2016 Zürich Full Meet Recap: Evan Jager Goes For It, Caster Semenya and Ruth Jebet Finish Off Historic Seasons, The World’s Best Women Clash at 200 And Massive Marks In The Men’s Shot

by LetsRun.com
September 1, 2016

The 2016 Weltklasse Zürich – the first of the two IAAF Diamond League track and field finals – was held tonight in Switzerland. With a $40,000 Diamond League jackpot on the line in most events, the action was intense. We recap the action for you below, starting with the distance and mid-distance events.

Shannon Rowbury’s historic win in the women’s 1500 got its own article: LRC Shannon Rowbury Wins Diamond League 1500 Finale in Zürich

Men’s 5000: Hagos Gebrhiwet Wins Race and Diamond League Title in a Strange, Strange 5,000 After Evan Jager Goes For It

Entering the men’s 5,000 in Zurich, the main question on the minds of U.S. distance fans was, “How many Americans would break 13:00 tonight?”

For international fans, the race was set up as a battle for the Diamond League title between Ethiopians Yomif Kejelcha, coming off a smoking 7:28 3k in Paris, and Muktar Edris, the Diamond League leader.

But the beauty of live sports is that it’s unscripted, and those pre-race storylines quickly fell by the wayside. The new plot: could anyone catch Evan Jager?

The American was the only one to go with the rabbits early on, and by 1600 meters, he led by 12 seconds. At the bell, he still led by 5 seconds, and he would hold that lead until the final 100 meters before Hagos Gebrhiwet finally caught him, steaming by for the win in 13:14.82. Fellow American Paul Chelimo (13:16.51), the Olympic silver medallist, wound up second once again as Jager had to settle for third (13:16.86). Gebrhiwet, a distant third in the DL standings entering the race, benefitted from the chaotic nature of the race — neither Kejelcha (7th) nor Edris (10th) wound up scoring any DL points — and took home $50,000 ($10k for the win, $40k for the DL title).

5000 Metres - Men                                             
                                                            Pts
    1 Gebrhiwet , Hagos                ETH   13:14.82         20        
    2 Chelimo , Paul Kipkemoi          USA   13:16.51         12        
    3 Jager , Evan                     USA   13:16.86          8        
    4 Rop , Albert Kibichii            BRN   13:17.56          6        
    5 Iguider , Abdalaati              MAR   13:19.35          4        
    6 Lagat , Bernard                  USA   13:19.73          2        
    7 Kejelcha , Yomif                 ETH   13:19.90                   
    8 Ahmed , Mohammed                 CAN   13:20.31                   
    9 Hill , Ryan                      USA   13:20.46                   
   10 Edris , Muktar                   ETH   13:23.05                   
   11 Kangogo , Cornelius Kipruto      KEN   13:25.12                   
   12 Longosiwa , Thomas Pkemei        KEN   13:25.48                   
   13 Jeilan , Ibrahim                 ETH   13:30.55
   14 Birgen , Bethwell Kiprotich      KEN   13:31.08
   15 Koech , Isiah Kiplangat          KEN   13:31.26
   16 Tanui , Paul Kipngetich          KEN   13:31.75
   17 Soi , Edwin Cheruiyot            KEN   13:36.19
   18 Merga , Imane                    ETH   14:00.22
      Mead , Hassan                    USA        DNF                   
      Maiyo , Hillary Kipkorir         KEN        DNF

The Race

Rabbits Hillary Maiyo and Cornelius Kangogo got out hard and Jager, who started with them on the outside in the barrel start, followed closely behind. But as they broke in after the first turn, Jager looked behind him and saw the chase pack well behind. Just 20 seconds into the race, Jager had a decision to make and it wound up becoming a big one: stay with the rabbits’ fast pace up front or slow down and wait for the pack?

Jager decided to go fast telling Runnerspace of the decision, “I was just like ‘whatever’ I don’t get to run many 5ks I came here to run hard and to run fast.”

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Jager quickly gained an enormous lead as the rabbits were flying (29.x first 200). By 600 meters (1:31), Jager already had six seconds on the chase pack and that lead had doubled by 1600 (4:14 for Jager, 4:26 for the chasers).

