Liu Xiang and Genzebe Dibaba Dazzle at Shanghai Diamond League, Full Meet Recap
By LetsRun.com
May 19, 2012
The Samsung Diamond League made its one stop in Asia and the weather was the main story. Much of the track meet took place in a strong rain. That did not stop a world leading performance by Liu Xiang in the hurdles, Genzebe Dibaba running the fastest time at 1500m in two years, and Kenenisa Bekele from running the 5000s. Event by event recap below. Results here
Usually we start with the distance races but Liu Xiang's performance in the 110 hurdles was so great it deserves top billing.
On a wet track facing 2012 world leader Aries Merritt, 2011 World Champion Jason Richardson and 2010 world beater David Oliver, Liu Xiang trounced the field running 12.97. The sub 13 clocking was amazing considering the track conditions. If there is rain in London, don't be worried about Liu Xiang.
QT: Xiang's run speaks for itself. He deservedly ripped off his shirt at the finish, did a victory lap, and danced for the home crowd.
David Oliver after struggling in 2011 continues to improve. The biggest disappointment was Aries Merritt. After switching to 7 steps at the start this year, he has been a different hurdler. This was his first big test outdoors with pressure and he failed it.
|
Men's 110 Hurdles (US Visitors Only) |
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Women's 1500m: Genzebe Dibaba Is Brilliant
The Dibaba sister most likely to win gold in London is not the one you think it is.
Genzebe Dibaba, the world indoor 1500m champion and younger sister of 11 time World Champion Tirunesh Dibaba, ran away from fellow Ethiopian Abeba Aregawi the final 100m to win the 1500m in a stellar 3:57.77. It was the fastest time in the world since 2010 and the third fastest time since the last Olympics. Realize no one broke 4:00 in the entire world last year, yet Dibaba crushed it in the first real race of the year.
Sonja Roman rabbited the field through 800m at 2:08.02 (4:00 pace) then Dibaba took over the lead on the backstretch. She was closely followed by Aregawi and Ibtissam Lakhouad of Morocco, who was fourth at Worlds last year. Those three were clear of everyone at the bell. With 200m to go it was a two woman race between the Ethiopians.
Dibaba entered the final stretch with a slight lead on Aregawi and then powered away the final 100m to the super impressive winning time. Aregawi was rewarded with her first sub 4:00 clocking.
Further back in fourth was world indoor 3000m champion Helen Obiri in 4:03.15.
QT: Just like on the men's side where there were no sub 3:30 clockings last year at all, then two in the first Diamond League meet of the this year, the women did the same thing with sub 4:00.
Dibaba has clearly found her event. She was 8th in the World last year at 5000m. That 5000m strength should help her in the rounds at the Olympics. She's the favorite for gold in London, but can she run away from the best of the world there?
Intermediate times: |
Final Lap Women's 1500 (US Visitors Only) |
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Men's 5000m: Kenenisa Bekele Runs 13:13.89 But It's Not Time to Panic Yet
This race was about one thing. The weather. In a strong rain and shitty conditions, no one wanted to run fast. A 4:15 first 1600, followed by a 4:17, insured this race was going to come down to the kick and the field waited until the final lap. At the bell at least 10 guys were still in contention.
The last lap wasn't particularly fast 54.35, but Ethiopian Hagos Gebrhiwet, running his first international track 5000m ever, was clearly best on it, as he got the win in 13:11.00 over Kenya's Thomas Longosiwa.
Kenenisa Bekele who was well back in the pack throughout the race, moved up the last lap to finish in a respectable 5th in 13:13.89.
QT: This race was subpar all-around. People will obviously be a little more motivated in London. Any 5000m that comes down to solely a 400m kick will likely have a surprise winner.
Sometimes not the most talented guy, but the guy who wants the race the most wins it. That appeared to be the case here. Gebrhiwet has a very bright future (he was second at Carlsbad if some of you think the name sounds familiar), as he only officially turned 18 last week, but he wanted this race the most. Winning it means a lot more for his career than most of the other guys in the field. Bekele looked like many of the Americans in Diamond League 5000s, happy to be in the main pack, but not believing they can win. The winner of the 3000m in Doha, sub 3:30 1500m man Augustine Choge, who is moving up to 5000m this year, was in contention throughout and at the bell, but once out of contention he faded and finished behind Bekele.
