The utter dominance of Kiwi shot put queen Valerie Adams continued this morning when she racked up her 50th consecutive victory.
Adams brought up her half-century at the Adidas New York Diamond League meet, producing a best throw of 19.68m with her fifth and penultimate attempt.
American Michelle Carter was the early leader and finished second after managing a season’s best 19.51m with her first throw. Trinidad and Tobago’s Cleopatra Borel, who will face Adams at the Commonwealth Games, was third with 19.04m.
Following a slow start, Adams took the lead from Carter in the fourth round with a throw of 19.52m. The 29-year-old double Olympic champion bettered that in the next round to seal yet another triumph on the world stage.
Adams last lost a competition on August 18, 2010 in Zurich. Fifty wins on the trot is the longest current winning streak in international athletics.
The meet was the third Diamond League event of the season and with victory Adams furthered her already commanding lead in the overall standings.
Meanwhile, at the same meet, NZ runner Nikki Hamblin has finished eighth in the 3000m 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.