At one point Jager said the rabbit Cornelius Kangogo indicated he wanted to wait for the main pack. Jager told him to keep going. “I tried to be sneaky and steal a win,” Jager said.

Kejelcha was leading the chasers, who at that point were showing no desire to reel in Jager, before Mead took over at 1800 meters.

At that point, sub-13:00 (13:00 is 4:11 mile pace) was going to be a tall task for Jager, who would have to pick up the pace and run the final two kilometers alone. He was the only one with even an outside chance at a fast clocking as the rest of the pack had run far too slow in the early going.

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Kangogo led Jager through at 3k in 7:56 (12 seconds off the pace he was assigned) before dropping off the pace (but staying in the race). Jager started to lag, running 65’s and 66’s, but when he hit 4k in 10:40.15, he still had eight seconds on the large chase pack.

Jager picked it up at that point and tried to launch a sustained drive to the finish, going 63.91 and 63.20 for the penultimate lap, but the chasers were coming. Kejelcha and Albert Rop blew by Kangogo with just under 600 to go, and by the bell (12:14 for Jager, 12:20 for the pacers) they had cut Jager’s lead to six seconds.

Jager was spent at that point, however. The chase pack — Kejelcha, Rop, Olympic bronze medallist Hagos Gebrhiwet, Abdelaati Iguider and Olympic silver medallist Paul Chelimo— all shifted into kicking mode at the bell, but Jager had no extra gear to turn to and the gap began to shrink rapidly. Gebrhiwet still had plenty in the tank and threw in a massive surge on the backstretch. With 200 to go, he was just two seconds behind, but it was a matter of when, not if, he would catch the exhausted Jager. Gebrhiwet eventually went by coming off the final turn and wound up winning easily in the end in 13:14.82, closing in 54 seconds for the last lap.

Gebrhiwet’s big move on the back stretch had torn apart the chase pack. Chelimo, as he did in the Olympics, ran a strong final 100 to move up for second, but no one else would catch Jager, who ran a hard-earned 13:16.86 for third. Kejelcha faded after pushing the pace to help reel in Jager and wound up seventh, though he can take solace in the fact that he still would have lost the DL title even if he finished second. Edris will be kicking himself, however, as he only needed fourth to take the $40,000 jackpot but ran his worst race of the season and finished 10th.

Overall it was a good showing for the Americans, with Jager and Chelimo going 2-3 against a world-class field. U.S. champ Bernard Lagat was sixth in 13:19.73, Ryan Hill was ninth in 13:20.46 while Hassan Mead was a DNF.

Quick Thought #1: No, there weren’t any fast times tonight, but this was great entertainment

American fans were excited by the possibility of another one of their own joining the sub-13:00 club tonight, and so were we. The fast times didn’t materialize, but that didn’t make this a bad race, just a different one.

Sure, it was a little disappointing that Jager was the only man to go with the rabbit. All the Americans in this field had shown sub-13:00 potential at some point this year, and when that potential is realized on the track, it’s great to watch.

But one of the reasons track — and sports in general — is great is that it’s unpredictable. The storyline of everyone chasing fast times was quickly replaced by the pack trying to reel in Jager, and it was no less exciting. Fast times are fun, but this was a fascinating race. How often have you seen something like this?

Jager 10:37 into the race Jager’s lead – 10:37 into the race

Quick Thought #2: Is America the best country in the world in the men’s 5,000 meters right now?

In the two biggest 5,000s of the year — the Olympic final and the Diamond League final (which contained the best guys from the Olympics save Mo Farah), here’s how Ethiopia, Kenya and the U.S. have fared:

USA Ethiopia Kenya
Olympics 2, 5, 11 3, 12* No qualifiers
Zurich 2, 3, 6 1, 7, 10 11, 12, 14

*Edris crossed the line fourth but was later disqualified

You could make a case for Great Britain, as it has the clear #1 in Farah and Andrew Butchart was 6th in Rio, but the Brits don’t have much beyond those two in terms of truly elite guys.

Undoubtedly, the U.S. is better than Kenya right now. Really, it’s between the U.S. and Ethiopia. Ethiopia has been better on the season-long Diamond League circuit (winning six of seven 3k/5ks) but the U.S. has done very well on the biggest stages. The slower pace and hectic nature of the race tonight certainly helped the Americans, but the Olympic final was won in a quick 13:03 and the U.S. men did well in that one.

