Lausanne Diamond League: Souleiman Wins 1000m Clash with Centro and Kiprop With Ease, Elaine Thompson, Kendra Harrison Keep Winning
August 25, 2016
by LetsRun.com
After a one-month break for the Olympics, the 2016 IAAF Diamond League season resumed today in Lausanne, Switzerland. Though a few Olympic champs (Caterine Ibarguen, Dalilah Muhammad, Elaine Thompson) earned victories tonight, most of the best performances came from athletes who didn’t make it to the top of the podium in Rio. In the men’s 1000, it was Olympic fourth placer Ayanleh Souleiman who earned a dominant victory in 2:13.49, well ahead of Olympic champs Asbel Kiprop and Matthew Centrowitz. Olympic silver medallist Genzebe Dibaba scorched a 57.47 final lap to win the women’s 3,000 in a meet-record 8:31.84, while Francine Niyonsaba took advantage of Caster Semenya’s absence to crush the women’s 800 field in 1:57.71.
In other action, American Sam Kendricks looked great in tying his PB of 5.92 meters to win the pole vault, Asafa Powell went sub-10.00 to win the men’s 100 and Churandy Martina clocked a blazing 19.81 from lane 7 to win an exciting men’s 200.
We recap the entire meet below, beginning with the mid-d/distance events.
For full 2016 Lausanne results here. For progressions in jumps/throws click here.
Men’s 1000m: Ayanleh Souleiman Wins as Clash of Titans Fizzles a Bit
15 men lined up for this one including world indoor 1000m record holder Ayanleh Souleiman, reigning Olympic gold medallist Matt Centrowitz (sounds good doesn’t it), and the #3 fastest of all-time at 1500 and 2008 Olympic gold medallist Asbel Kiprop.
The only guy who brought his “A” game was Souleiman and it showed. The race had a waterfall start and of the three guys mentioned above, the only one to get out aggressively was Souleiman. He quickly was on the heels of the two rabbits, who went out in 26 mid, and hit 400 in 52.80. Kenyan 800m man Jonathan Kitilit was the most aggressive behind Souleiman as they continued to follow the rabbit through 600 (1:19.35 for rabbit, closer to 1:20 for Souleiman). Souleiman would pass the rabbit, who moved into lane 2 on the backstretch, with Kitilit staying close as they pulled away from the rest of the field. No one else was catching these two barring a collapse.
And what was happening with the rest of the field? Kiprop went out like it was a Sunday jog, going out slower here than he often does in his 1500m races. He his the first 200m in 28 and the 400m in 55 according to the TV broadcast. To his credit, he didn’t mail it in after that and would move up to place 4th. Matt Centrowitz went out in the middle of the pack but never seriously challenged Rick Wohlhuter’s American record of 2:13.9. They were racing for pride the final lap.
Up front, Souleiman and Kitilit were at least 10 meters clear of everyone else as they hit the final straight. Souleiman moved away from Kitilit and pounded his chest before the finish line, getting the meet and Diamond League record of 2:13.49. Kitilit would actually get passed by a late closing Robert Biwott and finish 3rd as Kiprop moved up to 4th, 800m runner Marcin Lewandowski set a national record of 2:14.30 and Matt Centrowitz settled for a PR in 5th in 2:16.67.
1000 Metres - Men
Pts
1 Souleiman , Ayanleh DJI 2:13.49 10
2 Biwott , Robert Kiptoo KEN 2:13.89 6
3 Kitilit , Jonathan Kiprotich KEN 2:13.95 4
4 Kiprop , Asbel KEN 2:14.23 3
5 Lewandowski , Marcin POL 2:14.30 2
6 Centrowitz , Matthew USA 2:16.67 1
7 Kipkoech , Nicholas Kiplangat KEN 2:16.68
8 Ingebrigtsen , Filip NOR 2:16.95
9 Rogestedt , Johan SWE 2:17.88
10 Soet , Gilbert Kwemoi KEN 2:18.63
11 Hochstrasser , Jan SUI 2:18.66
12 Kiplagat , Silas KEN 2:19.80
Rimmer , Michael GBR DNF
Rotich , Andrew Kiptoo KEN DNF
Melly , Edwin Kiplagat KEN DNF
Splits: 200m 26.