What does this mean for Bekele? Probably what we knew last week. He is not race sharp, but can not be written off for the Olympics. The 10,000m in Hengelo at the end of the month which is serving as the Ethiopian Olympic Trials, will be a better indication of where he stands. People may want to right Bekele off, but he finished ahead of Choge and Yenew Alamirew. The Olympics are 11 weeks away, plenty of time to get sharp.
If it rains in London, it will be interesting. Bernard Lagat told us this week, "That's my weakness, I can't run in the rain...especially on the track."
Speaking of Lagat, announcer Tim Hutchings said on the broadcast that Augustine Choge is going to travel to America to spend three weeks training with Bernard Lagat.
More: Rojo Speaks: Is Kenenisa Bekele Done?
On the boards: Is Bekele Done?
Intermediate times: |
Final Lap of Men's 5000 (Us Visitors Only) |
Men's 800m: 17 Year Olds Kosencha and Kitum Impress
Two "17" year olds, Leonard Kosencha, the World Youth Champion last year who beat Mohammed Aman (the guy who stopped David Rudisha's unbeaten streak last year), and Timothy Kitum went 1-2 here in the rain.
We told you to watch Kosencha in our preview and he did not disappoint in his Diamond League debut. Matthew Scherer took the field out in 50.48, but the field was content to stay off of the rabbit in the rain, and they probably split 51 mid.
The pace was modest at 600 as Andrew Olivier of South Africa led. Coming into the homestretch Olivier was in contention, but it was a two man or should we say kid battle down the homestretch. Kosencha had enough to hold off Kitum. They were clearly the two best today.
Olympic and world 1500m champion Asbel Kiprop was never a factor and finished 7th in 1:47.97.
QT: Until Kenya or the IAAF starts doing something about blatant age cheating, everyone sadly is suspect. Regardless of Kosencha's age, he is a bright prospect and this was his first Diamond League win. Kitum was the bronze medallist at the World Youth Champ last year behind Kosencha and Aman. He was only 12th in his outdoor debut in Daegu earlier in the week so this was a nice improvement.
And if you didn't hear about the Daegu race earlier in the week, where Aman destroyed Kosencha the last 100m, click here. Then tell us Aman doesn't have a shot at defeating Rudisha at the Olympics this year.
|
1
|
KEN
|
1:46.04
|
|
4
|
|
|
2
|
KEN
|
1:46.20
|
SB
|
2
|
|
|
3
|
RSA
|
1:46.74
|
|
1
|
|
|
4
|
DEN
|
1:46.78
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
AUS
|
1:46.79
|
|
|
|
|
6
|
KEN
|
1:47.14
|
|
|
|
|
7
|
KEN
|
1:47.97
|
|
|
|
|
8
|
POL
|
1:48.51
|
|
|
|
|
9
|
KEN
|
1:48.65
|
|
|
|
|
10
|
CHN
|
1:49.52
|
|
|
|
|
11
|
GBR
|
1:49.55
|
|
|
|
|
12
|
CHN
|
1:49.55
|
SB
|
|
|
|
|
USA
|
DNF
|
|
|
Intermediate times: 400m Scherer, Matthew (USA) 50.48
600m Olivier, Andre (RSA) 1:19.04
Women's Steeple: Milcah Chemos Keeps Winning
Milcah Chemos of Kenya started 2012 like she did in 2011, with a win.
Chemos, the top steepler in the world for most of last year, who won every competition until the World Championships where she finished third, sprinted away from Sofia Assefa after the final water barrier for the win.
Assefa, sixth at Worlds, is used to the bridesmaid's position as last year she was second in Rome, New York, and Lausanne. One of the rabbits Lidya Chepkurui stayed in the race and finished third - well done.
The race was run in heavy rain.
Brit Barbara Parker, who was also entered in the USATF High Performance meet, ran 9:40 in the poor conditions against some of the world's best (the High Performance Meet was won in 9:41) and former UVA Stephanie Garcia of the US ran 9:49.
QT: Getting it right at the Olympics is all that Chemos should be focused on. Barbara Parker and Stephanie Garcia deserve credit for competing in Shanghai. Running at Occidental would have given them false confidence where they stand in the world.
