By Zim Sport Live Writer
US-based Zimbabwean triple jumper Chengetayi Mapaya finished seventh in the men’s triple jump final at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in China on Friday.
Mapaya who jumped 16.83m last month in South Carolina to qualify for the global meet in Nanjing opened his competition with 16.74m, which ultimately proved to be his best leap in the final.
Mapaya, who won a silver medal at the African Athletics Championships last year has been making a return to competition after a series of unfortunate injury setbacks.
Italy’s Olympic bronze medallist Andy Diaz Hernandez produced a stunning early effort of 17.80 metres to capture the triple jump gold medal .
The Cuban-born European champion broke the Italian record with his first jump of the day and comfortably staved off his challengers, with China’s Zhu Yaming taking the silver with a distance of 17.33 metres.
Brazil’s Almir Dos Santos grabbed the bronze with 17.22 metres, while defending champion Hugues Fabrice Zango of Burkina Faso only managed fourth place with 17.15 metres in Nanjing.