Alysha Newman of London, Ontario won the silver medal on Saturday in a Diamond League event. The second place finish in the women’s pole vault was significant because it is the last Diamond League event of the season prior to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Newman had a throw of 4.75 metres. Nina Kennedy of Australia won the gold medal with a throw of 4.85 metres. Molly Caudery of Great Britain and Sandi Morris of the United States shared the bronze medal with a throw of 4.65 metres.
With the silver medal, Newman moved into fifth place in the Diamond League standings with 12 points. Kennedy is the Diamond League leader with 23 points. Caudery is in second place with 20 points. Angelica Moser of Switzerland is in third place with 19 points. Roberta Bruni of Italy is in fourth place with 13 points.
This was Newman’s first Diamond League medal of her season. She finished fourth in Monaco on July 12.
It was also Newman’s fifth Diamond League medal in her career. She previously won bronze in the 2017 and 2019 Diamond League Finals in Brussels, Belgium, silver in Birmingham in 2019, and gold in Paris in 2019.
The Olympic women’s pole vault final will take place on August 7 at 11 am. Newman is one of two Canadians entered in qualifying. The other is Anicka Newell of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.