400 52.80
600 1:19:35
800 1:45.95
Quick Take #1: If you want to see a fast time, run this in lanes
If the runners were restricted to running in lanes the first 200m, more of them are going to attack the opening 200m. Instead here most of them broke in and settled in.
Quick Take #2: Asbel Kiprop, Come on Man
Kiprop took to social media to tell the critics to not be so harsh on him on his poor tactics in Rio. If you figured the fire would be burning inside of him to really go after it tonight, forget about it. It was a terrible, terrible performance the first 200m. Kiprop ran the fastest last 800m in the field (probably just a tad over 1:46), but to run a fast 1000m, no one, not even world record holder Noah Ngeny, can go out in 28. If Kiprop was going to go out in 28 seconds, he shouldn’t even have bothered running this race.
QT #3: Matt Centrowitz Gets a Pass
The Olympic gold medallist ran a personal best. Many no doubt would have wanted a little better, but Centro has not run great at the shorter distances this year. We couldn’t have cared less what he ran tonight. He’s the Olympic gold medallist, gearing up for a shot at the American 1500m record.
Closing in a slow race and speed in a shorter race are clearly different things. Even at the Olympics, we think after he won gold (it may have been after his semifinal), Centro was saying he hoped to run faster than the 1:47.17 he ran at the Eugene Summer Series Track Town Meet.
Today’s run made Souleiman the 5th fastest of all-time and he was pleased with that. “I had a really bad Olympics and today finally I was strong, ready and I had a great mindset. Last year I was injured and today I have shown that I am back and doing great. I am really proud of my time and the hard work I have put in explains the fact that I have beaten my personal record by more than two seconds and an incredible 5th best performance of all time! I want to come back to Lausanne next year and am looking forward to the final streak of the season,” he said.
3000: Genzebe Dibaba Closes Fast As Alexa Efraimson Fails To Get The American Junior Record
As one might expect in a race less than a week after the Olympics, the women’s 3000 racers didn’t go with the ambitious pace the meet organizers wanted of 4:05 for the first 1500. Instead after an opening 1k of 2:55.06, they hit 1500 in 4:24. That slow pace did have one bonus – it was perfect for American Alexa Efraimson as she was able to stay with the lead pack when she hit 1500 in 4:26 in her quest to break the 8:57 American junior record.
However, the pace soon started getting faster as Hellen Obiri of Kenya wanted to take the sting out of the kick of 1500 world record holder Genzebe Dibaba. Instantly, Efraimson was dropped and she’d struggle mightily on the way home as she’d run just 9:11 – well off of her 9:00 indoor pb.
They leaders hit 2k in 5:52.31. At 2200, there were six women still left in the lead pack. A lap later, it was down to be five. Just before the bell, after a 67 penultimate lap, Dibaba struck with a vengeance as she bolted to the lead ahead of Obiri. Obiri did her best to chase after Dibaba but Dibaba was flying. We timed the first 200 of her last lap in a ridiculous 27.8 (ht unofficial) and she’d win by a ton thanks to a 57.47 last lap. Dibaba’s winning time was 8:31.84 (she ran 8:22 indoors).
“My race was very good, I am happy with the victory here today. I was injured earlier this year. This race and my kick in the last 400m in particular gives me confidence for the end of the season,” said Dibaba.
Leader to leader the full lap splits starting from 200 in were as follows: 71.12, 69.75, 71.87, 70.76, 69.14, 67.58, 57.47.
3000 Metres - Women
Pts
1 Dibaba , Genzebe ETH 8:31.84 10
2 Obiri , Hellen Onsando KEN 8:33.96 6
3 Cherono , Mercy KEN 8:34.49 4
4 Kipkemboi , Margaret Chelimo KEN 8:37.54 3
5 Kisa , Janet KEN 8:43.34 2
6 Tirop , Agnes Jebet KEN 8:50.74 1
7 Tesfay , Haftamnesh ETH 9:11.29
8 Efraimson , Alexa USA 9:11.48
Kuria , Mary Wangari KEN DNF
Wafula , Lydia Nasimiyu KEN DNF
Degefa , Beyenu ETH DNS
Dida , Dera ETH DNS
Teferi , Senbere ETH DNS
Women’s 800: Francine Niyonsaba Wins With Ease As Eunice Sum Rebounds From Rio Disappointment
Olympic silver medallist and Oregon Track Club member Francine Niyonsaba got the win as expected in the women’s 800 as she pulled away from the rest of the field over the final 100 in much the same way that Caster Semenya (who wasn’t racing here today) has pulled away from Niyonsaba all summer long.
