2013 Rome Golden Gala Golden League Recap: Felix Misses, Aman Wins, Lookout for the Frenchman and Much More

by LetsRun.com
June 6, 2013

The big story in Rome was Usain Bolt losing in the 100m. Any time Bolt loses it’s a big deal. This time it was to convicted drug cheat Justin Gatlin who served a four year ban from the sport and now is back beating Bolt.  Bolt’s win was such a big deal it’s got it’s own story here with full-race video.

5000m star Hagos Gebrehiwet was also upset and that gets its own story here.

The women’s 1500 where the favorite Abebe Aregawi did come through with a convincing win gets its own story as well as in our mind 2011 world champion Jenny Simpson ran the best 1500 in her life to finish third.

We recap all the other action below which included an upset loss to American darling Allyson Felix in the 200.

Men’s 800: Aman Gets a World Leader, 21 Year Old Frenchman Arrives and Duane Solomon Runs a Strong 700

Mohammed Aman celebrates his win in Rome Mohammed Aman celebrates his win in Rome

Mohammed Aman was the favorite coming into this one off of his dominant victory last Saturday at the Prefontaine Classic. Aman, the only man to beat David Rudisha at 800m the last two years, delivered on the favorite status as he pulled away for the field the final 150m for the win in a world leading 1:43.61. France’s 21 year old rising star Pierre-Ambrose had a huge pb to get 2nd in 1:43.91.

The rabbit Bram Som took this one out in 50.11 and 2008 Olympic 1500m champ Asbel Kiprop was the first chaser along with Duane Solomon of the US.

Som would make it 600m, and Kiprop would hold the lead just right before the 600m mark when Aman took over with Solomon in 2nd. Kiprop began a slow fade to the finish over the final 200m, as Aman began to put some distance on Solomon. Pierre-Ambrose passed Solomon at the start of the homestretch and was gaining on Aman down the homestretch, but this one was not in doubt as Aman got the world leading win in 1:43.61.

Quick Take #1: Aman won yet again and this time in a world leading time so you’d tink we’d be most impressed by him but that wasn’t the case. Probably because we expected Aman to win, we were most impressed by France’s 21-year old hope Pierre-Ambrose Bosse. Bosse was definitely gaining on Aman at the end of the race. In the end, Bosse ended up second in a huge pb of 1:43.91 (previous pb of 1:44.77).  1:43.91 at the age of 21 is very impressive. Gaining on Aman is impressive.

Article continues below player.

QT #2: The results don’t always tell the whole story.  American Olympic finalist Duane Solomon was much better than his 7th place 1:45.14 as he went for the win here for the first 700 before totally raising the white flag in the homestretch and quitting in the last 40m or so. High school coaches may not want to have their pupils watch this race as Duane packed it in at the end, but he appears headed in the right direction fitness wise.

QT #3: 2008 Olympic 800 champ Asbel Kiprop was better than his results as well. He tried to go for the win as well and ended up ninth in 1:45.54. He’s been racing a lot and needs to go train for a while.

 

Aman gets world leader

 

RANK ATHLETE NATION RESULT DIAMOND POINTS DIAMOND RANKING
1
ETH
1:43.61
WL
6
2
2
FRA
1:43.91
PB
2
3
3
RSA
1:44.37
SB
1
5
4
ITA
1:44.67
PB
5
KEN
1:44.73
1
5
6
POL
1:44.76
SB
7
ESP
1:45.03
SB
8
USA
1:45.14
SB
9
KEN
1:45.54
10
BRN
1:45.59
SB
11
TUR
1:46.00
12
KEN
1:46.31
1
5
NED
DNF
Intermediate times:
400m Som, Bram (NED) 50.11
 600m Aman, Mohammed (ETH) 1:17.26

(Race video below for those in the US)

Women’s Steeple: Chemos Returns To Her Winning Ways

Kenya’s Milcah Chemos, who has dominated the steeplechase on the Diamond League circuit the last few years, before disappointing at Worlds/Olympics returned to her winning ways in Rome. After only finishing fifth in Shanghai, Chemos used a 67.74 last lap to beat Doha and New York winner Lydya Chepkurui 9:16.14 to 9:18.10.