|
1
|
KEN
|
9:15.81
|
WL,MR
|
|
|
2
|
ETH
|
9:16.83
|
|
|
|
3
|
KEN
|
9:22.66
|
PB
|
|
|
4
|
KEN
|
9:26.50
|
|
|
|
5
|
KEN
|
9:35.34
|
|
|
|
6
|
KEN
|
9:38.80
|
PB
|
|
|
7
|
CHN
|
9:39.75
|
SB
|
|
|
8
|
GBR
|
9:40.16
|
|
|
|
9
|
POL
|
9:41.29
|
|
|
|
10
|
ETH
|
9:41.71
|
|
|
|
11
|
IND
|
9:49.25
|
NR
|
|
|
12
|
USA
|
9:49.64
|
SB
|
|
|
13
|
ETH
|
9:59.31
|
|
|
|
14
|
CHN
|
10:01.01
|
|
|
|
|
POL
|
DNF
|
|
|
|
|
JAM
|
DNF
|
|
|
|
|
ETH
|
DNS
|
|
Intermediate times: 1000m Hyman, Mardrea (JAM) 3:07.10
2000m Chemos, Milcah (KEN) 6:12.99
Women's 200: Carmelita Jeter Almost Catches VCB But Stumbles
This race featured Veronica Campbell Brown and Carmelita Jeter who went 1-2 last year at the World Championships.
Unlike at Worlds, VCB got the better start here and was leading down the homestretch. Jeter closed well on VCB and right when Jeter pulled up with VCB, Jeter appeared to stumble and lose her momentum. That let VCB get the win. A strange race.
Not sure exactly what happened with the stumble, but this race took place in a driving rain.
|
US Visitors Only |
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Women's 400m: Novlene Williams-Mills Gets World Champ Montsho's Scalp
Novlene Williams-Mills got her second big win of the year. Williams-Mills ran down the early leader, 2011 World Champion Amantle Montsho, to get the win in 50 seconds flat. Montsho went out really hard and had a decent sized lead going into the homestretch but it evaporated quickly.
Two weeks ago Williams-Mills defeated former World Champion Sanya Richards-Ross at the Jamaican Invitational running 49.99. Without the poor weather, this would have been a sub 50 clocking as well. Nonetheless, Williams-Mills has the top 2 times in the world in 2012.
QT: Once again the rain could be a factor in London.
| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Result | Reaction time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
JAM
|
50.00
|
|
0.235
|
|
|
2
|
BOT
|
50.83
|
|
0.200
|
|
|
3
|
JAM
|
51.81
|
SB
|
0.190
|
|
|
4
|
JAM
|
52.21
|
|
0.240
|
|
|
5
|
USA
|
52.80
|
|
0.171
|
|
|
6
|
UKR
|
53.40
|
|
0.177
|
|
|
7
|
CHN
|
54.35
|
|
0.261
|
|
|
8
|
CHN
|
54.37
|
|
0.189
|
|
|
9
|
JPN
|
55.62
|
|
0.186
|
|
Men's 400m Hurdles: It's an Olympic Year so Angelo Taylor Wins
Two time Olympic champ Angelo Taylor got off to a great start. Justin Gaymon closed on him well and nearly pulled even at the final hurdle, but Taylor had a final burst to get the win in 48.98 in poor conditions.
Bershawn "Batman" Jackson did not start after drawing lane 1, on the wet track.
|
Men's 400 Hurdles (US Visitors) |
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Men's 100m: Asafa Powell Gets Another Great Start
Asafa Powell got off to a great start and could not be caught. Mike Rodgers of the USA closed well but this one was never in doubt.
The headwind, cooler conditions, and wet track accounted for the slower times.
QT: The latter half of Powell's races have not been good.
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Women's High Jump: Chaunte Lowe Wins in Maternity Comeback
American record holder Chaunte Lowe who missed most of last year because of childbirth continued her fine return. She got the win here. The marks were poor due to the rain.
|
1
|
USA
|
1.92
|
|
o
x |
o
x |
o
x |
xo
o |
xxx
|
x
|
||
|
2
|
CHN
|
1.92
|
=SB
|
o
x |
o
x |
o
x |
xo
x |
xxx
|
x
|
||
|
3
|
KAZ
|
1.88
|
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
xxx
|
|
|
||
|
4
|
USA
|
1.88
|
|
o
|
xxo
|
o
|
xxx
|
|
|
||
|
5
|
UZB
|
1.88
|
|
o
|
o
|
xo
|
xxx
|
|
|
||
|
6
|
LTU
|
1.88
|
|
xo
|
o
|
xo
|
xxx
|
|
|
||
|
7
|
UKR
|
1.84
|
|
o
|
o
|
xxx
|
|
|
|
||
|
8
|
LCA
|
1.84
|
|
o
|
xxo
|
xxx
|
|
|
|
||
|
9
|
FRA
|
1.80
|
|
o
|
xxx
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
9
|
IRL
|
1.80
|
|
o
|
xxx
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
JAM
|
NM
|
|
xxx
|
|
|
|
|
|
Men's Shot: Reese Hoffa Wins
Reese Hoffa, the 2012 world leader got the win.
