Rome DL Recap: Almaz Ayana Just Misses the World Record, Caster Semenya and Conseslus Kipruto Continue To Dominate and Elijah Manangoi Breaks His Maiden
by LetsRun.com
June 2, 2016
The 2016 IAAF Diamond League circuit almost began its European leg in sensational session as Ethiopian Almaz Ayana just missed the world record in the women’s 5000 at the 2016 Rome Golden Gala track and field meet today.
We recap the full meet, which included wins by Justin Gatlin, Caster Semenya, Elijah Manangoi, Ameer Webb and many others, for you event by event below, starting with the mid-d and distance action.
Talk about the meet on our fan forum: *MB: Official 2016 Rome Golden Gala Diamond League Discussion Thread.
Women’s 5000: Almaz Ayana Just Misses The World Record
World record pace is 68.09 per lap or 2:50.23 per 1k. Ayana knew the rabbit likely wouldn’t make it very far so requested an opening 1k of 2:48. Instead, the first kilometer was reached in 2:50.75. The rabbit only made it 2200 as they hit 2k in 5:41.61 (2:50.76).
Looking at things positively, the rabbit set an incredibly even pace but Ayana now had the task of having to run 2800 meters alone and she needed to run faster than she had with the rabbit. Ayana’s first two laps without the rabbit were faster (unofficially 67.2 and 67.9) as she hit 3k in 8:30.43, just ahead of WR pace which is 8:30.69.
The 4th kilometer is often viewed as the hardest and that was the case for Ayana as her 5th, 4th and 3rd to last laps were all over 69 (69.04, 69.31, 69.17). With two laps to go, Ayana would get the world record if she closed in 2:13.24. She ran her penultimate lap in 68.57 and at the bell the world record was hers if she could summon a 64.67. But it wasn’t to be as Ayana is a human metronome, not a ferocious kicker.
Results and quick take analysis appear below.
5000 Metres - Women
Pts
1 Ayana , Almaz ETH 14:12.59 10
2 Cherono , Mercy KEN 14:33.95 6
3 Kibiwot , Viola Jelagat KEN 14:34.39 4
4 Teferi , Senbere ETH 14:37.19 3
5 Diro , Etenesh ETH 14:37.51 2
6 Can , Yasemin TUR 14:37.61 1
7 Kisa , Janet KEN 14:42.61
8 Dida , Dera ETH 14:42.84
9 Yalew , Genet ETH 14:51.04
10 Grøvdal , Karoline Bjerkeli NOR 14:57.77
11 Twell , Stephanie GBR 14:59.00
12 Burka , Gelete ETH 14:59.78
13 Gebreslase , Gotytom ETH 15:00.21
14 Gidey , Letesenbet ETH 15:09.45
15 Chekwel , Juliet UGA 15:20.15
16 Akda , Meryem TUR 15:24.60
Chepkoech , Beatrice KEN DNF
Tverdostup , Tamara UKR DNF
Woldu , Etagegn ETH DNS
Quick Thought #1: What a performance. Coming into the race, we thought Ayana was in WR shape and we still think that.
We said in our preview that we thought Ayana would get the WR if the rabbit could make it 3k in 8:30. The rabbit only lasted 2200. That being said, Ayana gets a nice consolation prize.
She’s now the most prolific sub-14:20 performer in history.
Most Sub-14:20s in history
Almaz Ayana – 3
Meseret Defar – 2
Genzebe Dibaba – 2
Tirunesh Dibaba – 1
No one else in history has run more than two sub-14:20s and Ayana has now done it twice in the span of 11 days. Before tonight, the shortest gap between two sub-14:20s belonged to Genzebe Dibaba, who did it twice last summer in the span of 35 days.
Here are Ayana’s lap by lap splits after a first 200 of under 32 seconds.
Lap / Time
1 01:10.84
2 01:08.16
3 01:08.90
4 01:07.61
5 01:08.20
6 01:07.11
7 01:07.90
8 01:09.04
9 01:09.31
10 01:09.17
11 01:08.57
12 01:06.11
Women’s 800: Semenya Wins Again in Rabat Re-Run
In a carbon copy of the race in Rabat, Caster Semenya destroyed the field again, running 1:56.64, the exact same time as her world leader from Rabat. And just as in that race on May 22, it was Francine Niyonsaba, the world indoor champ, who wound up second after separating from the field with Semenya over the final 200.