Quick Take #1: Chepkurui wasn’t as good here as she was in the other meets. In Doha for example, she won in 9:13 and ran 67 low on her last lap. Today she was 69 high.

QT #2: We said after Doha that Chemos starting slowly to the year wasn’t necessarily a bad thing for her. Getting the peak right has been her problem the last few years. She seems headed in the right direction.

QT #3: Ethiopia’s Sofia Assefa finished third in 9:21.24 but was better than that as she went down hard right before the bell.

Sofia Assefa goes down just before the bell Sofia Assefa goes down just before the bell
RANK ATHLETE NATION RESULT DIAMOND POINTS DIAMOND RANKING
1
KEN
9:16.14
SB
4
2
2
KEN
9:18.10
10
1
img
3
ETH
9:21.24
4
3
4
ETH
9:22.76
1
5
5
ETH
9:22.87
2
4
6
KEN
9:33.55
7
MAR
9:35.88
SB
8
GER
9:36.22
SB
9
KEN
9:37.60
10
GBR
9:41.50
SB
11
POL
9:50.84
12
GER
9:57.16
13
ROU
10:01.89
SB
14
LAT
10:05.20
KEN
DNF
RUS
DNF
ITA
DNS
Intermediate times:
1000m Orlova, Yelena (RUS)3:04.73
 2000m Chemos, Milcah (KEN) 6:16.96

Women’s 200: Allyson Felix Gets Beat
Murielle Ahoure got the win with a new personal best of 22.36 (previous pb of 22.42) as Allyson Felix was second in 22.64.

The BBC announcers were stunned the Felix lost but Felix wasn’t. She said the result is about what she expected and said she’s doing things differently this year and trying to come on later in the year.

The Olympic champ Felix definitely deserves the benefit of the doubt in being ready for Worlds in Moscow but we will point out this was a very subpar run for her.

Not running into a headwind, running the 200m fresh, this was Allyson slowest 200m going all the way back to 2005, when she was just 20 years old. Allyson did run slower than this two years ago in Rome, but she also ran 49.81 to beat Sanya Richards-Ross for 400m prior to that earlier in the day.

Allsyon opened in 22.36 in Shanghai in May with even less of a tailwind.

Wind:+1.2
RANK ATHLETE NATION RESULT REACTION TIME DIAMOND POINTS DIAMOND RANKING
1
CIV
22.36
NR
0.179
4
1
img
2
USA
22.64
0.192
2
4
3
BUL
22.78
SB
0.160
1
7
4
JAM
22.82
0.199
5
FRA
22.96
0.197
1
7
6
USA
23.08
0.150
7
USA
23.11
SB
0.169
8
USA
23.26
SB
0.244
9
ITA
23.71
0.172

200m Race video for those in the US:

Men’s 400 Hurdles: Johnny Dutch Barely Gets It

Johnny Dutch wanted this one and got the victory with a dive at the finish line after a great stretch run between him and Javier Culson, as the two were barely separated the entire last 100 meters.

Johnny Dutch wins 2013 Rome 400h

Rank Athlete Nation Result Reaction time Diamond Points Diamond Ranking
1
USA
48.31
0.206
5
2
2
PUR
48.36
=SB
0.226
4
3
3
SEN
48.56
PB
0.233
1
5
4
USA
48.64
SB
0.174
5
GBR
48.81
0.165
6
USA
49.33
0.217
7
CUB
49.54
0.291
8
ITA
50.48
PB
0.197
9
GER
51.59
0.178

 

Men’s 400m: Merritt Gets It Done

Lashawn Merritt did enough to win here. Coming off a 44.32 win over Kirani James at Pre, Merritt only went 44.96 here.

