Monaco Diamond League Recap: American Distance Stars Alysia Johnson, Andrew Wheating And Shannon Rowbury Shine

By LetsRun.com
July 22, 2010
*Video of Monaco races

Highlights and recap and results of the 2010 Herculis Monaco Diamond League meet. Great performances by Americans in the men's 1,500m, women's 800m and women's 3k.

We start with the distance races, but recap all of the action.

Men's 1,500m: Andrew Wheating 3:30.90!, Ryan Gregson 3:31.06, And Silas Kiplagat Is A Star (Just Like We Predicted)

Note: We have full-length article on the men's 1,500m here.

World, meet Silas Kiplagat.

America, in case you didn't know, Andrew Wheating is the top mid-distance runner in the USA.

The 22-year-old Wheating, the double NCAA 800 and 1,500m champ, showed that with an impressive 3:30.90 PR for 4th in Monaco that put him ahead of all three American 1,500m finalists from last year's World Championships in Berlin (Bernard LagatLopez Lomong and Leo Manzano). Right behind Wheating was 20-year-old Aussie Ryan Gregson in a national record 3:31.06.

Former world indoor 800m champ David Krummenacker did a great job on the pacing leading the field through 800m in 1:51.15. At the bell, Augustin Choge was at least 5 meters clear of the field and on his way to what appeared to be a sub-3:30 clocking (Choge 's 3:29 last year was the ONLY sub-3:30 1,500m in the world since 2006). With 200m left, Choge began to falter and Amine Laalou (finalist at 800m and 1,500m at Worlds last year) was closing fast. However, the best was still to come.

Silas Kiplagat, a 20-year-old Kenyan running the first track race of his life in Europe wanted to make a name for himself. Laalou had passed Choge and appeared to have the race won. Kiplagat, however, powered by Choge on the outside and then came by Laalou on the inside (all the last 50 meters) and was rewarded with a 3:29.27 world-leading win. Unbelievable. One guy had been sub-3:30 in 4 years and Kiplagat does it in his first European race. Laalou also went sub-3:30 in 2nd in 3:39.53 and Choge had to settle for 3rd.

Wheating was the best of the guys not in contention for the win. He had hung out in the back with Lopez Lomong and Leo Manzano early on (at the bell, Wheating was last of the main pack with one guy who had fallen off the pack behind him) and timed his kick perfectly. Right behind him was the 20-year-old Aussie Ryan Gregson. They both were well clear of the next finisher, Lopez Lomong, who ran a PR of 3:32.20. Bernard Lagat, the only American up front on the early fast pace had to settle for a 3:32.51 season's best. This has to be the fastest 1,500m in terms of depth for America, as all 3 guys went the equivalent of a sub-3:50 mile.

The bad Leo Manzano showed up and he was 10 seconds arrears in 3:42.

Wheating's run makes him the 4th-fastest American at 1,500m of all time.

3:29.30 Bernard Lagat (Nike) 08/28/05
3:29.68 -Lagat 08/27/06
3:29.77 Sydney Maree (Puma) 08/25/85
3:30.54 Alan Webb (Nike) 07/06/07
3:30.64 -Lagat 07/01/05
3:30.90 Andrew WHEATING 07/22/10
3:31.01 Jim Spivey (Athletics West) 08/28/88
3:31.04 -Lagat 07/19/05
3:31.09 -Lagat 07/08/05

As for Kiplagat, last year was his first year we can't find any results for him. He ran one 1,500m, one 10k and one cross-country race. This year, he ran two XC races, the World's Best 10k, and then has run

1
KEN
3:29.27
WL
4
3
 
2
MAR
3:29.53
PB
4
4
 
3
KEN
3:30.22
SB
7
2
 
4
USA
3:30.90
PB
 
 
 
5
AUS
3:31.06
AR
 
 
 
6
USA
3:32.20
PB
 
 
 
7
USA
3:32.51
SB
 
 
 
8
ALG
3:32.94
PB
 
 
 
9
KEN
3:33.76
 
 
 
10
KEN
3:34.84
 
 
 
11
MAR
3:37.80
 
 
 
12
KEN
3:38.30
 
 
 
