The Tribune

HIGH jumper Jamal Wilson, tied with two others for fourth place, was the only Bahamian to compete at the 10th Shanghai Grand Prix track and field meet after injuries to fellow competitor Donald Thomas and quartermiler Steven Gardiner kept them both out of action.

The stop over in Shanghai, China, over the weekend was just the second in the series of meets held around by the world held as a part of the IAAF Diamond League Series. It followed the May 3 Doha meet in Qatar, the site for this year’s IAAF World Championships September 27 to October 6.

It also comes before Stockholm Diamond League on May 30 and the remaining 11 in the series, inclusive of Rome on June 6, Oslo on June 13, Rabat on June 16, Eugene on June 30, Lausanne on July 5, Monaco on July 12, London on July 20-21, Birmingham on August 18, Paris on August 24 and the two finales in Zurich on August 29 and Brussels on September 6.

Wilson, in a season’s best performance, finished in a three-way tie for fourth place with American Jeron Robinson and Australia’s Brandon Starc, all of whom cleared 2.25 metres or 7-feet, 4 1/2-inches.

“Thank you Shanghai until next time,” was what Wilson wrote briefly on his social media page about his experience at the meet.

China’s Yu Wang won the event with a leap of 2.28m (7-5 3/4), the same height as runner-up Maksim Nedasekau of Belarus and Iiya Ivanyuk, an authorised neutral athlete from Russia, who all did their season’s best.

Thomas, the Bahamian champion, was also scheduled to compete, but he withdrew. No reason was given for his absence.

As for Gardiner, he was scheduled to contest the men’s 400m that was swept by the Americans, led by Fred Kerley in his season’s best of 44.81 seconds. Michael Cherry followed in 45.48 and Nathan Strother did 45.52.

Coming off an injury to his Achilles tendinitis that prevented him from running on the men’s 4 x 400m relay team that had to withdraw from competition at the fourth IAAF World Relays in Japan a week ago, Gardiner opted not to compete in the event.

He wrote this explanation on social media:

“Due to having tendinitis in my Achilles area, I was ordered to sit out of competition in tonight’s 10th annual Diamond League in Shanghai. Thank you to my supporters, friends and family for keeping me going strong. Also thanks to the world’s greatest doctor for taking great care of me. I feel better already. Up next Adidas Boost Boston Games.”

The Boost Boston Games are scheduled for Sunday, June 16, in Boylston Steet, Copley Square.