 

RANK ATHLETE NATION RESULT REACTION TIME
1
USA
44.96
0.201
2
KSA
45.24
0.170
3
USA
45.26
0.224
4
GBR
45.64
0.188
5
GBR
45.69
0.150
6
CZE
45.69
SB
0.209
7
BAH
45.91
0.170
8
BEL
46.07
0.181
9
GBR
46.31
=SB
0.185

 

 

Women’s Long Jump: Brittney Reese Back on Top

After only finishing eighth in New York, Brittney Reese returned to the winner’s circle after a big fifth jump.

RANK ATHLETE NATION RESULT
WIND
DIAMOND POINTS DIAMOND RANKING 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
1
USA
6.99
-1.0
8
1
img
6.94
(-2.3)
6.74
(-0.3)
x
(-1.4)
6.89
(-0.1)
6.99
(-1.0)
x
(+0.9)
2
USA
6.97
+0.5
7
2
6.72
(+1.6)
6.88
(+0.6)
x
(+1.2)
x
(-0.5)
6.97
(+0.5)
6.65
(+0.1)
3
GBR
6.91
+0.2
SB
3
3
6.63
(-0.7)
6.56
(-0.4)
6.70
(-0.9)
6.89
(+0.4)
6.78
(+0.4)
6.91
(+0.2)
4
RUS
6.87
-1.2
6.71
(+1.6)
6.87
(-1.2)
6.80
(-0.9)
6.80
(+0.2)
x
(+1.0)
6.59
(-1.0)
5
RUS
6.81
+1.0
SB
6.64
(-1.0)
6.61
(+0.6)
6.64
(-0.4)
x
(-1.6)
6.69
(-0.6)
6.81
(+1.0)
6
FRA
6.78
+1.9
SB
1
5
6.69
(-1.5)
6.33
(-2.9)
x
(+1.7)
6.55
(+0.4)
6.78
(+1.9)
x
(+0.7)
7
GER
6.68
+0.1
SB
x
(-1.2)
6.68
(+0.1)
x
(+1.0)
x
(-1.0)
6.43
(-0.6)
x
(-0.2)
8
USA
6.64
+0.1
6.56
(-0.3)
x
(-1.3)
6.63
(+2.3)
6.64
(+0.1)
x
(-0.6)
6.63
(+0.4)
9
LAT
6.60
+2.0
6.52
(+0.8)
x
(+2.6)
6.60
(+2.0)
10
SWE
6.55
+0.3
6.55
(+0.3)
6.47
(-0.1)
6.41
(+0.1)
11
BLR
6.31
-1.1
6.31
(-1.1)
x
(+1.3)
x
(+0.5)
12
USA
6.13
+1.3
6.13
(+1.3)
x
(-2.0)

Men’s Triple: Olympic Champ Taylor Spoils the Hometown Party

Christian Taylor did just enough to prevent an Italian win by Daniele Greco. Haven’t heard of Greco?? He’s a big deal in Italy if the coolest meet poster we’ve ever seen is any indication:

greco

 

1
USA
17.08
-0.6
10
1
img
16.78
(+0.7)
16.93
(-0.6)
16.76
(-0.6)
17.08
(-0.6)
16.85
(-0.6)
x
(-0.7)
2
ITA
17.04
-0.6
2
3
x
(-0.3)
16.98
(-0.8)
17.04
(-0.6)
x
(-0.7)
x
(0.0)
x
(-0.5)
3
FRA
17.01
-0.4
=SB
1
4
x
(-0.1)
x
(-0.7)
16.91
(-0.5)
17.01
(-0.4)
x
(-0.5)
16.78
(-0.7)
4
ITA
16.85
-0.4
=SB
16.85
(-0.4)
16.72
(-0.5)
x
(-0.6)
x
(-0.3)
16.40
(-0.6)
16.53
(-0.8)
5
FRA
16.81
-0.4
6
2
x
(+0.2)
16.36
(-0.8)
16.57
(-0.8)
16.81
(-0.4)
16.65
(-0.5)
16.72
(-0.7)
6
CUB
16.72
-0.1
16.72
(-0.1)
16.43
(-0.3)
16.20
(-0.4)
x
(-0.3)
7
GBR
16.44
-0.1
SB
16.44
(-0.1)
x
(-0.7)
x
(-0.5)
8
UKR
16.43
0.0
16.43
(0.0)
9
RUS
16.41
-0.6
16.38
(-0.1)
16.10
(-0.8)
16.41
(-0.6)
10
RUS
16.39
-0.4
16.14
(0.0)
16.28
(-0.7)
16.39
(-0.4)
11
NGR
16.36
-0.4
16.21
(-0.2)
16.27
(-0.8)
16.36
(-0.4)
12
RUS
16.33
-0.6
1
4
16.17
(-0.5)
16.27
(-0.4)
16.33
(-0.6)