The rabbit took things out right on schedule 57.95 (goal was 58) and the field was right on her. The problem was, on the turn Canada’s Melissa Bishop, the silver medallist in Beijing last year, had to move wide as the rabbit started to struggle (the rabbit would eventually drop out between 500 and 600). On the backstretch, the two silver medallists in Niyonsaba and Bishop had passed the rabbit. They hit 600 in 1:28.65. Coming off the final turn, Niyonsaba, who said after the race she was still “a bit tired’ from Rio, soon powered home to a dominant victory in 1:57.71 as Kenya’s Eunice Sum, the 2013 world champ, moved up from third to grab second in 1:58.41. Britain’s Lynsey Sharp came on strong as well to nab third ahead of Bishop.
Sum, who was only 7th in her semi at Rio despite running a quick 1:57.47 before the Olympics, revealed after the race why she struggled in the Olympics.
“Rio was disappointing. I felt sick during semis. Sometimes you just need to forget what happened and move on. I am trying to do exactly that,” said Sum. “It was a good race tonight, I have a couple more races left this season and I am still searching for my season best.”
Quick Thought: Seeing the rabbit be engulfed by the field may not look great on TV but it’s way better than her gapping the field.
800 Metres - Women Race 2
Pts
1 Niyonsaba , Francine BDI 1:57.71 10
2 Sum , Eunice Jepkoech KEN 1:58.41 6
3 Sharp , Lynsey GBR 1:58.52 4
4 Bishop , Melissa CAN 1:58.71 3
5 Büchel , Selina SUI 1:58.77 2
6 Alemu , Habitam ETH 2:00.46 1
7 Pryshchepa , Nataliia UKR 2:00.59
8 Chebet , Winny KEN 2:02.21
Jepkosgei , Nelly KEN DNF
Men’s 3000 Steeple: A Great Duel Between the Next Generation of Kenyan Steeplers
With all but two of the Olympic finalists (Brimin Kipruto and Donn Cabral) skipping this one, first place was wide open and in the end it went to 20-year-old Abraham Kibiwott, who outdueled fellow Kenyan Nicholas Kiptanui Bett, only 19 himself (not to be confused with 400 hurdles world champ Nicholas Kiplagat Bett). Kibiwott just missed his PR by running 8:09.58, while Bett earned himself a new one by taking second in 8:10.07.
The rabbits were assigned extremely ambitious splits of 2:38 and 5:17 for the first two kilometers — 7:55 pace. Considering the world record is 7:53 and most of the world’s best runners weren’t in this race, those times were wishful thinking. Yet the rabbits did go out fast, (2:36.93 for 1k) and two-time defending Diamond League champ Jairus Birech was game to chase them, as he was close behind the rabbits at the k, five meters ahead of Kibiwott and another five meters ahead of Kipruto.
Birech could not handle the suicidal pace, however, and after slowing to 2:46 for the second kilometer, there were three men — Bett, Kibiwott and Birech — together with one kilometer left to run. Bett put in a move and Kibiwott responded cautiously, allowing his countryman to form a slight gap without dropping off completely. The spent Birech could not respond and would fade to fourth place by the finish.
It was now a two-man race for the win and at the bell (7:06), Bett had about eight meters on Kibiwott. But Kibiwott wasn’t done and on the backstretch he began cutting into Bett’s lead. By the final water jump, Kibiwott was just off Bett’s shoulder, and coming into the final barrier on the home stretch, Kibiwott had a lead of half a stride. After clearing the hurdle, Bett threw in one last, desperate surge, but Kibiwott had plenty left in the tank and easily countered it, cruising to victory in 8:09.58.