Overall, we’d give the edge to Ethiopia, but it’s a testament to American distance running right now that the debate is as close as it is.

QT #3: Nice End to Fabulous Season for Paul Chelimo

Just as he did in the Olympics, Paul Chelimo crossed the line in second. He went from being a guy who barely made the Olympic team this year to a world contender with an Olympic silver medal. When asked how his season went compared to his goals, Chelimo said, “I’m over my goals” as his goals did not include an Olympic silver medal. Now that he has the medal the sky is the limit. He said, “(This was a) good way to end the year…I’m still learning. I’m coming back next year for a bang.” When asked what he thought of Evan Jager leading he said, “Evan’s got courage.”

Women’s 800: Caster Semenya Caps Off An Undefeated Season

The women’s 800 went as it has all season long: Caster Semenya 1 (1:56.44), Francine Niyonsaba 2 (1:56.76) and Margaret Wambui 3 (1:57.04). The Court of Arbitration for Sport 1, those who think XY females with internal testes shouldn’t be allowed to compete without hormone treatment 0.

The rabbit went out in 55 as instructed, but her first 200 was way too fast (25 high/ 26 flat). At 400, Semenya led the racers (56.4) as she was followed closely by crowd favorite Selina Buchel of Switzerland and Niyonsaba with Wambui 3-4 meters back.

On the turn, Niyonsaba moved into second. After 600 (1:26.76), the three medallists from Rio started to separate from the rest of the pack. In the end, Semenya pulled away as she has all year long in the final 100 but unlike other races, it took her a little bit longer to secure victory.

American Olympian Kate Grace ran a smart race and moved up nicely from 7th with 100 to go to 5th and ended her European campaign with a significant pb of 1:58.28 (previous pb of 1:58.79).

“My season was great,” said Semenya who admitted she was still tired from Rio. “After Rio I had to go home and travel again to Europe. The WR? – I was not ready for the WR this year. But you cannot ask for more, this was an excellent year for me.”

Excellent indeed as Semenya has won all 15 of her 800s this year. No one has had a better season since 2008 when Pamela Jelimo burst onto the pro circuit in incredible fashion, winning all 15 of her races as well including an Olympic gold. Jelimo’s year in 2008 was even better than Semenya’s though as three times she broke 1:55 including a 1:54.01 world leader in Zurich (Semenya’s pb is 1:55.28).

800 Metres - Women                                            
                                                            Pts
    1 Semenya , Caster                 RSA    1:56.44         20        
    2 Niyonsaba , Francine             BDI    1:56.76         12        
    3 Wambui , Margaret Nyairera       KEN    1:57.04          8        
    4 Józwik , Joanna                  POL    1:58.21          6        
    5 Grace , Kate                     USA    1:58.28          4        
    6 Arzamasova , Marina              BLR    1:58.36          2        
    7 Pryshchepa , Nataliia            UKR    1:58.60                   
    8 Bishop , Melissa                 CAN    1:58.84                   
    9 Sum , Eunice Jepkoech            KEN    1:59.31
   10 Büchel , Selina                  SUI    1:59.48
   11 Sharp , Lynsey                   GBR    2:00.55
      Usovich , Ilona                  BLR        DNF

QT Nice End to track Season for Kate Grace

Very few people would have penciled Kate Grace onto the US Olympic team at the start of the year. She ended up not only on the Olympic team, but in the final and a clear US #1 this year. The Yale alum was pleased with the PB tonight but keeps setting her sites higher saying to Runnerspace, “You always want to get into the next number club. So It would have been fun to go 1:57.”

Discuss: Kate MF Grace

Women’s 3,000 Steeplechase: Ruth Jebet Adds the Diamond League Title to Her Olympic Crown and World Record to Complete the Greatest Season in the History of the Women’s Steeplechase

The final individual running event of the meet was the women’s steeplechase, and just like the women’s 800, it went exactly according to form. Ruth Jebet, Hyvin Kiyeng and Emma Coburn — in that order — have been the best three women in the world all season long, and after tonight’s result (Jebet 9:07.00, Kiyeng 9:10.15, Coburn 9:17.42), they’ve now gone 1-2-3 in all four races they’ve run against each other this year (Pre, Olympics, Paris, and Zurich).