Semenya was content to sit in the middle of the pack for the first 500 meters as Belarus’ world champ Marina Arzamasova led through 200 (27.x) and 400 (57.15 for the rabbit). France’s Renelle Lamote was right with with her at the bell, with Great Britain’s Lynsey Sharp on their tail in third. Semenya was not well-positioned back in seventh place, but that would prove to be completely irrelevant.
Niyonsaba began to move up coming off the first turn of the final lap and midway down the back straight, she had seized the lead from Lamote as Semenya followed effortlessly, reaching 600 in 1:28.57. As they hit the home straight, Semenya simply exploded and within a couple seconds, she was gone, closing in a ridiculous 27.9 seconds for her final 200. Niyonsaba held on for second in 1:58.20, while Sharp ran a fine race of her own to take third in 1:59.03. American Ajee Wilson was never a factor and wound up last in 2:03.33.
Results
800 Metres - Women Race 2
Pts
1 Semenya , Caster RSA 1:56.64 10
2 Niyonsaba , Francine BDI 1:58.20 6
3 Sharp , Lynsey GBR 1:59.03 4
4 Lamote , Renelle FRA 1:59.23 3
5 Arzamasova , Marina BLR 1:59.65 2
6 Alemu , Habitam ETH 1:59.79 1
7 Bishop , Melissa CAN 1:59.97
8 Józwik , Joanna POL 2:00.72
9 Büchel , Selina SUI 2:01.00
10 Sum , Eunice Jepkoech KEN 2:02.03
11 Wilson , Ajee USA 2:03.33
Usovich , Ilona BLR DNF
Quick Take #1: Could Caster Semenya break the world record right now?
Semenya’s dominance has sucked all of the drama from her races. She waits and waits and waits and once she decides it’s time to go, she shifts into a gear no other woman can match and it’s game over.
The fact that Semenya is running 1:56 in the 800 by sitting and kicking suggests that she’s capable of much, much faster than that right now. A good rule of thumb is to run half a second slower for each 200 split. But Semenya’s fastest 200 this year has usually been her last one as she closed tonight in 27.9 and ran perhaps the fastest final 100 ever in an 800 when she ran 1:58.26 in Doha.
Semenya has shown no desire to chase the world record this year, which may be a good idea as it would increase the already heavy levels of scrutiny she faces every time she competes. But she certainly has the fitness to give it a scare if not break it. The mark is 1:53.28 by Jarmila Kratochvilova from 1983. A good way to run 1:53 would be 55.5/57.5. If Semenya went out in 55.5, would she still be able to close that quickly? Well she came through in 57.x in Rabat and 58.x today (essentially even-splitting it) and still had a ton left, running 1:56 in both races despite not going all-out until the final 100. There’s little doubt that Semenya could run 1:54 right now. It’s definitely possible that she could go a lot, lot faster than that but we won’t know unless she decides to make a concerted WR attempt because no one else is going to be crazy enough to go out in 55 seconds.
After the race, Semenya said she purposely ran in the middle of the pack as she wanted to work on her tactics and shifting gears. “I try to improve more in tactical races. We worked more on speed because coming from behind like in this race it is not easy to adjust to the pace, you are not sure to execute well on the home straight,” said Semenya according to the IAAF.
Semenya knows she doesn’t need to get in better shape, she just needs to maintain her current fitness as she also said, “Now I need to be consistent, to maintain this shape until the Olympics. My dream, my main goal is of course Olympic gold. I am very pleased with the time.
Quick Take #2: Not an encouraging effort for Ajee Wilson
Wilson wasn’t expected to challenge for the win here, but finishing dead last tonight was certainly a letdown after her stellar indoor campaign. Wilson ran even slower than she did in her outdoor opener (2:02.60) at Swarthmore on May 16.
The only good news for Wilson is that no Americans have looked amazing at 800 meters this year. Laura Roesler fared even worse than Wilson today, DNFing in the B heat. Alysia Montano ran a decent race to win at Pre last week, but we’re now into June and no U.S. women have broken 2:00.