“It was not difficult today,” said Kibiwott. “I was taking my time as I knew I can win it in the last lap.”
Bett was a clear second in 8:10.07. Americans Donn Cabral (8:20.77) and Andy Bayer (8:23.88) finished sixth and eighth respectively as Dan Huling was a pre-race scratch.
3000 Metres Steeplechase - Men
Pts
1 Kibiwott , Abraham KEN 8:09.58 10
2 Bett , Nicholas Kiptonui KEN 8:10.07 6
3 Mutai , Abel Kiprop KEN 8:17.88 4
4 Birech , Jairus Kipchoge KEN 8:19.48 3
5 Kipruto , Brimin Kiprop KEN 8:20.46 2
6 Cabral , Donald USA 8:20.77 1
7 Kirui , Amos KEN 8:22.59
8 Bayer , Andrew USA 8:23.88
9 Koech , John Kibet BRN 8:26.76
10 Koech , Paul Kipsiele KEN 8:32.91
11 Sima , Tesfaye ETH 8:33.26
12 Kipyego , Barnabas KEN 8:45.54
13 Haileselassie , Yemane ERI 8:45.97
Kemboi , Clement Kimutai KEN DNF
Kipsang , Lawrence Kemboi KEN DNF
Huling , Daniel USA DNS
Quick Thought: Watch out for Kibiwott and Bett in the future
With Ezekiel Kemboi’s career drawing to a close, Brimin Kipruto in decline (he’s gone from 8:04 in 2014 to 8:10 last year and 8:18 this year) and Jairus Birech not in his dominant form of 2014-15, there may be a few openings on Kenya’s World Championship team over the next few years.
Kibiwott, 20, and Bett, 19, could be the men to fill that void and join Olympic champion Conseslus Kipruto (still only 21 himself) as the next generation of dominant Kenyan steeplers. Both men still have some work to do — Kemboi should have medalled this year, Brimin Kipruto medalled at Worlds last year and Birech is still only 23 and has run 8:03 this year. But it looks as if Kenya’s stranglehold on the men’s steeple is set to continue.
Quick Thought: Evan Jager was smart to skip this one
If Jager wants a truly fast time, he’s better off chasing it when he’s well-rested and has a de facto rabbit in Conseslus Kipruto to run behind. Jager had nothing to gain (other than prize money but we’re sure his Olympic silver medal bonus was huge) by running in Lausanne as Kipruto has already sewn up the Diamond League title.
Quick Thought: How many Kenyans would be in the top 10 at the Olympics if Kenya was allowed unlimited entries?
Kenya went 1-2-3-4 at Worlds last year and has 9 of the 12 fastest men in the world this year (and Koech was born and raised in Kenya).
1 08:00.12 Conseslus Kipruto KEN
2 08:03.90 Jairus Birech KEN
3 08:04.28 Evan Jager USA
4 08:08.32 Paul Kipsiele Koech KEN
5 08:09.13 Barnabas Kipyego KEN
6 08:09.25 Abraham Kibiwot KEN
7 08:09.62 John Koech BRN
8 08:10.07 Nicholas Kiptanui Kenbett KEN
9 08:10.65 Clement Kemboi KEN
10 08:11.52 Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad FRA
11 08:14.04 Nicholas Bett KEN
12 08:14.19 Ezekiel Kemboi KEN
Women’s 100m Hurdles: Kenda Harrison and USA Keeps Trouncing People
To show how good the US is in the 100m hurdles, they went 1-2-3 here without running any of the women who swept the medals in Rio.
Kendra Harrison’s Olympic break didn’t stop her from picking up another Diamond League win, this time by a massive .29 in 12.42. Former Olympic champ Dawn Harper-Nelson was second in a season’s best of 12.71 and Jasmin Stowers third ahead of 4th place Olympic finisher Cindy Ofili (born and raised in the U.S.).
Megan Simmonds of Jamaica got out very well here, but by the 4th hurdle Harrison was in front and would just extend her lead.