This one started rather quickly, as the rabbits hit 1k in 2:57.74 with a pack of four racers behind them (Jebet, Kiyeng, Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech and 18-year-old Celliphine Chespol), 30 meters ahead of the rest of the field. The first rabbit, Caroline Tuigong, dropped out at that point, and shortly after that the second rabbit Stephanie Garcia, would join her as Garcia fell after clearing a hurdle on the backstretch and would not get back up.

Jebet took over and though she was actually slowing down, the other women were really starting to feel the effects of the fast first kilometer and Jebet, as she has so many times this year, began to gap the field. Coburn, running her own race, as is her custom, dropped the chase pack and set her sights on the fading Chepkoech and Chespol.

Jebet hit 2k alone in 6:03.03 and with two laps to go, her lead had ballooned to 15 meters over Kiyeng as Coburn had passed Chespol into fourth. Little would change from there to the finish apart from Coburn passing a dying Chepkoech for third as the three Olympic medallists reprised their Rio finish.

3000 Metres Steeplechase - Women                              
                                                            Pts
    1 Jebet , Ruth                     BRN    9:07.00         20        
    2 Jepkemoi , Hyvin Kiyeng          KEN    9:10.15         12        
    3 Coburn , Emma                    USA    9:17.42          8        
    4 Chepkoech , Beatrice             KEN    9:19.37          6        
    5 Diro , Etenesh                   ETH    9:21.67          4        
    6 Assefa , Sofia                   ETH    9:22.09          2        
    7 Nganga , Virginia Nyambura       KEN    9:29.16                   
    8 Chespol , Celliphine Chepteek    KEN    9:32.30                   
    9 Praught , Aisha                  JAM    9:33.10                   
   10 Quigley , Colleen                USA    9:35.30                   
   11 LaCaze , Genevieve               AUS    9:36.72                   
   12 Kirui , Purity Cherotich         KEN    9:39.68                   
   13 Schlumpf , Fabienne              SUI    9:45.88
      Garcia , Stephanie               USA        DNF                   
      Tuigong , Caroline Chepkurui     KEN        DNF

Quick Thought #1: A fitting cap to a groundbreaking season by Ruth Jebet, who has lifted the entire event in 2016

Jebet could easily have called it quits after Paris as it doesn’t get any better than an Olympic title and a world record. But given how far ahead she is of the rest of the world right now, it would have been foolish for her to pass up a $50,000 payday today, so she showed up and won the race.

At the start of 2016, the women’s steeplechase was still finding its footing as an international event (it was only added to Worlds in 2005 and the Olympics in 2008).

This is what the all-time top-10 list looked like at the start of the year.

Result P.A. Pos. Athlete Birth Cnt. Type Pl. Venue Date R.S. Rec.
8:58.81 1. 1. Gulnara GALKINA 78 RUS F 1. Beijing (CHN) 17.08.2008 1247 AR
9:01.59 2. Gulnara GALKINA 78 RUS F 1. Herakleion (GRE) 04.07.2004 1240
9:05.36 2. 3. Habiba GHRIBI 84 TUN F 1. Bruxelles (BEL) 11.09.2015 1231
9:06.57 3. 4. Yekaterina VOLKOVA 78 RUS F 1. Osaka (JPN) 27.08.2007 1228
9:07.14 4. 5. Milcah CHEMOS 86 KEN F 1. Oslo (NOR) 07.06.2012 1226
9:07.41 5. 6. Eunice JEPKORIR 82 KEN F 2. Beijing (CHN) 17.08.2008 1225
9:07.64 7. Yekaterina VOLKOVA 78 RUS F 3. Beijing (CHN) 17.08.2008 1225
9:08.21 8. Gulnara GALKINA 78 RUS F 1. Kazan (RUS) 18.07.2008 1223
9:08.33 9. Gulnara GALKINA 78 RUS F 1. Tula (RUS) 10.08.2003 1223
9:08.37 10. Habiba GHRIBI 84 TUN F 1. London (GBR) 06.08.2012 1223

