Hamish Kerr gave his supporters heart flutters along the way but ended up qualifying in style in the men’s high jump.
The Christchurch athlete, who has often jumped 2.30m-plus in international competition, had two no jumps at 2.20m and a premature exit from the Paris Olympics loomed at Stade de France on Wednesday.
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Happily, he cleared 2.20m on his final attempt, cleared 2.24m at second attempt and, getting better the longer he went, confidently cleared 2.27m.
Kerr, 27, was one of only five jumpers to clear that height in qualifying and marked himself as one to watch in the final on Saturday.
With a world indoor title this year, plus a bronze medal in that event in 2022, and a Commonwealth Games gold as well, Kerr can certainly produce his best on the big occasion, even if his world championship record so far is not as impressive. He was 10th in the Olympic high jump in Tokyo three years ago.
Kerr said he was “trying not to cry” after missing two attempts at 2.20m.
“It was pretty scary. At this sort of competition, it’s the top two inches that counts. So to do that today when I was up against the wall is something I’m really proud of.”
Kerr said he has been in similar situations in other competitions and he has not always managed to pull it off.
“I had to dig deep for that one. I’m so grateful I had my coach and my team there and they knew what was needed at that moment.”
Looking on the positive, Kerr said that to be able to make the jump under such pressure gave him a feeling he could go on to do well.
“It was touch-and-go but I look back on the positives.”
There was not such good news for New Zealand’s two other athletes in action in the first morning session on Wednesday.
Tori Peeters managed a best of 59.78m in the javelin, with lesser throws of 58.60m and 54.81m. This placed her only 19th overall, well out of the top 12 who progressed to the final. Peeters would have needed to throw 62.40m to match the 12th thrower.
James Preston, who beat Peter Snell’s 62-year-old New Zealand 800m record in May with a time of 1 minute 44.04 seconds, did not show his best in his 800m heat.
Preston gradually slipped back through the nine-man field in the first heat and finished eighth in 1:48.50.
The Wellingtonian has been battling an achilles tendon injury since May. It has inhibited his recent training and he indicated it affected his racing. He will be run in the 800m repechage on Thursday.