QT: The shot was done before the TV broadcast even started. What's the point of that?
|
1
|
USA
|
20.98
|
20.24
|
20.44 |
20.63 |
20.65 |
20.67 |
20.98 |
||
|
2
|
CAN
|
20.93
|
20.64
|
20.47 |
20.76 |
20.72 |
20.22 |
20.93 |
||
|
3
|
USA
|
20.73
|
19.73
|
x |
20.73 |
x |
x |
x |
||
|
4
|
USA
|
20.57
|
20.16
|
x |
x |
20.20 |
20.27 |
20.57 |
||
|
5
|
SRB
|
19.80
|
19.79
|
x |
x |
x |
19.80 |
x |
||
|
6
|
CRO
|
19.65
|
18.96
|
19.03 |
19.23 |
19.54 |
19.65 |
19.43 |
||
|
7
|
CHN
|
19.26
|
18.54
|
18.95 |
19.26 |
18.76 |
18.77 |
x |
||
|
8
|
CHN
|
18.52
|
18.48
|
18.52 |
x |
x |
18.45 |
x |
||
|
9
|
USA
|
18.45
|
x
|
x |
18.45 |
|
|
|
||
|
10
|
USA
|
14.60
|
14.60
|
- |
- |
|
|
Women's Long Jump: Janay Deloach Wins
World indoor silver medallist Janay Deloach got the win. This could be a big event for the US in London.
|
1
|
USA
|
6.73
-0.8 |
MR |
6.21
(-0.5) |
x (+0.1) |
6.31 (0.0) |
x (0.0) |
6.28 (-0.4) |
6.73 (-0.8) |
||
|
2
|
NGR
|
6.64
+0.6 |
6.29
(+0.4) |
6.56 (+0.5) |
6.52 (+1.0) |
6.64 (+0.6) |
- |
6.42 (+1.0) |
|||
|
3
|
USA
|
6.53
+0.5 |
6.53
(+0.5) |
x (+0.1) |
6.27 (0.0) |
6.11 (-0.2) |
- |
6.00 |
|||
|
4
|
UKR
|
6.38
+0.6 |
x
(+1.2) |
x (-0.2) |
6.19 (-0.1) |
6.38 (+0.6) |
x (+0.1) |
6.26 (+0.3) |
|||
|
5
|
CHN
|
6.38
+0.4 |
x
(+0.5) |
6.38 (+0.4) |
x (+0.3) |
x (+0.3) |
x (+0.6) |
x (+0.4) |
|||
|
6
|
SRB
|
6.37
+0.4 |
SB |
x
|
x (-0.2) |
x (+0.1) |
6.34 (+0.8) |
6.37 (+0.4) |
6.32 (-1.1) |
||
|
7
|
ROU
|
6.37
+0.7 |
6.10
(+0.1) |
x (+0.6) |
6.24 (-0.1) |
6.37 (+0.7) |
x (+0.2) |
x (-0.3) |
|||
|
8
|
GBR
|
6.31
-0.7 |
6.16
(-0.7) |
x (-0.2) |
6.31 (-0.7) |
x (-0.2) |
x (-0.4) |
6.29 (-0.2) |
|||
|
|
CHN
|
DNS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Men's Triple: Medallists from Daegu Battle
Phillips Idowu had a nice series with 4 jumps over 17 meters as the three medallists from Daegu mixed up their order here.