13
USA
3:42.93
1
6
 
 
KEN
DNF
 
 
 
 
USA
DNF
 
 

Intermediate times:
400m Krummenacker, David (USA) 53.81
800m Cheboi, Collins (KEN) 1:51.15
1200m Cheboi, Collins (KEN) 2:47.18

Men's 1500m in Monaco

Note: We have full-length article on the men's 1,500m here.
*Post Race Interview With Wheating High Fiving Lananna, Plus Ryan Gregson Interview

Women's 800m: Alysia Johnson Proves She's The Top 800m Runner In The World

Alysia Johnson destroyed the field in Monaco to show she's currently the top 800m runner in the world.

This past Sunday, Johnson had run a 1:57.8 in a no-name European meet versus largely American competition.

On Thursday, she upped her game. She was in the glittering lights of Monaco taking on some of the world's best and she absolutely destroyed them. When the rabbit Yekaterina Kostetskaya dropped out at 600 (1:27.33), Johnson was well clear of the field. Could she hold it? She extended it.

Johnson powered home, winning by an astounding 1.4 seconds in a world-leading mark of 1:57.34. 1.4 seconds may not sound like much, but it's an eternity in 800m running.

Brit Jemma Simpson was 2nd in a PR of 1:58.74 and 2010 world #2, and USA #1 in 2009, Anna Pierce, continued to improve and was 3rd in 1:58.89. When the European season continues in 2 weeks after a break for the European Champs, Pierce may be rounding into form. NCAA champ Phoebe Wright showed her sub-2:00 at Pre was not a fluke with another sub-2:00 clocking. Maggie Vessey disappointed in last in 2:01.85.

1
USA
1:57.34
WL
8
1
img
2
GBR
1:58.74
PB
2
6
 
3
USA
1:58.89
SB
1
8
 
4
MAR
1:59.04
6
3
 
5
ITA
1:59.13
SB
 
 
 
6
USA
1:59.21
 
 
 
7
LTU
1:59.29
PB
 
 
 
8
JAM
1:59.76
1
8
 
9
FRA
1:59.99
 
 
 
10
GRN
2:00.95
 
 
 
11
USA
2:01.85
 
 
 
 
RUS
DNF
 
 
 

Intermediate times:
400m Kostetskaya, Yekaterina (RUS) 56.09
600m Kostetskaya, Yekaterina (RUS) 1:27.33

Alysia Johnson Dominating

*Post Race Alysia Johnson Interview


Women's 3,000m: Ejigu Wins Again As Shannon Rowbury Gets An American Record Of Sorts
With a lap to go in this race, the television commentators were correct. There has been a resurgence of late in American mid-d circles and it was great to see American Shannon Rowbury with the lead. As the leaders hit the bell, four were in contention but Rowbury was in the lead, as she had taken the lead on the previous turn some 6:55 into the race. With 250 to go, 2010 World Indoors bronze medallist Sentayehu Ejigu passed Rowbury and it was immediately clear that Rowbury's dreams of victory at a Diamond League meet had been crushed, as Rowbury had no response.

The only one that chased after Ejigu was 2007 and 2009 world 1,500 meter champion Maryam Jamal. It was a surprise to see Jamal running so well as she had struggled this year in anything over 800m. She had been 10th, 9th and 13th, never running faster than 4:06 for 1,500 in her 1,500m races this year (but did run 1:59.89 at Pre for 800). However, Jamal never really threatened Ejigu, who ended up with her 2nd Diamond League victory in a new world-leading time of 8:28.41, to Jamal's 8:29.20. Couple Ejigu's two wins with the two Diamond League runner-ups and she's the points leader in the 3,000/5,000 standings.

After roughly a 66-second final lap, Rowbury end up third in a stunning new PR of 8:31.38. Rowbury's previous best was 8:47.18 from the Reebok Indoor Games earlier this year. Some might argue that Rowbury's 8:31.38 is the new American record, as the only woman above her on the US all-time list is someone who later was suspended for a major doping offense in Mary Slaney. Slaney three times ran under 8:30 during her career and her 8:25.83 is technically still the American record (Track and Field News also lists convicted drug cheat Regina Jacobs with a 3,000 time of 8:31.08, but that time clearly shouldn't count as it's a time converted from a two-mile of 9:11.97 that Jacobs ran against men and women and if one is running a two mile in 9:11.97 they aren't hitting 3000 in 8:31.38).