If things stay that way, the Trials could be epic. The 800 is already one of the most unpredictable events in running — surviving two rounds of prelims just to make the final is no easy challenge. Montano should probably be the favorite right now given her track record and win at Pre, but we could see some major upsets in this event at the Trials if no one separates themselves over the next month.
B Heat: Assefa Wins, Roesler DNF’s
The B heat, which was not shown on the beIN Sports broadcast, was won by Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa in 2:00.84. The U.S.’s Chanelle Price was fifth in 2:02.07 while Laura Roesler wound up a DNF. Per fellow pro Phoebe Wright, Roesler fell 300 meters into the race. That makes two disappointing races in a row for the 24-year-old following her 2:02 7th place finish at the Pre Classic last week.
800 Metres - Women Race 1
1 Assefa , Tigst ETH 2:00.84
2 Cichocka , Angelika POL 2:01.30
3 Akkaoui , Malika MAR 2:01.45
4 Santiusty , Yuneisy ITA 2:01.82
5 Price , Chanelle USA 2:02.07
6 Oskan-Clarke , Shelayna GBR 2:02.15
7 Baldessari , Irene ITA 2:04.46
8 Imali , Maximila KEN 2:07.10
9 Hering , Christina GER 2:07.33
Zenoni , Marta ITA DNF
Roesler , Laura USA DNF
da Silva , Jessica BRA DNF
Men’s 1500: Ryan Gregson Makes A Bid For Flory As Elijah Manangoi Goes Wire-to-Wire And Earns First Career DL Win
Kenya’s World Championship silver medallist Elijah Manangoi was favored to take the win here with no Asbel Kiprop in the field and he did just that, winning in wire-to-wire fashion.
The rabbits proved to be useless in this one, hitting 400 in 53.94 and 800 in 1:51.82 as the entire field ignored them. Manangoi led the tightly-bunched pack several meters behind the rabbits as he passed those markers in 55 and 1:53-high at 800. Ethiopia’s Aman Wote sat on his shoulder at that point with the rest of the field in tow.
Things were the same at the bell and 1200 meters (2:53.03); it wasn’t until the final turn that anyone made a move to challenge Manangoi and that move was made by Australia’s Ryan Gregson. With 200 to go, Gregson didn’t look to be in any position to attack as he was in seventh place and boxed in. But he found a gap at the start of the turn and took it, speeding by runner after runner before drawing level with Manangoi coming off the turn. The two men ran stride for stride for about 40 meters before Manangoi found another gear and pulled away to win in 3:33.96. Gregsonended up third as he was was nipped by Kenya’s Robert Biwott just before the end, 3:34.21 to 3:34.27.
Results and quick take analysis.
1500 Metres - Men
Pts
1 Manangoi , Elijah Motonei KEN 3:33.96 10
2 Biwott , Robert Kiptoo KEN 3:34.21 6
3 Gregson , Ryan AUS 3:34.27 4
4 Kiplagat , Silas KEN 3:34.49 3
5 Wote , Aman ETH 3:35.10 2
6 Birgen , Bethwell KEN 3:35.36 1
7 O'Hare , Chris GBR 3:35.37
8 Carvalho , Florian FRA 3:35.39
9 Tesfaye , Homiyu GER 3:35.44
10 Amdouni , Morhad FRA 3:35.58
11 Philibert-Thiboutot , Charles CAN 3:36.00
12 Ingebrigtsen , Henrik NOR 3:36.07
13 Wolde , Dawit ETH 3:37.41
14 Cheboi , Collins KEN 3:38.29
15 Abdikadar Sheik Ali , Mohad ITA 3:38.74
Kipkoech , Nicholas Kiplangat KEN DNF
Rotich , Andrew Kiptoo KEN DNF
Quick Take #1: Note to Diamond League organizers: you don’t need rabbits for every single distance race
It’s been said many times by many people, but a race like this underscores it: rabbits are far too common on the Diamond League circuit. Rabbits certainly have their place, such as when an athlete is chasing a world record or an Olympic standard (indeed, Almaz Ayana could have done with an extra rabbit in the 5k tonight). But in many Diamond League races, they’re superfluous. Most athletes running a DL race will have the Olympic/World Champs standard so there’s really no reason to put a rabbit in in a race like tonight’s. Especially if the rabbit is tasked with coming through 800 in 1:50.5, as they were tonight according to commentators Steve Cram and Tim Hutchings. Even though they didn’t hit that suicidal pace, they still came through way too fast (53.94 and 1:51.82) for a field without Kiprop and had zero impact on the race as Manangoi controlled it from the front, going wire to wire.
