by reacting to any attempts to take his place at the top of the leaderboard. He led after two rounds with a best of 8.27m but the American Marquis Dendy appeared to be fighting back after his disappointment last week, by leaping 8.32m in round four.

However, the great British athlete responded in round five by matching that distance. He took the lead because his second furthest jump was bigger than Dendy’s. He was immovable in the final round and held on to add a diamond to his grand slam.

He said afterwards: “It was very important to come out here and win again. I still managed to come out on top so I am absolutely over the moon. The other jumpers maybe said, ‘we will take him in Zurich’, but it did not work. 

"The victory means a hell of a lot to me as it is the last crown for me. I am very pleased."

After a thrilling women’s long jump final in Beijing last week, the athletes did not disappoint in another highly entertaining competition. There was to be no repeat of the British record from Shara Proctor (Rana Reider) after last week’s fine display. However, it was a solid contest for Proctor who leapt a best of 6.58m in round five to secure third place on the day behind eventual winner Ivana Spanovic, who extended her Serbian record to 7.02m.

Jazmin Sawyers (Alan Lerwill) enjoyed a consistent series to place fourth on the day in the long jump with a best of 6.55m whilst Lorraine Ugen (Shawn Jackson) was eighth leaping 6.31m.

Lynsey Sharp (Rana Reider) cut a determined figure at the Letzigrund Stadium after missing out on a spot in the 800m final in Beijing, however, she ran superbly for second place behind Eunice Sum, the eventual winner of the Diamond trophy. The Scot, clocking a time of 1:59.37, confirmed second spot in the Diamond Race as she finished ahead of a high quality field. After two of the races of her life last week, Britain’s world finalist Shelayna Oskan-Clarke (Ayo Falola was 11th in 2:05.91.

One of Britain’s breakthrough acts from the IAAF World Championships, Rabah Yousif (Carol Williams) finished in a fine fifth place, recording 45.39, in a stacked 400m race. The line-up was very similar to the final in Beijing last week but the race did not repeat the outstanding times from Beijing. America’s LaShawn Merritt comfortably won the race ahead of Kirani James and world champion Wayde Van Nierkerk, with James claiming the Diamond Race crown.

Eilidh Child (Malcolm Arnold) was eighth in the 400m hurdles final posting a time of 56.14. The Scot was a world finalist in the event in Beijing and also a 4x400m bronze medallist, and rounded off her season with another solid performance.

Holly Bradshaw (Scott Simpson) similarly was eighth in the women’s pole vault. She cleared 4.47m after one failure but three fouls at 4.57m ended her competition in Zurich. World finalist Charlie Grice (Jon Bigg) put himself amongst the world’s best once again and fared credibly in 10th after a final sprint which saw Asbel Kiprop take another victory.

Danny Talbot (Dan Cossins) finished eighth in the men’s 200m recording a time of 20.70 with Niall Flannery (Nick Dakin) matching the placing in the 400m hurdles in 51.26. David Weir (Jenny Archer) earlier came home in fifth in the 3000m wheelchair race after a crash scuppered his chances with 300m to go, crossing the line in a time of 6:44.81.

Highlights of the IAAF Diamond League in Zurich can be found on BBC One from 14:30-15:30. Full results can be found via this link: http://zurich.diamondleague.com/en/timetable-entries/programme-2015/