Other things worth noting are that US 1,500-meter Olympian Erin Donohue served as a rabbit for this race and Russian Anna Alminova, who ran a stunning 3:57.65 1,500 in Paris last week, did not start. 2010 US 5,000 champion Lauren Fleshman ran 8:46.97 - not too far from her 8:43.92 PR.

So Rowbury has the fastest time by an American never suspended for drugs.

Results
Splits: Intermediate times: 1,000m - Donohue, Erin (USA) -2 :51.43;  2,000 - Plis, Renata (POL) - 5:41.55

Rank Athlete Nation Result Diamond Ranking
1
ETH
8:28.41
WL
1
img
2
BRN
8:29.20
4
 
3
USA
8:31.38
PB
7
 
4
BRN
8:32.18
PB
 
 
5
KEN
8:37.48
PB
 
 
6
KEN
8:37.97
PB
 
 
7
ETH
8:40.73
PB
 
 
8
KEN
8:45.28
 
 
9
TAN
8:46.57
SB
 
 
10
USA
8:46.97
 
 
11
HUN
8:48.25
SB
 
 
12
RUS
8:50.80
 
 
13
RSA
8:52.28
 
 
14
KEN
8:54.70
 
 
 
USA
DNF
 
 
 
POL
DNF
 
 

Shannon Rowbury Post-Race Comments


Men's 800m: Kaki Wins Again As Symmonds Sets Seasonal Best And Torrence PRs
If, after watching the men's 800, you felt like you had watched a recap of what happened in Paris, we can't blame you. Today, as in Paris, Abubaker Kaki went out pretty fast (but nowhere near the pace required for the 1:41 time put up by his rival David Rudisha) but once the rabbit dropped out, it looked like he might be vulnerable, as a slew of runners were lined up behind him. But in the end, there was very little changing of places over the final 200 and Abubaker Kaki had proven yet again that no one but Rudisha is seemingly capable of beating him in a rabbited affair.

Kaki won in 1:43.10 as Kenyan Olympian Boaz Lalang and 2009 world champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi were 2nd and third in the identical time of 1:43.29 - that time representing a new personal best for Lalang. Amerian Nick Symmonds ran a seasonal best of 1:44.06 - not too far from his PR from last year of 1:43.84 and a nice improvement over the 1:44.93 that he ran in Paris. However, that time only placed Symmonds sixth. Going into the final 200, Symmonds was 7th and seemed poised to move up, but in reality very little changing of places occurred over the final 200.

American David Torrence finished 7th in 1:45.14, as he PRd at 800 for the 2nd time in four days. Prior to July 18th, Torrence's 800 career best was 1:46.96. Now he's almost knocked two seconds off that.

Results
Splits: 400m - Robinson, Khadevis (USA) - 49.40; 600m - Robinson, Khadevis (USA) - 1:16.11

*Video of Kaki's Win

1
SUD
1:43.10
2
KEN
1:43.29
PB
3
RSA
1:43.29
SB
4
KEN
1:43.72
PB
5
KEN
1:43.77
PB
6
USA
1:44.06
SB
7
USA
1:45.14
PB
8
BRN
1:45.46
9
MON
1:47.61
10
FRA
1:48.44
 
USA
DNF

Men's 400m: World Leader And Jamaican Record For Jermaine Gonzales

Jermaine Gonzales of Jamaica has had an incredible month in Europe. Gonzales ran 44.85 in 2006 but had not broken 45.78 until last month in Europe. He ran 44.79 on June 12th and since then, each race out has been faster than the one before it.

He was rewarded big time on Thursday with a 44.40 national record (old record 44.49 by Roxbert Martin) and world leading time. Another Jamaican, Ricardo Chambers, was right behind him. Jeremy Wariner had better be training in Texas getting ready for the 2nd half of the European season.