The meet directors should have saved the money and had no rabbit here and used to get someone to last 3k for Ayana.
Quick Take #2: Ryan Gregson’s stellar season continues
Gregson ran 3:34.27 tonight and 3:34.43 in his last race in Rabat — the third- and fourth-fastest times of his career and best since 2012. More encouraging than the time, however, was the way he ran it. Gregson showed a tremendous ability to change gears — critical for a championship 1500 — and gave Manangoi, one of the very best in the world right now, a brief run for his money.
The only worry for Gregson is holding his form through the Olympics. The Australian Olympic Trials were held on the first weekend in April, and as a result, most Aussies had to get into top shape a lot earlier than most of the rest of the world. That obviously has helped Gregson run well in May and June, but will he run out of steam by August?
Men’s 3000 Steeplechase: Conseslus Kipruto Wins (Again) As Ezekiel Kemboi Struggles (Again)
The men’s steeplechase was the same as it’s been all season long – the Conseslus Kipruto and Jairus Birech show. The first kilometer was very fast – 2:35.82, which is well under WR pace – and Kipruto and Birech, who had gone 1-2 in both Doha and Rabat, were already clear of the field. The pace would slow over the remaining laps (2k was 5:20.32). Coming into the bell, a sub-8:00 was slipping away as they’d need a sub-60.
There was no doubt who was the best on the final lap as once again Kipruto got the win – with tonight being his fastest race of the season as he ran 8:05.13 in Doha, 8:02.77 in Rabat and 8:01.41 tonight. On the final lap, as Birech approached the steeple barrier at the start of the backstretch, Birech fell down face forward but he got up and still held off Paul Kipsiele Koech for second as Birech ran 8:11.39 to Koech’s 8:14.46.
Six-time global champion Ezekiel Kemboi, who has an 8:14 seasonal best, was a complete non-factor once again as he ended up just 11th in 8:24.26, beaten by Americans Stanley Kebenei, who ran a new pb of 8:18.52 (previous pb of 8:22.85) to place 5th, and Cory Leslie, who was 9th in 8:20.43 – just off his personal and seasonal best of 8:19.12.
Despite the win, Kipruto wasn’t happy as it looks like he wanted to run under 7:57 as the IAAF quotes him as saying the following, “Despite the victory, I am very very disappointed. I did not achieve my target, I wanted to run under 57 (sic). I tried to push it too hard but it did not work. I will get back to Kenya and work on the speed much more. I only plan two races before Olympics – (Olympic) trials and the Monaco Diamond League.”
Results and quick take analysis.
3000 Metres Steeplechase - Men
Pts
1 Kipruto , Conseslus KEN 8:01.41 10
2 Birech , Jairus Kipchoge KEN 8:11.39 6
3 Koech , Paul Kipsiele KEN 8:14.46 4
4 Kowal , Yoann FRA 8:17.83 3
5 Kebenei , Stanley Kipkoech USA 8:18.52 2
6 Yego , Hillary Kipsang KEN 8:19.01 1
7 Zalewski , Krystian POL 8:19.91
8 Tabti , Bilal ALG 8:20.26
9 Leslie , Cory USA 8:20.43
10 Tolosa , Jiksa ETH 8:21.33
11 Kemboi , Ezekiel KEN 8:24.26
12 Koech , John Kibet BRN 8:24.81
13 Kipsang , Lawrence Kemboi KEN 8:26.06
14 Kipruto , Brimin Kiprop KEN 8:29.54
15 Milne , Taylor CAN 8:30.04
Amare , Hailemariyam ETH DNF
Bett , Nicholas Kiptonui KEN DNF
Ndiku , Jonathan Muia KEN DNS
Quick Thought #1: Evan Jager has to be getting more and more confident about his medal chances.
Only one guy broke 8:10 in a DL steeple? That has to make Evan Jager feel great about his medal chances.