Here’s what it looks like now:

Result P.A. Pos. Athlete Birth Cnt. Type Pl. Venue Date R.S. Rec.
8:52.78 1. 1. Ruth JEBET 96 BRN F 1. Paris (FRA) 27.08.2016 1263 AR, WR
8:58.81 2. 2. Gulnara GALKINA 78 RUS F 1. Beijing (CHN) 17.08.2008 1247 AR
8:59.75 3. Ruth JEBET 96 BRN F 1. Rio de Janeiro (BRA) 15.08.2016 1245
8:59.97 4. Ruth JEBET 96 BRN F 1. Eugene (USA) 28.05.2016 1244
9:00.01 3. 5. Hyvin KIYENG 92 KEN F 2. Eugene (USA) 28.05.2016 1244 AR
9:01.59 6. Gulnara GALKINA 78 RUS F 1. Herakleion (GRE) 04.07.2004 1240
9:01.96 7. Hyvin KIYENG 92 KEN F 2. Paris (FRA) 27.08.2016 1239
9:05.36 4. 8. Habiba GHRIBI 84 TUN F 1. Bruxelles (BEL) 11.09.2015 1231
9:06.57 5. 9. Yekaterina VOLKOVA 78 RUS F 1. Osaka (JPN) 27.08.2007 1228
9:07.00 10. Ruth JEBET 96 BRN F 1. Zürich (SUI) 01.09.2016 1226

Jebet has redefined what was possible in the event and shown that women are capable of running well under 9:00. She’s lifted the entire event, and the result is a slew of PRs, not just for Jebet but the women behind her as well. Jebet is only 19 years old, and as more and more fast young women turn to the steeplechase, this could be just the tip of the iceberg.

Quick Take #2: What a year by Emma Coburn

This was easily the best year of the 25-year-old Coburn’s career, and therefore the greatest season ever by a female American steeplechaser. Coburn broke out as a world-class steepler in 2014, and though she was consistent, she was not as fit as she was this year (she’s run the three fastest times in U.S. history in 2016). Coburn only lost to two women all year — Jebet and Kiyeng — and there’s no shame in that as both of those women are operating at an extremely high level. Oh yeah, and Coburn broke the American record (twice) and earned an Olympic bronze medal. A simply phenomenal season.

The year was so good for Coburn, she was a little disappointed with her time tonight telling Runnerspace, I was expecting to run faster today,” but that she is “happy to be consistently third (in the world).”

Sprints

Women’s 200: Elaine Thompson Wins Showdown with Allyson Felix and Dafne Schippers and Sets A New Diamond League Record

The women’s 200 was better than the Olympic final as in addition to the 2016 gold and silver medallists, it included 2012 Olympic champ Allyson Felix. Felix got off well but coming off the turn Schippers had the lead. But she’d get caught by .01 just before the line by the Olympic champ Elaine Thompson, who won in a Diamond League record of 21.85.

Schippers had to settle for 2nd but she got a nice consolation prize – $40,000 for the DL title and a seasonal best time. The 21.86 she ran here was .02 faster than what she ran in the Olympic final. Felix was third in a seasonal best of 22.02 – a time that would have earned bronze in Rio.

200 Metres - Women                                            Wind: +0.2 m/s
                                                            Pts
    1 Thompson , Elaine                JAM      21.85         20        
    2 Schippers , Dafne                NED      21.86         12        
    3 Felix , Allyson                  USA      22.02          8        
    4 Asher-Smith , Dina               GBR      22.38          6        
    5 Facey , Simone                   JAM      22.50          4        
    6 Campbell-Brown , Veronica        JAM      22.51          2        
    7 Ahye , Michelle-Lee              TTO      22.78                   
    8 Kambundji , Mujinga              SUI      23.00

Quick Thought #1: Ladies, thank you for not ducking each other and letting us see you battle it out.

Video of race here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbYJ-kIoMic

Women’s 100 Hurdles: Keni Harrison Closes Out a 100 Hurdles Season for the Ages

We don’t know if you can call Harrison’s 2016 season the greatest ever by a hurdler considering she didn’t even qualify for the Olympics, but aside from her hiccup at the Trials in July, she didn’t lose another race and was far and away the best in the world this year. After her dominance this summer, the only surprising thing about her victory tonight was that it was not faster (she ran 12.63). That’s more a testament to Harrison’s brilliance than anything else. She’s broken 12.50 so many times this year (eight) that she’s made it look easy when it certainly is not. Only one other woman, Olympic champ Brianna Rollins, has cracked the barrier all year.

