LaQuan Nairn claims long jump in Lausanne Diamond League
LAUSANNE – A season best leap of 26 feet, 7.25 inches (8.11) secured a Diamond League victory for Arkansas alum LaQuan Nairn on a chilly 60s-degree evening in Switzerland.
“I´ve been preparing for this competition for two weeks,” noted Nairn, the 2022 Commonwealth champion. “Last year I came last in the Oslo Diamond League, so its´s amazing for me to be able to come first in Lausanne.
“I’m excited about the future and I’m happy with the W. Now I go back to the Bahamas, to compete in front of my family. I’m excited about that meet in front of my family in my hometown. I just want to go out there, execute, and have fun. Put on a show.”
A steady progression in the first three rounds moved Nairn into the lead. A first round 24-4.25 (7.42) was followed by a 25-7.25 (7.80). Then in the third round he connected on the winning distance into a -0.3 wind to pass the leading mark of 26-5.75 (8.07) by Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece, the 2021 Tokyo Olympic champion and 2022 World silver medalist.
“Before the competition I had my whole mindset changed and that helped me to jump further,” added Nairn. “I’ll continue working hard for the Budapest World Championships and I aim to get a medal there.”
The rest of Nairn’s series included 25-1.25 (7.65), 23-10.25 (7.27), and 24-4.25 (7.42) as he jumped well ahead of the takeoff area where a white line crossed the runway a couple of meters ahead of the board.
The field of nine jumpers faced headwinds during the whole competition. There was a single attempt with a tailwind among the 46 attempts taken.
“I´m gutted,” said Tentoglou, who recently produced a season best of 27-4.5 (8.34). “Not happy with my results, it was not what I expected. The weather was terrible. I´m not trying to make excuses.”
Japan’s Yuki Hashikova finished third with a third round 26-2.25 (7.98) while decathlete Simon Ehammer of Switzerland placed fourth at 26-1.75 (7.97) from a second-round attempt.
Competing in the pole vault, Tina Šutej finished fourth with a clearance of 15-1.5 (4.61) while missing at the next bar of 15-5.5 (4.71). American Katie Moon won with a world-leading height of 15-9.75 (4.82) with 2022 European champion Wilma Murto runner-up at 15-7.75 (4.77).