Quick Thought #2: Is it time to worry about Ezekiel Kemboi?
We think it might be. Yes, we know he’s won the last 5 global titles dating to 2009. Yes, we know he often doesn’t dominate the DL circuit. But he normally runs much better than this.
This year, Kemboi has a seasonal best of 8:14. Here are his seasonal best heading into Worlds or Olympics dating to 2009: 8:01, 7:59, 8:10, 7:55, 7:58.
Plus, Kipruto is looking really, really good right now. Kipruto can win in a variety of styles, taking it fast from the front (like he has on the circuit this year) or closing hard over the last lap (remember, he earned silver at Worlds in 2013 and 2015). In fact, he was closing on Kemboi off the final water jump in Beijing last year and was just two meters down before chopping his steps because his shoe was starting to come off. Kipruto’s hurdle form isn’t pretty, but it hasn’t posed much of a problem for him and he’s entering his prime at 21 years old while Kemboi, 34, is on the decline.
Quick Thought #3: Whoever was in charge of the television production tonight should be fired.
They consistently failed to show the leaders of the distance races hitting the finish line so any fan that was trying to figure out what Ayana needed to get the WR or Kipruto needed to break 8:00 had to guess. It was truly awful tv production.
Sprint Action
Men’s 200: American Ameer Webb Picks Up Second DL Win of 2016
Trayvon Bromell thundered out of the blocks and had the lead entering the home straight, but he faded badly over the final 100 and wound up only seventh in 20.80. Instead, it was fellow American Webb who took the glory, following up his sub-20 victories at Mt. SAC and Doha with another DL win in 20.05.
With the 200 fairly up in the air beyond Usain Bolt, Webb, the 2013 NCAA champ at Texas A&M, is quickly becoming an Olympic medal threat. He has the #2 and #3 times in the world this year, behind only LaShawn Merritt’s 19.78 from April.
200 Metres - Men Wind: +0.6 m/s
Pts
1 Webb , Ameer USA 20.04 10
2 Brown , Aaron CAN 20.24 6
3 Edward , Alonso PAN 20.25 4
4 Lemaitre , Christophe FRA 20.27 3
5 Guliyev , Ramil TUR 20.42 2
6 Skyers , Roberto CUB 20.54 1
7 Bromell , Trayvon USA 20.80
8 Desalu , Eseosa ITA 20.86
9 Smellie , Gavin CAN 20.88
Men’s 100: Justin Gatlin Holds off Ameer Webb, Who Finishes Off An Amazing Double
Justin Gatlin got off to a great start but surprisingly he wasn’t able to run away from everyone over the final 60. He did manage to hold on to the win but the best man by far in this race over the final 50 was Ameer Webb. Webb, who won the 200 which started just 80 minutes before this race, closed like a rocket and just missed the win as Gatlin won in 9.93 to Webb’s new pb of 9.94 (previous pb of 10.03 but he has run a windy 9.90). France’s Jimmy Vicaut was third in 9.99.
100 Metres - Men Race 2 Wind: +1.0 m/s
1 Gatlin , Justin USA 9.93
2 Webb , Ameer USA 9.94
3 Vicaut , Jimmy FRA 9.99
4 Ogunode , Femi QAT 10.09
5 Simbine , Akani RSA 10.13
6 Ujah , Chijindu GBR 10.15
7 Martina , Churandy NED 10.16
8 Young , Isiah USA 10.26
Brown , Aaron CAN DNS
100 Metres - Men Race 1 Wind: +0.4 m/s
1 Dasaolu , James GBR 10.11
2 Bockarie , Solomon NED 10.40
3 van Luijk , Patrick NED 10.41
4 Dutamby , Stuart FRA 10.41
5 Zézé , Mickaël-Méba FRA 10.45
6 Slowikowski , Przemyslaw POL 10.49
7 Mancini , Pascal SUI 10.53
8 Paulina , Hensley NED 10.55
Smellie , Gavin CAN DNS
Men’s 400: The World Champ Wins
2015 World champion Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa was victorious in his first race on the Diamond League circuit this year as he pulled away from Botswana’s Isaac Makwala over the final 100 to win in 44.19. Former Texas A&M sprinter Bralon Taplin of Grenada ran a nice final 100 as he stayed about 5 meters behind van Niekerk throughout and moved up to second from third as he ran 44.43. Makwala ended up third in 44.85.