Overall, Harrison has eight of the nine fastest times in the world last year, including the first- and fourth-fastest times in history. Nothing can replace an Olympic gold medal, but a season like that isn’t a bad consolation prize.

Harrison has bigger goals in the future, however. She’s spoken about wanting to run the 100 and 400 hurdles at Worlds next year and has talked about breaking 12 seconds for the the 100 hurdles (her WR is 12.20).

100 Metres Hurdles - Women                                    Wind: +0.4 m/s
                                                            Pts
    1 Harrison , Kendra                USA      12.63         20        
    2 Ofili , Cindy                    GBR      12.70         12        
    3 Harper Nelson , Dawn             USA      12.73          8        
    4 Stowers , Jasmin                 USA      12.78          6        
    5 Roleder , Cindy                  GER      12.80          4        
    6 Simmonds , Megan                 JAM      12.90          2        
    7 George , Phylicia                CAN      12.93                   
    8 Zagre , Anne                     BEL      12.98                   
    9 Hildebrand , Nadine              GER      12.99

Men’s 100m: Asafa Powell Wins Diamond League Title with his First DL Win of Year

Asafa Powell only had six Diamond League points coming in, but he won the finale here in 9.94 and picked up its 20 points and that was enough to give him the Diamond League title. It was Powell’s fourth win in Zurich during his career but his first since 2009 (also 2004 and 2008).

“I didn’t start very well tonight but I managed to go under 10s for the 98th time so I’m very happy. The atmosphere is always great here. I think there is even more crowd (here than) at the Olympic Games,” said Powell after the race. “I am very sad for Rieti, a meet that I feel very close to and where I beat a world record. This year they will not be able to make it because of the earthquake that hit the region, but I’m sure it will start over next year and I want to be there.”
Ben Meite of the Ivory Coast, whom some believe may be coached by the banned Trevor Graham, was the only guy who had won a Diamond League race this year who bothered to show up. The $40,000 DL title is less appealing to top sprinters who can get appearance fees more than that.

100 Metres - Men                                              Wind: +0.4 m/s
                                                            Pts
    1 Powell , Asafa                   JAM       9.94         20        
    2 Simbine , Akani                  RSA       9.99         12        
    3 Meité , Ben Youssef              CIV       9.99          8        
    4 Collins , Kim                    SKN      10.10          6        
    5 Gemili , Adam                    GBR      10.11          4        
    6 McLeod , Omar                    JAM      10.12          2        
    7 Martina , Churandy               NED      10.13                   
    8 Ujah , Chijindu                  GBR      10.13                   
    9 Rodgers , Mike                   USA      10.15

Men’s 400 Hurdles: Kerron Clement Rallies To Take The Jackpot

The race was close coming into the final straight when 2016 Olympic gold medallist Kerron Clement had a horrific next to last hurdle and found himself just 4th heading into the final hurdle. But Clement did what he used to so often do early in his career – find a way to use his superior 400 speed and rally and grab the win and save the $40,000 DL jackpot. The man finishing second was Javier Culson of Puerto Rico, who would have won the DL jackpot had Clement not rallied. Culson, who was DQ’d for a false start in the Olympic final, was visibly distraught after coming up short on the jackpot.

400 Metres Hurdles - Men                                      
                                                            Pts
    1 Clement , Kerron                 USA      48.72         20        
    2 Culson , Javier                  PUR      48.79         12        
    3 van Zyl , L.J.                   RSA      48.80          8        
    4 Mägi , Rasmus                    EST      48.90          6        
    5 Hussein , Kariem                 SUI      49.21          4        
    6 Barr , Thomas                    IRL      49.34          2        
    7 Nozawa , Keisuke                 JPN      49.42                   
      Tumuti , Boniface Mucheru        KEN        DNF                   

Men’s 400m: LaShawn Merritt Holds on for Win

LaShawn Merritt went out very hard and it nearly cost him the win as Bralon Taplin came on strong in the last 100 but Merritt found just enough to hold on for the win in 44.64, his 5th win in Zurich. Merritt is $50,000 richer than he was to start the day as a top-3 finish guaranteed him the $40,000 DL jackpot (win is worth $10,000).