Women’s 400: Montsho Gets World Lead, McCoroy PRs

2011 world champ Amantle Montsho got a world leader by .01. Francena McCorory put up a strong fight and was rewarded with a 50.01 pr (previous best 50.06). (Her publicist needs to update her entertaining wikipedia page).

RANK ATHLETE NATION RESULT REACTION TIME DIAMOND POINTS DIAMOND RANKING
1
BOT
49.87
WL
0.216
12
1
img
2
USA
50.05
PB
0.212
3
2
3
USA
50.53
0.193
3
2
4
USA
51.87
0.173
5
FRA
51.89
SB
0.195
6
UKR
51.95
0.211
7
SWE
52.67
0.193
8
BLR
53.32
0.214
9
ITA
54.38
PB
0.221

Women’s 100 Hurdles: Dawn Harper-Nelson Wins and Lolo Jones Improves

2008 Olympic champ Dawn Harper-Nelson picked up her second DL victory of the year but Lolo Jones kept it close throughout. It was a seasonal best time for Jones. We hope for track and field’s sake she makes the team for Worlds.

Wind:+0.3
RANK ATHLETE NATION RESULT REACTION TIME DIAMOND POINTS DIAMOND RANKING
1
USA
12.65
0.177
8
1
img
2
USA
12.70
SB
0.155
2
2
3
USA
12.90
SB
0.156
1
4
4
USA
12.92
0.207
1
4
5
ITA
12.97
0.225
6
ITA
13.01
0.169
7
BLR
13.03
SB
0.166
8
ITA
13.07
0.149
9
USA
13.22
0.185

Men’s Pole Vault: Raphael Holzdeppe Upsets Olympic Champ Renaud Lavillenie

Holzdeppe tied his PR to get the win before attempting 3 times a German record of 6.02.

RANK ATHLETE NATION RESULT DIAMOND POINTS DIAMOND RANKING 5.30
5.91
5.50
5.96
5.60
6.01
5.70
6.02
5.80 5.86
1
GER
5.91
=PB
6
1
img

xxo
xo

xo
xxx
o
2
FRA
5.86
6
1
img

xxx
o
xo
xo
3
GER
5.86
SB
3
4

o
xxx
xo
xxo
4
GER
5.80
2
5

xxx
xo
o
xxo
5
GRE
5.70
4
3
o
xo
xxx
5
CZE
5.70
SB
o
o
o
xo
xxx
7
RUS
5.60
=SB
o
o
xo
xxx
8
ITA
5.60
SB
o
xxo
x-
r
9
CUB
5.50
=SB
xo
xo
xxx
9
GER
5.50
xo
xo
xxx
11
POL
5.30
xo
xxx
GBR
NM
xxx

 

Men’s Shot Put

22-year old David Storl, the 2011 world champ and 2012 silver medallist, got the win over Cory Martin.