100 Metres Hurdles - Women Wind: +0.7 m/s
1 Harrison , Kendra USA 12.42
2 Harper Nelson , Dawn USA 12.71
3 Stowers , Jasmin USA 12.75
4 Ofili , Cindy GBR 12.80
5 Nelvis , Sharika USA 12.88
6 Reuse-Rard , Clélia SUI 13.00
7 Simmonds , Megan JAM 13.15
Men’s 100: Asafa Powell Wins in a Smooth 9.96
Powell didn’t run the individual 100 in Rio as he was only fourth at the Jamaican Trials, but he looked good tonight in coming on late to take this non-DL race in 9.96. The Ivory Coast’s Ben Meite, sixth in the Olympic final, was second here with British bobsledder-turned-sprinter Joel Fearon taking third in 10.05. Fearon, 27, is still raw as a sprinter, but ran 9.96 in July after never having broken 10.10 prior to this year. This was a very solid showing in his first Diamond League race in over three years.
After the race, Powell told the IAAF he “had good party time” after the Olympics and only arrived in Lausanne the night before his race, but he showed no ill effects tonight.
100 Metres - Men Race 2 Wind: +0.5 m/s
Pts
1 Powell , Asafa JAM 9.96 10
2 Meité , Ben Youssef CIV 10.01 6
3 Fearon , Joel GBR 10.05 4
4 Martina , Churandy NED 10.15 3
5 Collins , Kim SKN 10.24 2
6 Bockarie , Solomon NED 10.30 1
7 Wilson , Alex SUI 10.41
7 Wilson , Alex SUI 10.41
8 Aikines-Aryeetey , Harry GBR 10.43
Men’s 400: LaShawn Merritt Takes Diamond League Win #3 of 2016
With no Wayde van Niekerk or Kirani James in the field, Merritt was the heavy favorite and ran like it tonight. Merritt trailed Botswana’s Isaac Makwala by half a stride coming off the final turn but he turned on the jets over the final 100 meters to win in 44.50 to move into sole possession of first in the Diamond Race standings. The Bahamas’ 20-year-old Steven Gardiner closed very well over the final 50 meters and even clawed back some ground on Merritt but it was not enough and he had to settle for second in 44.75, the only other man in the field under 45.00.
For LaShawn Merritt fans who think he might think his best days are behind him think again. He said, “It has been a very long season but the show must go on. I came here to win and that is what I did tonight, I am satisfied with the performance as well. My next race will be in Zurich. I am satisfied with my performances in Rio, I did a good race there and packed a medal. That race told me that the world record is something possible. Of course, when you train, you plan to make history and I will definitely go back to training this winter with the world record in mind. I believe I need to improve my base training. Speed was ok this year. I will continue that while going for a little more base training.”
400 Metres - Men Race 2
Pts
1 Merritt , LaShawn USA 44.50 10
2 Gardiner , Steven BAH 44.75 6
3 Bonevacia , Liemarvin NED 45.26 4
4 Maslák , Pavel CZE 45.35 3
5 Rooney , Martyn GBR 45.46 2
6 Makwala , Isaac BOT 45.62 1
7 Anne , Mame-Ibra FRA 45.69
8 Burgunder , Joel SUI 47.35
Women’s 400 Hurdles: Olympic Champ Dalilah Muhammad Runs Her Win Streak to Five
American Dalilah Muhammad has been in a class of her own in the 400 hurdles over the past two months and she showed it once again on Thursday in Lausanne, crushing the field from gun to tape in 53.78. Amazingly, this was Muhammad’s first official Diamond League win this season (she won in London on July 22 but that didn’t count in the DL standings) but there’s no doubt who will be World #1 when the rankings come out later this year.
Muhammad said this was her last race of 2016 and her objective for next year is already clear.
“Clearly the world record will be my objective for next year,” Muhammad said. “I will keep the same training as it has only been one year that am training with my current coach, simply do some adjustments. That should get me where I want for next year, i.e. faster than the world record.”
Muhammad’s pb is 52.88, set at this year’s Olympic Trials. The WR is 52.34, set by Russia’s Yuliya Pechonkina back in 2003.