400 Metres - Men
Pts
1 van Niekerk , Wayde RSA 44.19 10
2 Taplin , Bralon GRN 44.43 6
3 Makwala , Isaac BOT 44.85 4
4 Haroun , Abdalelah QAT 45.05 3
5 Norwood , Vernon USA 45.17 2
6 Borlée , Kévin BEL 45.35 1
7 Lendore , Deon TTO 45.51
8 McDonald , Rusheen JAM 46.05
9 Galvan , Matteo ITA 46.06
Men’s 110 Hurdles: Orlando Ortega Finishes Well
World indoor silver medallist Pascal Martinot-Lagarde of France got off to a good star but former Cuban and now Spaniard Orlando Ortega came on late to get the win in 13.22, far off his 13.12 seasonal best or 12.94 pb.
110 Metres Hurdles - Men Wind: +0.6 m/s
Pts
1 Ortega , Orlando ESP 13.22 10
2 Martinot-Lagarde , Pascal FRA 13.29 6
3 Pozzi , Andrew GBR 13.37 4
4 Brathwaite , Shane BAR 13.64 3
5 Belocian , Wilhem FRA 13.73 2
6 Abate , Emanuele ITA 13.83 1
7 Perini , Lorenzo ITA 13.90
Bascou , Dimitri FRA DNF
O'Farrill , Yordan L. CUB DNF
Women’s 100: Elaine Thompson over English Gardner
Gardner, who won at Pre on Saturday in 10.81, looked as if she had this one in the bag as well but Thompson, whose best event is the 200, came on like a freight train in the final 20 meters and blew Gardner away to win, 10.87 to 10.91.
100 Metres - Women Race 2 Wind: +0.8 m/s
Pts
1 Thompson , Elaine JAM 10.87 10
2 Gardner , English USA 10.92 6
3 Pierre , Barbara USA 11.13 4
4 Lalova-Collio , Ivet BUL 11.15 3
5 Henry , Desiree GBR 11.15 2
6 Ahye , Michelle-Lee TTO 11.23 1
7 Swoboda , Ewa POL 11.28
8 Kambundji , Mujinga SUI 11.36
9 Tenorio , Ángela ECU 11.39
100 Metres - Women Race 1 Wind: +1.0 m/s
1 Hooper , Gloria ITA 11.38
2 Samuel , Jamile NED 11.45
3 Hyacinthe , Kimberly CAN 11.54
4 Siragusa , Irene ITA 11.56
5 Popowicz-Drapala , Marika POL 11.59
6 Sedney , Naomi NED 11.61
7 Alloh , Audrey ITA 11.68
8 Amidei , Martina ITA 11.73
9 van Agt , Sacha NED 11.85
Women’s 400 Hurdles: Janeive Russell Picks Up World Leader and 2nd Straight DL Win
Jamaica’s Russell was clearly the best in a loaded field, moving to the lead with a strong final turn and destroying the competition over the final 100 to run a world-leading 53.96, well ahead of Wenda Theron Nel in second (54.61). American Georganne Moline, who entered with the world lead at 53.97, really struggled and finished last in 57.64.
400 Metres Hurdles - Women
Pts
1 Russell , Janieve JAM 53.96 10
2 Nel , Wenda RSA 54.61 6
3 Doyle , Eilidh GBR 54.81 4
4 Tate , Cassandra USA 55.35 3
5 Adekoya , Oluwakemi BRN 55.48 2
6 Spencer , Kaliese JAM 55.51 1
7 Folorunso , Ayomide ITA 57.24
8 Moline , Georganne USA 57.64
Caravelli , Marzia ITA DNF
Men’s Field Events
Men’s Discus: Robert Urbanek Halts Piotr Malachowski’s Win Streak as Robert Harting Returns
World champ Malachowski won the first two DL discus events in Doha and Rabat but had an off night and finished sixth, meaning he didn’t even get a chance to take his final three throws due to the new DL rules. Fellow Pole Urbanek took advantage of Malachowski’s hiccup to take the win as his 65.00-meter second-round toss held up.
