Claye Overcomes Rival Taylor in Thrilling Triple Jump Duel at Meeting de Paris
Claye Triumphs with Meeting Record-Breaking Jump
In a thrilling conclusion to the 2019 IAAF Diamond League qualifying fixtures, Will Claye emerged victorious in the triple jump event at the Meeting de Paris held at the Stade Charlety in the French capital on Saturday, August 24. Claye, the two-time Olympic silver medalist, out-jumped his college teammate, friend, and rival, world and Olympic champion Christian Taylor, with a meeting record-breaking effort of 18.06m.
“I think I’m in a very good space right now, not just physically but also with my mindset. My confidence is very high, and I want to win the biggest of feats.” – Will Claye
Captivating Rivalry between Claye and Taylor
The rivalry between the two American jumpers has been a captivating one, with Taylor having twice denied Claye the world title. However, this time it was Claye’s turn to shine, as he overtook Taylor with a fourth-round jump of 17.71m. When Taylor responded with a 17.82m effort in the fifth round, it seemed the duel would go down to the wire. But Claye saved the best for last, thundering down the new runway surface and landing a triumphant 18.06m jump, prompting Taylor to enthusiastically applaud and encourage the crowd to join in.
Upcoming Showdowns
This enthralling battle between the two titans of the triple jump is far from over, as they gear up to face off again at the upcoming IAAF Diamond League final and the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Doha later this year.
Other Highlights
Elsewhere in the field events, New Zealand’s world champion Tom Walsh produced a dominant display in the shot put, recording four consecutive throws over 22 meters, including a meeting record of 22.44m in the opening round. The shot put competition was a historic affair, with a record eight men surpassing the 21-meter mark.
In the women’s triple jump, Venezuela’s Yulimar Rojas, the reigning world indoor champion, won the event with a second-round leap of 15.05m, just shy of her own best. The meeting also featured captivating pole vault competitions, with Sam Kendricks and Alysha Newman emerging victorious in the men’s and women’s events, respectively.
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