400 Metres Hurdles - Women
Pts
1 Muhammad , Dalilah USA 53.78 10
2 Doyle , Eilidh GBR 54.45 6
3 Petersen , Sara Slott DEN 54.98 4
4 Tate , Cassandra USA 55.14 3
5 Little , Shamier USA 55.20 2
6 Spencer , Ashley USA 55.86 1
7 Titimets , Anna UKR 55.99
8 Sprunger , Léa SUI 56.05
Women’s 100m: Elaine Thompson Is Hard Enough to Beat Without Tiring Out the Field With a False Start
Elaine Thompson is the top female sprinter in the world, fresh off her 100-200m double in Rio, so obviously she was the one to beat tonight.
However, she got even more of an advantage on the field after a false start. There was a false start, but the recall gun was not heard by most of the field. Jenna Prandini stopped almost immediately, Thompson glanced to her side at Prandini, but then tried to keep running as the field was still running in front of her, but eventually backed off halfway down the homestretch. Meanwhile the rest of the field raced all the way to the finish with Marie-Josee Ta Lou, the Olympic 4th place finisher, crossing the finish line first.
However, the false start gun had been fired, and they’d have to run the race again with less than 10 minutes’ rest. Prandini was the freshest, and after that it was Thompson. That showed in the final as Thompson crushed everyone winning in 10.78 with Prandini a distant second in 11.11 (that’s .33 behind). Ta Lou could only manage 5th in the re-run.
QT: This was not a fair competition. The organizers should have pushed it to the end of the program after most of the field ran a full 100m but a few didn’t.
100 Metres - Women Race 3 Wind: +0.8 m/s
Pts
1 Thompson , Elaine JAM 10.78 10
2 Prandini , Jenna USA 11.11 6
3 Akinosun , Morolake USA 11.16 4
4 Henry , Desiree GBR 11.17 3
5 Ta Lou , Marie-Josée CIV 11.25 2
6 Campbell-Brown , Veronica JAM 11.27 1
7 Kambundji , Mujinga SUI 11.44
8 Williams , Christania JAM 11.48
Men’s 110m Hurdles: Orlando Ortega wins Olympic rematch of medallists after organizers ignore false start
The starters showed sometimes discretion is the better part of valor.
The men’s 110m hurdles was the only men’s race that featured a rematch of all the medallists from Rio. Gold medallist Omar McLeod was in 4, silver medallist Orlando Ortega in 5, and bronze medallist Dimitri Bascou in 6. There was a false start and the timing system showed McLeod left the blocks early, but a replay showed Bascou twitched before that. Instead of DQing anyone, Bascou was given a yellow card and the Olympic medallists could square off.
They did not disappoint as all three medallists ran close to one another throughout this one with Ortega pulling out a narrow win over McLeod and Bascou holding off countryman Belocian for third.
110 Metres Hurdles - Men Wind: +0.5 m/s
Pts
1 Ortega , Orlando ESP 13.11 10
2 McLeod , Omar JAM 13.12 6
3 Bascou , Dimitri FRA 13.25 4
4 Belocian , Wilhem FRA 13.25 3
5 Baji , Balázs HUN 13.34 2
6 Martinot-Lagarde , Pascal FRA 13.37 1
7 Oliver , David USA 13.40
8 Douvalídis , Konstadínos GRE 13.69
Men’s 200: Churandy Martina Gets the Win in a Quick 19.81
Martina missed out on a medal in Rio by one-hundredth of a second but after running 20.13 in the Olympic final, he went much faster tonight seven days later. He lowered his personal best and national record of 19.85 — set on this same track four years ago — to 19.81, just .03 shy of what Usain Bolt to win in Rio. It was a great battle down the home stretch as Martina came off the turn just about even with Panama’s Alonso Edward (7th in Rio). Martina edged ahead early in the final 100 meters, but had to fight every step of the way to edge Edward, 19.81 to 19.92.
The 32-year-old Martina did not rule out a return to the Olympics in four years’ time.
“I am running as good as I have ever run, who knows I can continue till Tokyo,” Martina said. “If I manage to do so, I would have done five Olympics and that is something for a sprinter.”
