Starc hits top form in warm-up for titles

AUSTRALIAN high jumper Brandon Starc continued to impress in his build-up to the world titles in Doha, banking an excellent victory at the Birmingham Diamond League meet yesterday.

Starc successfully defended his title with a new season’s best of 2.30m on his third attempt, although the Commonwealth champion had already secured victory by then with a first-time clearance of 2.26m, a height none of his rivals could better.

“I’m said.

“Before this the season’s best was 2.25m and I won this last year with 2.23m. I was ready to come back and jump high again.

“That performance pushed my confidence up.”

Starc’s Australian compatriot Stewart Mcsweyn also had a good day, finishing second in the men’s 1500m in three minutes 35.21 seconds behind Ronald Musagala of Uganda.

“My best chance of being up and in the medals for Doha will be in the 5000m but I’ll be doubling up and doing the 1500m and the 5000m,” the Tasmanian said.

Meanwhile, Jamaican former world champion Yohan Blake edged Britain’s Adam Gemili in a photo-finish to win the 100m. Both sprinters were given the same time of 10.07, with Blake declared the winner.

Olympic 400m gold medallist Shaunae Miller-uibo of the Bahamas won her 11th consecutive 200m, turning back British European champion Dina Asher-smith. pretty happy,” Starc has way

contracted players available for a game and goalkeeper Chloe Cooper was confident they would only keep improving.

“We’ve been having a lot of fun off court and I still think it’s been a very positive environment and we’re all in good head spaces at the moment,” she said. “Everyone’s very encouraging.”