Sarah Mitton placed 2nd at the Diamond League event in Brussels, Belgium. Photo: Richard Parkinson.
Nova Scotia’s own Sarah Mitton, a world silver medallist hailing from Brooklyn, once again showcased her remarkable shot put prowess, wrapping up another sensational season with her 14th top-two finish out of 17 events. In a thrilling showdown at the Diamond League Final in Eugene, Oregon, Mitton secured the second spot, just as she did a year ago.
On a sunny day at Hayward Field, Mitton delivered her best throw of the season, a powerful 19.94 meters. She took an early lead in the six-woman competition, but her reign was short-lived as American athlete Chase Ealey entered the circle during the second round. Ealey unleashed a remarkable throw of 20.61 meters, setting both a season world-leading mark and a new meet and United States record.
Ealey’s performance only soared from there, as she further extended her personal best to an astonishing 20.76 meters. However, her final three attempts did not yield any measurements.
Speaking to reporters, Ealey expressed the significance of her achievement, saying, “That was something really important to me this season. I’ve been wanting to do it all season and I told my coach I was gonna do it this meet. I have good people around me, and I think that’s really important. It’s really made my throwing a lot better and everything better as a whole.”
Mitton’s coach, Rich Parkinson, expressed his admiration for Ealey’s performance, stating, “I wonder how we beat Chase. She was the class of the field. I have my work cut out for me.”
In recognition of her outstanding performance, 29-year-old Ealey claimed the coveted Diamond League Trophy and a top prize of $30,000 US. Mitton, on the other hand, secured a well-earned $12,000 US.
Mitton’s performance saw some fluctuations after her initial strong throw of 19.94 meters. She recorded a distance of 19.79 meters on her third attempt and failed to register a measurement on her fourth throw. Mitton finished the competition with throws of 19.34 and 19.93 meters.
Sarah Mitton’s remarkable journey in the world of shot put continues to captivate Nova Scotia and inspire aspiring athletes across the province.