200 Metres - Men Wind: +0.4 m/s
Pts
1 Martina , Churandy NED 19.81 10
2 Edward , Alonso PAN 19.92 6
3 Forte , Julian JAM 20.16 4
4 Tsákonas , Likoúrgos-Stéfanos GRE 20.21 3
5 Prescod , Reece GBR 20.38 2
6 Bockarie , Solomon NED 20.42 1
7 Ellington , James GBR 21.34
Brown , Aaron CAN DNS
Men’s 400 Hurdles: Bett Almost Redeems Himself from Olympics
Olympic champ Kerron Clement took this one off. Coming off the final turn, it looked like it was going to be a battle between 2015 world champ Nicholas Bett of Kenya and 2016 Olympic silver medallist Boniface Tumuti of Kenya. But on the next-to-last hurdle, Tumuti struggled mightily and came to a near-complete stop. We’re not sure if he was injured but he basically walked it in from there. Bett had a big lead but he did what he’s done a lot this year – totally crater on the way home as Estonia’s Rasmus Magi, who was 6th in Rio, came on strong to get the win in this non-DL event as Bett had to settle for a season’s best.
400 Metres Hurdles - Men
1 Mägi , Rasmus EST 48.59
2 Bett , Nicholas Kiplagat KEN 48.68
3 Fernández , Sergio ESP 49.22
4 Mörö , Oskari FIN 49.81
5 Cray , Eric PHI 49.88
6 Mfomkpa , Alain-Hervé SUI 51.58
7 Tumuti , Boniface Mucheru KEN 1:08.05
Men’s Pole Vault: American Sam Kendricks Ties His PB, Earns Career DL Win #2
Olympic bronze medallist Kendricks put together a fine night of vaulting, as he was the only man in the field to clear 5.80 meters and he did so without a miss. He went over 5.92 (tying his personal best) on his second attempt before ending his night. As in Rio, the runner-up was Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie, who could only manage 5.72 tonight. Lavillenie will be okay with ceding the win to Kendricks, however, as long as he can beat him to take the win at the Meeting de Paris on Saturday.
Pole Vault - Men
Pts
1 Kendricks , Sam USA 5.92 10
2 Lisek , Piotr POL 5.72 4
2 Lavillenie , Renaud FRA 5.72 6
4 Barber , Shawnacy CAN 5.62 3
5 Sobera , Robert POL 5.62 2
6 Joseph , Stanley FRA 5.47 1
7 Wojciechowski , Pawel POL 5.47
8 Filippídis , Konstadínos GRE 5.47
8 Scherbarth , Tobias GER 5.47
Dilla , Karsten GER NM
Men’s High Jump: Barshim Wins on Final Jump
This one had the silver (Mutaz Essa Barshim) and bronze medallists from Rio (Bohdan Bondarenko) but the guys continued to struggle to approach the 2.40 barrier. 4 guys cleared 2.32 but only one could make 2.35 and that was Barshim on his final attempt. After that he called it a day.
The Diamond League finale should be a good one with $50,000 likely going to the winner of the finale. Here are the standings heading into that:
1) Bondarenko 29
2) Kynard 26
3) Barshim 24
4) Grabarz 23
High Jump - Men
Pts
1 Barshim , Mutaz Essa QAT 2.35 10
2 Grabarz , Robert GBR 2.32 6
3 Kynard , Erik USA 2.32 4
4 Bondarenko , Bohdan UKR 2.32 3
5 Protsenko , Andriy UKR 2.29 2
6 Seliverstau , Pavel BLR 2.25 1
6 Thomas , Donald BAH 2.25
8 Baniótis , Konstadínos GRE 2.20
9 Bednarek , Sylwester POL 2.20
Tobe , Naoto JPN NM
Gasch , Loïc SUI NM
Women’s Javelin: Palameikra Wins and Takes the DL Lead
Latvia’s Madara Palameikra, who was 10th in Rio, got the win with a sixth-round heave of 65.29 which edged the Czech Republic’s two-time Olympic champ Barbora Špotáková (3rd in Rio), who threw 64.48. Rio silver medallist Sunette Viljoen was just 5th. The win moved Palameikra into the DL lead over Australia’s Kathryn Mitchell, who was 4th here (and 6th in Rio).
