Sarah Mitton delivered a more consistent performance in shot put while her Canadian teammate Regan Yee approached the qualification standard for the Paris Olympics in the hurdles during the Diamond League track and field meet today Saturday in Suzhou, China.

Mitton advanced with a throw of 19.86 meters in the first round - her best outdoor mark this season - and finished second behind her American rival Chase Jackson, who responded with a throw of 20.03 in her second of six attempts, 20 cm behind Gong Lijiao's meeting record from 2015.

Jackson, a two-time Diamond League champion, outperformed Mitton in her last three throws. The 29-year-old placed third last week 900 kilometers south in Xiamen, where Jackson threw 19.62 seconds while working on technical changes.

Jackson, the world's top-ranked woman pole vaulter who won a gold medal at last year's World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, said: "I have been working on [new things] that could have gone one way or the other on Saturday so I am happy with the win."

I have been away from home for six weeks, so I gained a lot of confidence starting today. Throwing 20 meters early in the season, and it felt nice and easy, is good for qualifying for the Olympics."

Mitton, after recording 19.35 seconds to finish fourth in Xiamen, took charge early at the Suzhou Olympic Sports Centre. After making a mistake on her second throw, she achieved 19.64 seconds on her third - her best against the competition - and went over 19 meters in two of her last three attempts (19.25, 19.17).

A week ago, the 27-year-old from Brooklyn, NS, threw 18.89 and 18.75 late in the competition.

Second place in the 2023 Diamond League final
The second-ranked in the world said: "I’m really happy, considering I didn’t feel good with the ball. I’ve never started my [outdoor] season at the Diamond League like I did last week."