Reigning Wanda Diamond League champion Chase Ealey came from behind to claim a first win of her 2023 campaign in an enthralling women's shot put competition in Brussels city centre on Thursday.
US star Ealey trailed for much of the competition before pulling out a throw of 20.05m in the fifth round to beat Canadian rival Sarah Mitton and compatriot Maggie Ewen at the Place de la Monnaie.
The 29-year-old, who defended her world title in Budapest last month, has now qualified for the Wanda Diamond League Final in Eugene next weekend, where she hopes to win a second Diamond Trophy in two years.
In front of a sizeable crowd of onlookers in the streets of Brussels, Ealey made a slow start as Sarah Mitton pulled into an early lead with throws of 19.69m and 19.76. She rallied in the fourth round with a solid 19.51m, but was still lurking behind Mitton and Ewen in third place going into the fifth round.
But with the pressure one, she showed once again why she is the woman to beat in the shot put, launching a huge throw in the fifth to muscle her way onto top spot.
The win was Ealey's first in a Diamond League campaign which has proved a little trickier than last season, when she managed a rare clean sweep with wins in every single competition on the circuit.
Yet Ealey still qualified comfortably for the final in Eugene, where she will hope that home advantage can fire her towards another global title and a perfect season finale.