“I wanted to throw further so I cannot say it was a good competition for me today,” Urbanek said. “I had a very good week with very long throws in the training. So I do not know why it did not work for me today.”
Germany’s Robert Harting, who won every global gold from 2009-2013, was third here after missing all of 2015 due to injury.
Discus Throw - Men
Pts
1 Urbanek , Robert POL 65.00 10
2 Hogan , Victor RSA 64.03 6
3 Harting , Robert GER 63.96 4
4 Dacres , Fedrick JAM 63.50 3
5 Ståhl , Daniel SWE 63.25 2
6 Malachowski , Piotr POL 63.23 1
7 Harradine , Benn AUS 61.64
8 Kupper , Martin EST 61.10
9 Kövágó , Zoltán HUN 60.51
10 Milanov , Philip BEL 60.13
11 Apolloni , Federico ITA 57.51
Men’s High Jump: Bohdan Bondarenko Tops Strong Field, Wins 3rd Straight DL Event
There was plenty of quality on display tonight, but only 2013 world champ Bohdan Bondarenko of Ukraine could clear 2.33 — Olympic bronze medallist Robbie Grabarz, World Indoor champ Gianmarco Tamberi and Worlds silver medallist Guowei Zhang all missed all three of their attempts at that height. Bondarenko took two unsuccessful jumps at 2.37 before retiring; he’s now a perfect three-for-three in 2016, winning the DL events in Shanghai, Rabat and Rome and going higher each time (2.28, 2.31, 2.33).
High Jump - Men
Pts
1 Bondarenko , Bohdan UKR 2.33 10
2 Grabarz , Robert GBR 2.30 6
3 Tamberi , Gianmarco ITA 2.30 4
4 Zhang , Guowei CHN 2.30 3
5 Fassinotti , Marco ITA 2.27 2
6 Barshim , Mutaz Essa QAT 2.27 1
7 Baniótis , Konstadínos GRE 2.24
8 Baker , Chris GBR 2.24
9 Chondrokoukis , Dimitrios CYP 2.20
10 Yun , Seunghyun KOR 2.20
11 Krimarenko , Yuriy UKR 2.15
Men’s Long Jump: Olympic Champ Greg Rutherford Wins DL Opener
Rutherford produces his best against the best competition and did that today as his 8.31 season best was enough to top a stiff field. It was very tight behind him for second as five men leaped between 8.08 and 8.19 but today proved that Rutherford is very much the man to beat as he looks to join Carl Lewis as the only men to win two Olympic LJ titles.
Long Jump - Men
Pts Wind
1 Rutherford , Greg GBR 8.31 10 -0.3
2 Goodwin , Marquise USA 8.19 6 0.0
3 Lapierre , Fabrice AUS 8.18 4 -0.2
4 Samaai , Rushwal RSA 8.16 3 -0.3
5 Hartfield , Mike USA 8.11 2 -0.1
6 Wang , Jianan CHN 8.08 1 -0.2
7 Manyonga , Luvo RSA 8.03 +0.9
8 Juška , Radek CZE 7.77 -0.5
9 Camara , Alyn GER 7.61 -0.6
10 Gotch , Jarvis USA 7.48 -0.7
11 Huang , Changzhou CHN 7.40 0.0
Women’s Field Events
Women’s Shot Put: Valerie Adams Keeps Her Perfect Outdoor Season Intact
Adams improved on her 19.68 winning mark from Rabat two weeks ago by one centimeter, going 19.69 on her third attempt to make it five wins in five starts in 2016 outdoors for the two-time Olympic gold medallist.
Adams told the IAAF afterwards that she is “more motivated than ever” this year following an injury-shortened 2015 campaign that saw her miss Worlds — the first time since 2005 that someone other than Adams won a global shot put title.