400 Metres - Men                                              
                                                            Pts
    1 Merritt , LaShawn                USA      44.64         20        
    2 Taplin , Bralon                  GRN      44.70         12        
    3 Brenes , Nery                    CRC      45.18          8        
    4 Rooney , Martyn                  GBR      45.32          6        
    5 Gardiner , Steven                BAH      45.66          4        
    6 Makwala , Isaac                  BOT      45.68          2        
    7 Maslák , Pavel                   CZE      45.81                   
      Hudson-Smith , Matthew           GBR        DNF

Women’s 400 Hurdles: Shamier Little Returns To Form

Shamier Little picked up her first win as a pro in this non-Diamond League race in 53.97.  Little hadn’t won a race or even broken 55 (let alone 54) since winning the NCAA championships in 53.51 on June 11.

400 Metres Hurdles - Women                                    

    1 Little , Shamier                 USA      53.97                   
    2 Petersen , Sara Slott            DEN      54.22                   
    3 Doyle , Eilidh                   GBR      54.55                   
    4 Nel , Wenda                      RSA      55.15                   
    5 Folorunso , Ayomide              ITA      55.69                   
    6 Sprunger , Léa                   SUI      55.71                   
    7 Titimets , Anna                  UKR      55.72                   
    8 Linkiewicz , Joanna              POL      56.24

Non-Diamond League Women’s 100

Women's results

100 Metres - Women Race 1                                     Wind: -0.3 m/s

    1 Kielbasinska , Anna              POL      11.55                   
    2 Del Ponte , Ajla                 SUI      11.61
    3 Halbheer , Cornelia              SUI      11.81
    4 Sprunger , Ellen                 SUI      11.88
    5 Dolvik , Anne Skudal             NOR      11.90
    6 Kloster , Line                   NOR      11.90
    7 Lavanchy , Marisa                SUI      12.02
    8 Dagry , Samantha                 SUI      12.08
    9 Koldej , Malgorzata              POL      12.24

100 Metres - Women Race 2                                     Wind: -0.1 m/s

    1 Williams , Christania            JAM      11.04                   
    2 Pierre , Barbara                 USA      11.20                   
    3 Pohrebniak , Natalia             UKR      11.23                   
    4 Mayer , Lisa                     GER      11.32                   
    5 Tarmoh , Jeneba                  USA      11.34                   
    6 Povkh , Olesya                   UKR      11.39                   
    7 Burghardt , Alexandra            GER      11.44                   
    8 Kora , Salomé                    SUI      11.58
    9 Gonska , Nadine                  GER      11.64

Women’s 4×100: Jamaica Wins

Jamaica got the easy win in 41.65 ahead of the Ukraine in what was the final event in Zurich. The US was way back but a botched handoff from Allyson Felix to Jeneba Tarmoh meant they got DQ’d anyway.

4x100 Metres Relay - Women                                    

    1 Jamaica                          JAM      41.65                   
    2 Ukraine                          UKR      42.76                   
    3 Germany                          GER      43.03                   
    4 Switzerland                      SUI      43.38                   
    5 Poland                           POL      44.45                   
    6 Switzerland "B"                  SUI      44.90                   
    7 Norway                           NOR      45.05                   
      United States                    USA         DQ

Field Events

Men’s Shot Put: Tom Walsh Caps Tremendous Season With Another National Record and Diamond League Title

2016 has been tremendous for Tom Walsh of New Zealand.  He got the bronze medal in Rio, and has been even better since then. He threw 22.00 for the first time to get the win in Paris by .01. Then today he upped that too 22.20 to get another win.

QT: “Poor” Ryan Crouser

Excluding marks from the 1980s when there wasn’t stringent out of competition drug testing, today was the only the second time someone has thrown 22.00 meters and lost (It happened to Christian Cantwell in 2011).