Gonzeles was rightfully excited after the race. *Video of Gonzales Run

1
JAM
44.40
WL,NR
0.215
8
2
 
2
JAM
44.54
PB
0.190
2
4
 
3
BAH
45.05
=SB
0.171
2
4
 
4
TRI
45.10
SB
0.223
 
 
 
5
USA
45.31
0.264
2
4
 
6
BEL
45.46
0.337
 
 
 
7
USA
45.65
0.181
3
3
 
8
USA
46.38
0.253
 
 

Men's 110m Hurdles: David Oliver Gets A So-So Start, Smashes A Bunch Of Hurdles And Still Runs 13.01

More than anyone in the world, David Oliver probably wishes the European track season was not taking a 2-week break for the European Championships. Oliver is absolutely on fire and has the potential to take down Dayron Robles' 12.87 world record every time he races. We'll see if that is still the case in two weeks.

On Thursday, he stumbled out of the blocks, hit some hurdles, and still ran 13.01. When 13.01 is a so-so race, you know you're on fire.

Wind:+1.0  *Video of Oliver's Run

1
USA
13.01
MR
0.194
16
1
img
2
USA
13.13
0.198
6
2
 
3
JAM
13.29
SB
0.147
3
4
 
4
CZE
13.30
0.182
 
 
 
5
USA
13.34
SB
0.232
 
 
 
6
FRA
13.41
0.203
 
 
 
7
USA
13.54
0.181
 
 
 
 
FRA
DNF
0.315

Men's 200m: Tyson Gay Wins But Struggles Down Homestretch

Tyson Gay blasted the curve in Monaco. He shot out of the curve and was going so fast he almost ran into the lane outside of him. Coming down the final straight, his form broke down a bit and Jamaican Yohan Blake was gaining on him (Blake has run under 10.00 three times this year). Gay held onto the win in 19.72 to Blake's 19.78. Wallace Spearmon and Xavier Carter both ran seasonal bests for 3rd and 4th.

*Video of Gay's Win

1
USA
19.72
MR
0.246
6
2
 
2
JAM
19.78
PB
0.287
2
5
 
3
USA
19.93
SB
0.220
5
3
 
4
USA
20.14
SB
0.169
1
9
 
5
USA
20.53
0.171
 
 
 
6
JAM
20.70
0.176
 
 
 
7
TRI
20.94
0.171
 
 
 
8
USA
21.45
0.265
 

Women's 400m Hurdles: Demus Embarrasses Herself At End
American Lashinda Demus came in red hot and a perfect 4-for-4 on the year in the 400h. There was talk of Yuliya Pechonkina's world record of 52.34, considering Demus had already run under 53 this year. Instead, Demus got a big lead and then made track coaches cringe as she quit after the last hurdle. Demus still had the lead going into the last hurdle, but it was vanishing rapidly as Jamaica's Kaliese Spencer was coming up. Demus put up no fight at all and, once passed, she jogged it in and finished an embarrasing fourth. If you want to know why track isn't more popular, the fact that athletes have little incentive to try to finish as high as they can is a good starting point. Demus easily could have been 2nd if she'd tried.

1
JAM
53.63
0.177
12
2
 
2
RUS
54.24
0.268
5
3
 
3
USA
54.52
SB
0.180
1
5
 
4
USA
54.54
0.179
12
1
img
5
NGR
54.68
NR
0.229
 
 
 
6
RUS
55.17
SB
0.195
 
 
 
7
TRI
55.92
0.349
1
5
 
8
USA
56.79
0.188
 
 
 

Men's 400m Hurdles: Bershawn Jackson Edges Angelo Taylor
2005 world champion Bershawn Jackson showed while he is the best hurdler in the world currently as he got the narrowest of victories over double Olympic champ Angelo Taylor. Coming into the next-to-last hurdle, Taylor had a narrow lead, but by the time they hit the last hurdle, Jackson had pulled even and it seemed as if victory was in store for him. However, Taylor fought back and Jackson didn't pull away and it came down the lean - a true blanket finish.

