The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

STEVEN Gardiner will return to competition for the first time since his 400 metre gold medal triumph at the Tokyo Olympics earlier this month.

Gardiner will contest the 200m, and Donald Thomas in the high jump at the ninth Wanda Diamond League meeting of the season in Lausanne, Switzerland today at 3:35pm local time.

The Bahamian national record holder at both 400m and 200m will compete in a field that also includes a pair of Olympic silver medallists from Tokyo - Americans Kenny Bednarek (200m) and Fred Kerley (200m).

Also listed on the start list is Aaron Brown of Canada, Fostine Eseosa Desalu of Italy, Yancarlos Martinez of The Dominican Republic, William Reais of Switzerland and Isiah Young of the United States.

Bednarek comes in with the fastest season’s best time at 19.68 seconds, followed by Kerley at 19.90, Brown and Young at 19.99, Martinez in 20.17 and Gardiner at 20.24. “I feel good, good to be back in Lausanne for my second time,” Gardiner told the group at yesterday’s pre-meeting kid’s clinic. “It’s an amazing stadium. It’s close and you can feel the energy so I’m happy to be back.”

Following a pair of indoor meets, Gardiner began his 2020 outdoor season with his fastest season opener ever, when he won the 15th Annual Spring Break Classic in Carolina, Puerto Rico.His time of 20.24 back in July was then a world-leading time and also established a meet record.

Gardiner set the Bahamian national record at 19.75 on April 7, 2018 at the Hurricane Invitational in Coral Gables, Florida. He previously bested Kerley over 400m to win the 2019 World Championship in Doha and establish another national record in 43.48.

The Athletissima meeting officially began yesterday with a “City Event” high jump contest that featured Thomas among a field that included Olympic champion Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy and bronze medallist Maksim Nedasekau of Belarus.

Thomas finished seventh with a clearance of 2.19m.

In Tokyo, Thomas was eliminated in qualification and finished 13th out of a field of 17 competitors in Group A with a leap of 2.21m.

The Athlessimo meet in Lausanne is the Diamond League’s first European stop on the circuit following the conclusion of the Olympic Games and the hosting of the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, last week.

The meet is expected to host 19 gold medal winners from Tokyo.