Canadians Mitton, Yee seek improved results in 2nd leg of Chinese Diamond League series

Two Canadians will try to build on strong season-opening performances, while the world record watch continues for a pair of international athletes at this week's Diamond League outdoor track and field stop in Suzhou, China.

Shot putter Sarah Mitton and steeplechase runner Regan Yee remained in China following last week's event in Xiamen to prepare for the second of 15 Diamond League meets this season on Saturday.

Mitton, who twice broke a Canadian record on her way to women's gold at the World Athletics Indoor Championships last month in Glasgow, was fourth in Xiamen with a best throw of 19.35 metres on the second of five attempts.

She'll attempt to upend last week's winner and reigning Olympic champion Gong Lijiao of China in a 10-woman field at Suzhou Olympic Sports Centre. Women's shot put begins at 6:20 a.m. ET, with live streaming coverage of the event beginning at 7 a.m. on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports App and CBC Gem.

Gong, who earned world championship bronze last summer behind American Chase Jackson and Mitton, jumped 19.72 in Xiamen, where it rained early in the competition.

"To be honest, I am not quite satisfied with the result, since my intention was to throw 20-plus [metres]," said the 35-year-old Gong.

Before this season, her most recent appearance on the Diamond League circuit was the 2019 Final at the Weltklasse Zurich meet where she threw 20.31 for her third of three Diamond League Trophies.

Jackson, who was third (19.62) in Xiamen last week, is also in Saturday's field that includes all but one of last year's top eight at worlds.

"I think [the result] is better than I could have hoped for in the middle of some technical [changes]," she said. "Losing to Gong Lijiao is not a bad thing. She's one of the best ever … but hopefully I can beat her in [Suzhou]."

On the track, Yee will face former world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech for the second time in a week over the barriers and hurdles in the women's 3,000m steeplechase at 7:28 a.m.

The South Hazelton, B.C., native was eighth of 14 women in Xiamen in 9:31.47, nearly nine seconds faster than her 2023 Diamond League opener (9:40.04) at the Golden Gala in Florence, Italy.

"The goal of [competing in] these Diamond League races is to be running head-to-head against the best in the world," she told CBC Sports recently. "In previous years, I would have been more comfortable staying in Canada or the West Coast of the United States, not travelling far and competing against girls in my range, knowing I could win the race.

"In order to be great, I need to put myself in more competitive races and willing to take more risks."

Yee, who is poised to secure a spot for the Olympic competition in Paris this summer, was running behind Chepkoech last week when the latter won in a meet record 8:55.40. The 2019 world champion and reigning silver medallist entered the race with a world-leading 9:15.61.