RANK ATHLETE NATION RESULT
WIND
DIAMOND POINTS DIAMOND RANKING 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
1
GER
20.70
4
2
20.63
x x 20.70 x x
2
USA
20.54
3
3
20.54
x 20.33 x 20.23 x
3
CAN
20.29
1
6
19.61
19.93 19.93 x x 20.29
4
CZE
20.28
19.63
20.06 19.56 20.28 20.09 20.00
5
USA
20.23
3
3
19.63
19.79 19.84 19.93 20.23 19.91
6
SRB
20.06
SB
x
x 19.91 20.06 x 19.79
7
BUL
19.99
19.97
19.78 19.98 x 19.99 x
8
RUS
19.99
19.99
19.53 x 19.44 19.83 19.92
9
ESP
19.70
19.70
19.55 x
10
POL
19.68
19.22
19.68 19.68
11
POR
19.35
SB
19.35
19.25 19.02

Women’s Discus Throw

The 22-year old Olympic champ Perkovic was clearly the best here.

RANK ATHLETE NATION RESULT
WIND
DIAMOND POINTS DIAMOND RANKING 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
1
CRO
68.25
12
1
img
66.24
68.25 x x 65.71 67.25
2
CUB
64.41
2
3
64.41
62.47 x 62.49 x 64.33
3
LTU
62.85
3
2
62.85
62.64 x 61.44 x 59.52
4
GER
62.40
1
5
58.32
61.04 58.92 60.15 62.40 x
5
CUB
61.90
61.90
x 60.93 x 61.68 x
6
FRA
61.29
1
5
61.29
x 59.05 x x x
7
USA
61.18
61.18
x x x x x
8
GER
61.06
x
61.06 x x x 59.51
9
POL
60.96
60.96
59.36 60.92
10
RUS
59.41
58.28
59.41 x
11
RUS
55.27
55.27
x 54.10

 

A Rare Tie in High Jump

Blanka Vlasic got a season’s best in 3rd but the real drama was between Olympic champ Anna  Chicherova and Olympic bronze medallist Svetlana Shkolina. They both were tied after clearing 1.98 and missing at 2.01m. A jump off then took place. The both missed at 2.01 and 1.99 in the jump off before clearing 1.97. After that they decided to just split the points and prize money. We think we got that right. The IAAF has more.

RANK ATHLETE NATION RESULT DIAMOND POINTS DIAMOND RANKING 1.80
2.01
1.84
2.01
1.88
1.99
1.92 1.95 1.98
1
RUS
1.98
4
2

xxx
o
x
o
xr
o
xo
1
RUS
1.98
4
2

xxx

x
o
xr
o
o
xo
3
CRO
1.95
SB
5
1
img
o
o
o
xxo
xxx
4
SWE
1.92
SB
2
4
o
o
xo
xxx
5
RUS
1.88
SB
o
o
o
xxx
6
UZB
1.88
o
xo
o
xxx
6
GER
1.88
o
xo
o
xxx
8
EST
1.88
o
o
xo
xxx
9
ITA
1.88
o
o
xxo
xxx
10
BUL
1.84
xo
o
xxx
10
EST
1.84
SB
xo
o
xxx
CRO
DNS

 

Shubenkov Wins Non DL 110 Hurdles

Wind:+0.9
RANK ATHLETE NATION RESULT REACTION TIME
1
RUS
13.20
SB
0.145
2
FRA
13.31
PB
0.135
3
HUN
13.44
PB
0.162
4
POL
13.52
0.151
5
ITA
13.63
0.159
6
USA
13.72
SB
0.192
7
USA
13.77
0.172
8
GER
13.86
0.153
FRA
DNF
0.165

Women’s Javelin

The Olympic silver medallist Christina Obergfoll is on a roll. Victories in New York, Eugene and Rome.

RANK ATHLETE NATION RESULT
WIND
DIAMOND POINTS DIAMOND RANKING 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
1
GER
66.45
8
1
img
62.43
66.45
2
RSA
63.49
SB
1
4
63.49
60.74
3
RUS
62.80
2
3
61.15
62.80
4
LAT
62.52
62.52
x 58.06
5
SLO
62.29
SB
62.29
x
6
LAT
61.85
SB
55.50
55.39 61.85
7
UKR
59.96
x
59.96
8
LAT
59.30
SB
57.58
59.30 x
9
ISL
58.67
SB
54.75
55.95 58.67

 

 

 

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