1
USA
47.78
0.164
2
USA
47.79
SB
0.170
3
USA
48.65
SB
0.167
4
USA
48.73
0.192
5
DOM
49.39
0.202
6
RSA
49.58
0.187
7
FRA
49.73
0.163
8
JAM
49.96
0.310

Men's Long Jump: World Leader For Superman Dwight Phillips

Dwight Phillips hadn't competed since Prefontaine on July 3rd. Hopefully he didn't fly to Europe to just set a world leader and come back. He should enjoy Europe for a couple of weeks as the pro tour goes on vacation.

1
USA
8.46
+0.1
WL
12
1
img
 
8.46
(+0.1)
x
(+0.2)
-
8.31
(+0.1)
x
(+0.1)
x
(-0.3)
2
AUS
8.18
+0.2
11
2
   
7.23
(+0.2)
x
(0.0)
7.61
(+0.3)
7.84
(+0.3)
7.98
(+0.3)
8.18
(+0.2)
3
RUS
8.15
+0.7
1
5
   
7.99
(+0.3)
8.07
(+0.2)
8.15
(+0.7)
-
7.60
(0.0)
-
4
FRA
8.11
-0.1
SB
   
8.00
(+0.3)
x
(+0.3)
7.71
(-0.1)
7.59
(0.0)
7.81
(-0.1)
8.11
(-0.1)
5
PAN
8.09
+0.1
7
3
   
8.06
(+0.3)
x
(-0.3)
x
(0.0)
x
(-0.2)
8.09
(+0.1)
x
(-0.3)
6
SWE
7.96
-0.1
   
7.96
(-0.1)
x
(+0.5)
7.96
(+0.3)
7.75
(-0.1)
-
x
(0.0)
7
FIN
7.94
-0.1
   
7.66
(+0.4)
7.88
(+0.2)
7.78
(+0.4)
7.86
(0.0)
7.94
(-0.1)
x
(+0.2)
8
FRA
6.41
+0.1
   
6.41
(+0.1)
-
-
-
-
-

Men's High Jump: World Leader For Former Discus Thrower Ukhov

We know nothing about the high jump, so you can thank Wikipedia for this one. Ukhov was a discus thrower until 2004.

His 2.34 is a world leader, although Ukhov did jump 2.40 last year indoors.

Rank Athlete Nation Result
Diamond Points Diamond Ranking   2.15
2.34
2.19
2.36
2.22
 
2.25
 
2.28
 
2.31
 
1
RUS
2.34
WL
8
2
   
o
o
o
xxx
o
 
xo
 
o
 
o
 
2
RUS
2.28
2
5
   
o
x
o
 
o
 
o
 
o
 
xx-
 
2
USA
2.28
7
3
   
-
 
o
 
-
 
o
 
o
 
xxx
 
4
RUS
2.28
2
5
   
-
 
o
 
o
 
o
 
xxo
 
xxx
 
5
USA
2.25
 
 
   
o
 
o
 
o
 
o
 
xxx
 
 
 
6
GER
2.25
=SB
 
 
   
o
 
xo
 
o
 
o
 
xxx
 
 
 
7
FRA
2.25
=SB
 
 
   
o
 
xo
 
xxo
 
o
 
xxx
 
 
 
8
POL
2.22
4
4
   
o
 
o
 
xo
 
xxx
 
 
 
 
 
9
BAH
2.22
 
 
   
xo
 
o
 
xo
 
xxx
 
 
 
 
 
10
USA
2.19
 
 
   
o
 
xo
 
-
 
xxx
 
 
 
 

Women's Triple Jump: World Leader For Savigne

1
CUB
15.09
+0.2
WL
14
1
img
 
14.93
(+0.4)
15.09
(+0.2)
x
(-0.4)
x
(-0.1)
14.91
(-0.6)
x
(-0.3)
2
KAZ
14.78
-0.4
12
2
   
x
(-0.1)
14.67
(-0.1)
14.78
(-0.4)
x
(-0.3)
14.11
(0.0)
-
3
RUS
14.43
-0.2
2
4
   
13.85
(-0.1)
13.85
(-0.8)
13.71
(+0.4)
13.96
(-0.2)
x
(-0.5)
14.43
(-0.2)
4
SVK
14.23
-0.2
   
x
(+0.2)
14.23
(-0.2)
14.18
(-0.4)
x
(-0.2)
x
-
5
BUL
14.18
+0.1
   
14.05
(-0.1)
x
(-0.1)
14.13
(-0.2)
x
(-0.8)
x
(-0.1)
14.18
(+0.1)
6
SLO
14.16
-0.5
   