|
1
|
GBR
|
17.24
+0.7 |
MR |
17.00
(+0.4) |
17.24 (+0.7) |
17.09 (0.0) |
17.13 (0.0) |
16.96 (+0.8) |
- |
||
|
2
|
USA
|
17.12
+1.5 |
SB |
x
(-0.6) |
16.84 (-0.1) |
17.12 (+1.5) |
17.01 (-0.6) |
16.62 (-0.5) |
x (+0.2) |
||
|
3
|
USA
|
16.96
+0.2 |
x
(+0.2) |
x (-0.1) |
16.70 (-0.5) |
x (-0.4) |
x (+0.6) |
16.96 (+0.2) |
|||
|
4
|
AUS
|
16.67
-0.7 |
16.00
(-0.6) |
x (+0.1) |
x (+0.9) |
16.40 (+0.2) |
x (0.0) |
16.67 (-0.7) |
|||
|
5
|
CHN
|
16.35
+0.4 |
16.35
(+0.4) |
x (+0.9) |
16.23 (+0.5) |
x (-0.2) |
x (+0.8) |
16.24 (+0.4) |
|||
|
6
|
CHN
|
16.34
0.0 |
15.45
(+0.2) |
16.16 (+0.4) |
16.04 (+0.5) |
16.34 (0.0) |
- |
- |
|||
|
7
|
HAI
|
16.09
-0.5 |
16.04
(+0.7) |
16.09 (-0.5) |
x (-0.3) |
16.03 (+0.1) |
16.06 (+0.1) |
x (+0.1) |
|||
|
8
|
CHN
|
15.49
0.0 |
15.49
(0.0) |
14.92 (-0.6) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|||
|
|
USA
|
NM
|
x
(+0.4) |
x (+0.4) |
x (-0.8) |
|
|
Women's Discus: Stephanie Brown Trafton Second
Surprise 2008 Olympic champ Stephanie Brown Trafton was second here.
|
1
|
CRO
|
68.24
|
MR,NR |
x
|
62.53 |
64.89 |
x |
62.39 |
68.24 |
||
|
2
|
USA
|
64.20
|
63.74
|
61.02 |
63.57 |
x |
61.66 |
64.20 |
|||
|
3
|
AUS
|
62.34
|
=SB |
53.84
|
59.52 |
60.98 |
x |
62.34 |
x |
||
|
4
|
LTU
|
61.49
|
SB |
x
|
59.84 |
x |
57.46 |
60.07 |
61.49 |
||
|
5
|
CHN
|
60.05
|
58.29
|
57.43 |
57.96 |
57.74 |
59.78 |
60.05 |
|||
|
6
|
USA
|
58.41
|
55.01
|
58.41 |
x |
x |
x |
x |
|||
|
7
|
CHN
|
58.06
|
55.80
|
57.13 |
58.06 |
53.77 |
x |
x |
|||
|
8
|
GER
|
56.36
|
53.18
|
56.20 |
56.36 |
54.76 |
54.59 |
53.76 |
|||
|
9
|
JAM
|
53.61
|
47.12
|
50.98 |
53.61 |
|
|
Men's Pole Vault: Home Win for Chinese
|
1
|
CHN
|
5.65
|
SB
|
-
|
o
|
o
|
xo
|
o
|
xxx
|
||
|
2
|
GER
|
5.65
|
|
-
xxx |
-
|
o
|
xxo
|
xxo
|
-
|
||
|
3
|
GER
|
5.55
|
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
xo
|
-
|
xxx
|
||
|
4
|
USA
|
5.55
|
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
xxo
|
x-
|
xx
|
||
|
5
|
GRE
|
5.45
|
|
-
|
-
|
xo
|
xxx
|
|
|
||
|
6
|
GER
|
5.45
|
|
-
|
xo
|
xo
|
xxx
|
|
|
||
|
7
|
CHN
|
5.30
|
=PB
|
o
|
xo
|
xxx
|
|
|
|
||
|
8
|
USA
|
5.30
|
|
-
|
xxo
|
xxx
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
AUS
|
NM
|
|
-
|
xxx
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
UKR
|
NM
|
|
-
|
xxx
|
|
|
|
|
Men's Javelin: Vitězslav Vesely Wins
Vitězslav Vesely fourth at Worlds last year got the dominant win over World Champ Matthias De Zordo.
|
1
|
CZE
|
85.40
|
SB |
78.40
|
85.40 |
79.84 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
2
|
GER
|
81.62
|
SB |
81.62
|
75.77 |
x |
x |
x |
x |
|
|
3
|
FIN
|
80.91
|
79.55
|
80.91 |
x |
x |
76.34 |
77.14 |
||
|
4
|
NOR
|
79.53
|
x
|
79.53 |
x |
- |
- |
- |
||
|
5
|
FIN
|
77.99
|
x
|
77.99 |
x |
77.75 |
77.03 |
x |
||
|
6
|
CHN
|
76.45
|
76.45
|
76.24 |
74.01 |
x |
x |
x |
||
|
7
|
RSA
|
75.48
|
74.96
|
75.48 |
x |
73.74 |
x |
x |
||
|
8
|
CHN
|
75.47
|
75.47
|
x |
72.28 |
x |
x |
71.52 |
||
|
|
CZE
|
NM
|
x
|
x |
x |
|
|
*Full results
*More: Rojo Speaks: Is Kenenisa Bekele Done?
On the boards: Is Bekele Done?
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