Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Australian middle-distance track star Cam Myers has won the 1500m at the Diamond League Final in Brussels, continuing his strong form after notching a win earlier in the week in Berlin.
On Friday, Myers timed his finish to perfection to snatch victory in the men’s 1500m in 3:30.14, surging past Kenya’s Phanuel Koech (3:30.18) over the final few strides after the pair had hunted down long-time leader Jakob Ingebrigtsen over the closing lap.
Olympic champion Ingebrigtsen, continuing his comeback after Achilles surgery in February, dictated the pace for much of the race and looked on course for a morale-boosting victory before the effort began to tell in the home straight.
Koech swept past the Norwegian and appeared set for the win, only for the fast-finishing, 20-year-old Myers to edge ahead at the line in a dramatic finish, with Ingebrigtsen fading to fourth.
“It feels great to participate in my first Diamond League final and to immediately take the victory,” Myers said post-race.
“Everyone was pushing each other, but I felt that I could stay relaxed and save my energy until the final stretch.
“I wouldn’t say that this victory is a surprise to me. I would more say that it’s a relief that I can finally show what I was building in the last couple of years.”
On Monday, the Glasgow Commonwealth Games mile silver medallist won at Berlin’s annual ISTAF one-day event, beating a quality 1500m field in Germany.
Late last month, he also took third in the 3000m at the Zurich Welklasse event.
Myers is the two-time defending Australian champion in the 1500m.
His mile duel with Scottish world record holder Josh Kerr was one of the most-anticipated events at the Glasgow Games.
Kerr easily won, but it was the Australian’s first senior medal at a major international championship.
Myers also won the 1500m at this year’s Prefontaine Classic in Oregon, while his season-best was a 3:28.00 to win a promotional event in Paris.
He’ll now turn his attention to the Ultimate Championships in Budapest from September 11-13.
with AAP
