Shawn Barber vaults to season's best at Diamond League Shanghai

Canada’s Shawn Barber scored a third-place finish at his first Diamond League track and field event of the season on Saturday in Shanghai, China.

The pole vaulter from Toronto had a successful attempt of 5.60 metres, topping his season’s best mark of 5.50.

American Sam Kendricks took the victory with 5.88, while world record holder Renaud Lavillenie of France was second with 5.83.

Shawn Barber on season’s best score: ‘There is still work to be done’0:35

It was a disappointing day for Canadian Olympic high-jump champion Derek Drouin, who failed to clear the bar at 2.20m, and finished the event without a successful attempt.

Derek Drouin hopes to bounce back from 1st career ‘no height’0:44

The Sarnia, Ont. native is also the defending world champion in the event.

Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar won the event with a jump of 2.33, while Michael Mason of Nanoose Bay, B.C., finished seventh.

Thompson perseveres

Double Olympic sprint champion Elaine Thompson overcame a slow start to win the women’s 100 metres, her second victory in as many weeks.

The Jamaican, who captured the women’s 200 at the season-opening Doha Diamond League last week, pulled away at the 80-meter mark and eased to victory in 10.78 seconds, the fastest time in the world this season.

Her countryman and fellow Olympic champion, Omar McLeod, started his season on the right note with a win in the men’s 110-meter hurdles, while China’s Su Bingtian won the men’s 100 against a weakened field missing American star Justin Gatlin, who was a late scratch.

Thompson is aiming for a 100-200 double at the world championships in London in August to add two more golds to the ones she won at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

“It’s my second 100 for the season so a world-lead [time] is not a bad time,” she said. “My aim now is to go back home and compete in the Jamaica Invitational later this month. From there, it is all about preparing for the rest of the season and the world championships.”

Tori Bowie of the United States was second, 0.26 seconds back. Marie-Josee Ta Lou of Ivory Coast was third.

McLeod out-leaned Spain’s Orlando Ortega at the tape to win the 110 hurdles in 13.09. China’s Xie Wenjun was third.

Su won the men’s 100 in 10.09, just ahead of Michael Rodgers of the United States in second and Ben Youssef Meite of Ivory Coast in third.

Surprising scratch for Gatlin

Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic champion, finished a disappointing fourth in his first race of the season in Doha last week and decided his form wasn’t high enough to compete in Shanghai.

The field was also missing Usain Bolt, who is expected to kick off the final season of his career next month, as well as Rio bronze medallist Andre De Grasse and Doha champion Akani Simbine of South Africa.

In the men’s 200m, Noah Lyles raced to a world-leading time of 19.90, while Canada’s Aaron Brown finished sixth (20.41), followed by teammate Brendon Rodney, who was eighth in 20.63.

Aaron Brown races to 6th place finish at 200m final in Shanghai4:51

Olympic champion David Rudisha of Kenya struggled in his opening race of the season, fading to fourth in the 800 metres, more than half a second behind winner Kipyegon Bett’s time of 1:44.70 and four seconds off his own world record.

Rudisha looked comfortable through the first lap, leading the field behind the pacesetter, but couldn’t find his kick in the final stretch. He said he had changed his schedule this year, skipping early-season meets in Australia, and came into Shanghai off his top race shape.

The Kenyan believes he’ll be able to find his form in plenty of time before he attempts to defend his title at the world championships.

“It’s good sometimes just to try something different, but it’s tough. I have to get a few competitions before my legs get going,” Rudisha said. “I know I’ve been doing some quite good training and hopefully in a few weeks, I’ll be building up nicely.”

Diamond League on CBC Sports

CBC Sports is providing live streaming coverage of all 14 Diamond League meets this season at CBCSports.ca and via the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices. TV coverage will be featured as part of the network’s Road To The Olympic Games weekend broadcasts throughout the season.

The following is a list of upcoming Diamond League meets on CBCSports.ca and the CBC Sports app: