LAUSANNE, Switzerland – Following a bronze medal performance in the pole vault at the European Championships last week, Arkansas alum Tina Šutej won a Diamond League title Friday.
Šutej cleared 15-5 (4.70) on a second attempt to defeat Australian Nina Kennedy, who needed three attempts at the same height. Both vaulters missed 15-8.25 (4.78).
“This has been a season of ups and downs, but the good thing is that I have always managed to bounce back,” noted Šutej, who cut her right hand with a spike during warm-up for the European Championships final and required stitches to mend the situation. “Tonight, it was another good night despite the regular Achilles problem that I suffer from.
“I’m going to keep pushing myself and keep performing at my best. That's how I want to finish what has been a truly great season for me.”
During the indoor season Šutej earned a bronze medal at the World Indoor Championships after improving the Slovenia national record twice up to an overall career best of 15-9 (4.80).
This summer Šutej placed fourth in the World Championships held in Eugene and earned a bronze medal in the European Championships as she cleared 15-5 (4.70) and 15-7 (4.75), respectively.
A bronze medalist at the World Championships, Kennedy won the Commonwealth Games as well as the previous Diamond League title in Monaco.
Earlier this week, competing in a pole vault event held in Jockgrim, Germany, Šutej cleared 15-5.5 (4.71) to defeat European champion Wilma Murto of Finland, who finished second at 15-1.5 (4.61). Murto placed third in Lausanne with a 15-1 (4.60) clearance.