“After the disappointment of Rio, I was hoping for my best here. I am very emotional after winning here today. Winning the Diamond Race will be some sort of compensation for the loss in Rio,” said Palameikra. “This is my best season of my career and that makes not finishing with a medal in Rio even more disappointing, the level of the podium was not very high.”
Javelin Throw - Women
Pts
1 Palameika , Madara LAT 65.29 10
2 Špotáková , Barbora CZE 64.48 6
3 Khaladovich , Tatsiana BLR 64.15 4
4 Mitchell , Kathryn AUS 62.85 3
5 Viljoen , Sunette RSA 62.47 2
6 Laasma , Liina EST 60.91 1
7 Obergföll , Christina GER 53.97
8 Andrejczyk , Maria POL 53.49
Women’s TJ: Ibargüen Keeps Winning
Olympic champ Caterine Ibargüen of Colombia, who has only lost once since the 2012 Games, got the win as Olga Rypakova, the 2012 Olympic champ who got the bronze in Rio, was 2nd. Ibargüen’s 4th and 5th jumps were both far enough to win as she won her 4th straight meet after losing in Birmingham.
Triple Jump - Women
Pts Wind
1 Ibargüen , Caterine COL 14.76 10 +0.5
2 Rypakova , Olga KAZ 14.53 6 +1.0
3 Papahrístou , Paraskeví GRE 14.18 4 +0.3
4 Mamona , Patrícia POR 14.05 3 +0.8
5 Saladukha , Olga UKR 13.95 2 +0.5
6 Williams , Kimberly JAM 13.75 1 +0.7
7 Tsykhotska , Ruslana UKR 13.54 +0.6
Elbe , Jenny GER DNS
Men’s Discus: Philip Milanov Rebounds From Olympic Flop
Belgium’s Milanov was a disappointing ninth in Rio, but after throwing just 62.22 meters in the Olympic final, he eclipsed that distance on each of his final five throws, with a best of 65.61 in the final round.
Discus Throw - Men
Pts
1 Milanov , Philip BEL 65.61 10
2 Weisshaidinger , Lukas AUT 64.84 6
3 Kövágó , Zoltán HUN 64.52 4
4 Harting , Robert GER 63.12 3
5 Urbanek , Robert POL 62.83 2
6 Malachowski , Piotr POL 62.46 1
7 Kanter , Gerd EST 62.03
8 Kupper , Martin EST 61.93
9 Jasinski , Daniel GER 60.79
10 Brown , Rodney USA 58.77
Women’s Shot Put: Valerie Adams Turns the Tables on Michelle Carter
After Carter upset Adams with a dramatic final-round victory in Rio, the two-time Olympic champion from New Zealand got a small measure of revenge tonight in Lausanne, throwing 19.94 meters on her final attempt to get the win this time. The drama was not as high this time, however, as Carter already had the victory in hand by that point thanks to her 19.83m effort in round two.
Shot Put - Women
Pts
1 Adams , Valerie NZL 19.94 10
2 Carter , Michelle USA 19.49 6
3 Schwanitz , Christina GER 19.33 4
4 Smith , Brittany USA 18.94 3
5 Márton , Anita HUN 18.60 2
6 Dubitskaya , Aliona BLR 17.81 1
7 Johnson , Felisha USA 17.54
Women’s long jump: Olympic hangover for Tianna Bartoletta
In the Diamond League this year, only the top 4 jumpers get to take their final 3 jumps. That usually works ok and speeds up the competition but not tonight as Olympic champ Tianna Bartoletta was in 5th after 3 jumps. That paved the way for Olympic bronze medallist Ivana Spanovic’s 6.83 on her 2nd (and 3rd) jump to win the competition.
Long Jump - Women
Pts Wind
1 Španovic , Ivana SRB 6.83 10 +1.2
2 Ugen , Lorraine GBR 6.71 6 +1.1
3 Klishina , Darya RUS 6.50 4 +1.1
4 Proctor , Shara GBR 6.48 3 +0.8
5 Bartoletta , Tianna USA 6.46 2 +0.8
6 Okagbare , Blessing NGR 6.11 1 +0.9
Jones , Akela BAR DNS
Nettey , Christabel CAN DNS