12.26
(0.0)
x
(-0.4)
14.16
(-0.5)
x
(-0.1)
14.07
(-0.2)
13.92
(-0.3)
7
RUS
13.85
-0.6
   
13.84
(0.0)
13.67
(-0.9)
13.85
(-0.6)
13.69
(0.0)
x
(+0.2)
13.68
(-0.3)
8
USA
13.78
-0.7
1
5
   
13.78
(-0.7)
13.45
(+0.2)
13.70
(-0.1)
13.33
(0.0)
13.58
(+0.3)
13.20
(-1.0)

Women's Pole Vault:

Rank Athlete Nation Result
Diamond Points Diamond Ranking   4.30
4.80
4.40
4.85
4.50
4.90
4.60
 
4.70
 
4.75
1
BRA
4.80
14
1
img
 
-
xxo
-
-
o
xxx
o
 
o
 
-
 
2
RUS
4.70
6
3
   
-
xxx
o
 
-
 
o
 
xxo
 
-
 
3
USA
4.60
=PB
2
5
   
o
 
o
 
xo
 
o
 
xxx
 
 
 
4
GER
4.60
7
2
   
-
 
xo
 
-
 
xo
 
xxx
 
 
 
5
RUS
4.60
1
8
   
xxo
 
-
 
xxo
 
xo
 
xxx
 
 
 
6
CZE
4.60
2
5
   
o
 
-
 
xo
 
xxo
 
xxx
 
 
 
7
POL
4.60
4
4
   
-
 
-
 
xxo
 
xxo
 
xxx
 
 
 
8
ISR
4.50
 
 
   
o
 
xo
 
o
 
xxx
 
 
 
 
 
9
RUS
4.40
 
 
   
xo
 
o
 
xxx
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Women's Javelin:

1
CZE
65.76
 
12
1
img
 
63.64
65.76
-
-
-
-
2
USA
64.21
 
8
2
   
56.00
56.72
58.62
62.39
64.21
x
3
RSA
59.93
 
7
3
   
59.19
57.72
58.79
59.93
54.50
57.07
4
LAT
59.64
 
   
57.93
x
59.64
57.30
53.84
x
5
ISL
59.55
 
   
x
56.88
52.68
59.55
53.71
54.88
6
GER
57.18
 
   
55.55
x
57.18
x
x
x
7
USA
55.95
 
   
55.80
x
55.95
x
54.58
54.37
8
AUT
55.33
 
   
x
53.80
55.14
52.96
53.45
55.33

Women's Shot Put:

1
BLR
20.23
 
16
1
img
 
19.70
x
20.23
x
20.02
20.00
2
NZL
20.20
 
12
2
   
20.20
19.67
x
x
x
x
3
BLR
19.43
 
4
3
   
x
19.43
x
x
19.08
x
4
CUB
19.07
 
   
19.05
19.07
18.75
18.77
x
x
5
USA
18.70
 
   
18.03
17.96
17.84
x
18.70
x
6
USA
18.60
 
1
4
   
17.85
18.11
x
17.68
18.60
18.23
7
GER
18.00
 
   
17.33
17.56
18.00
x
x
x

Men's Discus:

1
EST
67.81
 
6
3
   
66.20
67.81
x
66.97
x
66.20
2
HUN
66.89
 
11
2
   
x
63.67
66.89
64.97
65.42
66.35
3
POL
66.45
 
14
1
img
 
66.17
64.46
65.92
64.74
65.49
66.45
4
LTU
65.26
 
SB
   
60.92
62.86
64.93
62.55
65.26
64.41
5
USA
65.13
 
1
5
   
64.05
x
62.11
x
62.96
65.13
6
EST
65.01
 
   
65.01
x
63.93
63.62
62.38
x
7
ESP
64.98
 
   
64.98
64.97
64.49
x
x
62.18
8
IRI
63.49
 
   
61.57
62.31
60.75
x
x
63.49
9
USA
61.91
 
   
60.05
61.91
x
 
 
 

 

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