Canadian shot putter Sarah Mitton finishes 3rd at season-opening Diamond League stop

Canadian shot put star Sarah Mitton finished third at the season-opening stop of the Diamond League season on Saturday in Shanghai.

The Brooklyn, N.S., native launched her fifth of six attempts a distance of 20.42 metres for her best throw of the day, momentarily placing her in second after falling just 0.04 metres shy of American rival Chase Jackson's preceding fifth-round toss.

Reigning outdoor world champion Jessica Schilder of the Netherlands leapfrogged them both with her fifth throw, setting a Diamond League record with a mark of 21.09m at Shanghai Stadium.

Mitton's Round 6 throw travelled 20.15m, while Schilder and Jackson were also unable to surpass their fifth attempts.

Canada's Sarah Mitton scores third in Diamond League shot put season opener

”Today's result exceeded my expectation," Mitton said. "I think the tough flights and long trips were worthy. My performance was quite solid today. This is just the second meeting of this season."

The 29-year-old Mitton, who won the indoor world title in 2024 and 2025, was dethroned by Jackson at this year's worlds in Torun, Poland.

In other results, decorated Jamaican Shericka Jackson won the women's 200m in 22.07 seconds, finishing ahead of Bahamas' Shaunae Miller-Uibo (22.26) and American Anavia Battle (22.40).

U.S. star Sha'Carri Richardson was fourth in 22.42.

Jamaican Shericka Jackson won the women’s 200m in Shanghai

Gift Leotlela stunned the field to win the men's 100m.

The 28-year-old from South Africa edged Kenya's Ferdinand Omanyala and American Kenny Bednarek by one-hundredth of a second with a time of 9.97.

Gift Leotala edges out a victory in the men’s 100m in Shanghai

Pole vaulting legend Armand Duplantis of Sweden set a meet record by clearing 6.12m before