Shot Put - Women
Pts
1 Adams , Valerie NZL 19.69 10
2 Márton , Anita HUN 18.98 6
3 Dubitskaya , Aliona BLR 18.38 4
4 Borel , Cleopatra TTO 18.36 3
5 Brooks , Tia USA 18.24 2
6 Camarena-Williams , Jillian USA 18.06 1
7 Guba , Paulina POL 17.40
8 Leantsiuk , Yuliya BLR 17.31
9 Smith , Brittany USA 16.82
10 Rosa , Chiara ITA 16.61
Women’s Triple Jump: Caterine Ibarguen Runs Win Streak to 34
World Indoor champ Yulimar Rojas, who challenged Ibarguen in Doha, didn’t even make the final round here as she recorded a best of just 14.09 meters in her first three attempts. Ibarguen was in danger of missing out too, but she went 14.64 in the third round to grant herself three more tries. She wouldn’t need them to win (no one else bettered 14.51) but took them anyway, improving to 14.78 on her final attempt after fouling in rounds 4 and 5. It was her 34th straigh win (she hasn’t loss since 2012 Olympics).
Triple Jump - Women
Pts Wind
1 Ibargüen , Caterine COL 14.78 10 -0.1
2 Rypakova , Olga KAZ 14.51 6 +0.7
3 Thomas , Shanieka JAM 14.46 4 +1.5
4 Williams , Kimberly JAM 14.38 3 -0.3
5 Povea , Liadagmis CUB 14.33 2 +2.2
6 Saladukha , Olga UKR 14.18 1 0.0
7 Rojas , Yulimar VEN 14.09 0.0
8 Papahrístou , Paraskeví GRE 14.01 -0.3
9 Derkach , Dariya ITA 13.69 -0.7
10 La Mantia , Simona ITA 13.54 +1.5
11 Assani Issouf , Jeanine FRA 13.07 -0.5
12 Gierisch , Kristin GER 12.19 -0.5
Women’s Pole Vault: Katerina Stefanidi Ties Her PB as Greeks Go 1-2
Stefanidi and countrywoman Nikoleta Kiriakopoulou both cleared 4.75 on their second attempts, but Stefanidi was in the driver’s seat as she had no misses before that whereas Kiriakopoulou had misses at 4.45 and 4.55. So Kiriakopoulou skipped 4.80 entirely (where Stefanidi missed once) and took three attempts at 4.85. Neither she nor Stefanidi (who missed both attempts) could clear 4.85, handing the victory to Stefanidi.
Pole Vault - Women
Pts
1 Stefanídi , Ekateríni GRE 4.75 10
2 Kyriakopoúlou , Nikoléta GRE 4.75 6
3 Silva , Yarisley CUB 4.60 4
4 Büchler , Nicole SUI 4.50 3
5 Nageotte , Katie USA 4.50 2
6 Li , Ling CHN 4.45 1
7 Nikkanen , Minna FIN 4.45
8 Murto , Wilma FIN 4.35
9 Malavisi , Sonia ITA 4.25
Ryzih , Lisa GER NM
Murer , Fabiana BRA NM
Women’s Javelin: Sunette Viljoen Wins by Three Centimeters
The performances weren’t particularly impressive in the women’s jav tonight, but that made for a close competition as three women threw 61.xx. The winner was World Champs bronze medallist Viljoen of South Africa, who also won the DL opener in Doha, as her 61.95 from the third round held up (barely) for the win. Latvia’s Madara Palameika, who won in Rabat, almost made it two straight, but her final-round toss of 61.92 was just short of what was required for victory.
Javelin Throw - Women
Pts
1 Viljoen , Sunette RSA 61.95 10
2 Palameika , Madara LAT 61.92 6
3 Hussong , Christin GER 61.21 4
4 Obergföll , Christina GER 59.98 3
5 Khaladovich , Tatsiana BLR 59.86 2
6 Špotáková , Barbora CZE 59.82 1
7 Molitor , Kathrina GER 58.43
8 Muze , Lina LAT 57.47
9 Gleadle , Elizabeth CAN 56.16
10 Laasma , Liina EST 55.82
11 Borman , Brittany USA 54.63
12 Bani , Zahra ITA 51.75
Relay Results
4x100 Metres Relay - Women
1 Ukraine UKR 43.64
2 Poland POL 43.82
3 Italy ITA 44.05
4 Spain ESP 44.34
5 Netherlands NED 44.72
6 Italy Junior ITA 44.95
4x100 Metres Relay - Men
1 Netherlands NED 38.44
2 Italy ITA 38.81
3 France FRA 38.87
4 Poland POL 39.18
5 Spain ESP 39.65
6 Italy U20 ITA 40.19
Switzerland SUI DNF
Thailand THA DNS