Athletics: Adams makes fifty in a row the hard way

Valerie Adams has hit fifty consecutive victories in New York this morning at the Adidas Track Classic Diamond League meeting. Photo / AP

Valerie Adams has hit fifty consecutive victories in New York this morning at the Adidas Track Classic Diamond League meeting, throwing 19.68 to win the competition by 17 centimetres.

American Michelle Carter opened with a very good 19.51 and it took the New Zealand double Olympic champion until round four to edge in front by just 0.01. The next round Adams went 19.68 which would be her winning distance.

Cleopatra Borel from Trinidad and Tobago, who will face Adams at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games was third on 19.04. Adams series was 18.83, 19.33, 19.31, 19.52, 19.68, 18.98.

Fifty wins on the trot for Adams is the longest current winning streak in international athletics. The last time Adams tasted defeat was on 18 August 2010.

Adams now has a virtually unassailable lead in the Diamond League contest, with 12 points after three rounds from three athletes tied for second on two points.

Meanwhile Nikki Hamblin has finished eighth in the New York 3000 in 8:51.48, just outside her personal best for the distance.

The meeting was highlighted by a stunning competition in the men's high jump with Mutaz Barshim (Qatar)and Bohdan Bondarenko (Ukraine) both clearing 2.42, the first time two athletes have jumped that high in the same contest. Both went on to attempt a world record of 2.46.

In Kladno, Czech Republic Brent Newdick is lying mid-field in the decathlon. Newdick ran 11.04 for the 100, 7.08 Long Jump, 13.39 Shot Put, 1.94 High Jump and 51.03 400m. Newdick's score after 5 events in 3893.