Crouser threw 21.99 in Paris and didn’t win either. He gets to go home with a nice consolation prize, the Olympic gold medal (Crouser wasn’t in contention for the DL jackpot).

Shot Put - Men                                                
                                                            Pts
    1 Walsh , Tomas                    NZL      22.20         20        
    2 Crouser , Ryan                   USA      22.00         12        
    3 Kovacs , Joe                     USA      21.20          8        
    4 Roberts , Kurt                   USA      20.99          6        
    5 Elemba , Franck                  CGO      20.75          4        
    6 Hill , Darrell                   USA      20.68          2        
    7 Bukowiecki , Konrad              POL      20.46                   
    8 Romani , Darlan                  BRA      20.19                   
    9 Storl , David                    GER      20.09
   10 Majewski , Tomasz                POL      20.04

Men’s Pole Vault: Renaud Lavillenie Splits Victory with Sam Kendricks, Wins His 7th Consecutive Diamond League Title

In the seven-year history of the Diamond League, only one athlete has won the Diamond League title every single year: Renaud Lavillenie. After his win in Paris, Lavillenie had already clinched the 2016 championship, so tonight he was just going for the win. He wound up achieving that, technically, though he actually split the victory with American Sam Kendricks, as they both missed all three attempts at 6.01m and were even on misses before that. With the DL title decided, there was no jump-off, leaving the two men as co-winners tonight.

Pole Vault - Men                                              
                                                            Pts
    1 Kendricks , Sam                  USA       5.90         20        
    1 Lavillenie , Renaud              FRA       5.90         20        
    3 da Silva , Thiago Braz           BRA       5.84          8        
    4 Lisek , Piotr                    POL       5.72          6        
    5 Kudlicka , Jan                   CZE       5.72          4        
    6 Filippídis , Konstadínos         GRE       5.62          2        
    7 Joseph , Stanley                 FRA       5.52                   
    8 Sobera , Robert                  POL       5.32                   
    9 Alberto , Dominik                SUI       5.32

Men’s Triple Jump: Christian Taylor Wins Fifth Straight DL Title

It would have taken an unlikely set of events for Taylor to lose the DL title as he led by 14 points entering the meet, and no such miracle occurred as Taylor blasted a 17.80 — the second-longest jump in the world this year — to win the meet. Guyana’s Troy Doris was the only other man over 17 meters as any of Taylor’s final four legal jumps would have won the competition.

Few athletes have dominated their event as Taylor has over the past three years. He won the world title last year and Olympic crown this year, had the four longest jumps in the world this year and was also the world leader last year. Since 2011, his only loss at a global championship came in 2013, when he was fourth at Worlds. But Taylor still has goals he wants to achieve.

“I’m extremely satisfied about tonight,” Taylor said. “It’s really close to my SB, I won the Diamond Race, just great. I’ve won it all, that’s true, but there’s still the world record to chase and I will keep fighting for it. I want to keep my average up, consistently over 17.70/17.80m.

“I train with athletes from different athletes and that helps me a lot. Training with sprinters, for example, it’s good for my speed. And maybe I’ll run the 400m next year, we’ll see.”

Triple Jump - Men                                             
                                                            Pts               Wind
    1 Taylor , Christian               USA      17.80         20              +0.1
    2 Doris , Troy                     GUY      17.01         12              -0.3
    3 Carter , Chris                   USA      16.75          8              +0.2
    4 Copello , Alexis                 CUB      16.71          6              +0.2
    5 Benard , Chris                   USA      16.71          4              -0.7
    6 Hess , Max                       GER      16.69          2              +0.3
    7 Craddock , Omar                  USA      16.56                         -0.5
    8 Évora , Nelson                   POR      16.48                         -0.6
    9 Murillo , John                   COL      16.42      +0.3
   10 Oke , Tosin                      NGR      16.29       0.0

Men’s Javelin: Jakub Vadlejch Wins DL Title

Jakub Vadlejch was only 8th in the Olympic javelin, but he clearly learned something from that setback as he threw an 88.02 PB to win in Paris and the followed that up with a 87.28 win here which gave him the Diamond League title over Olympic champ Thomas Röhler (if the order was reversed Röhler would have won the title).

Javelin Throw - Men                                           
                                                            Pts
    1 Vadlejch , Jakub                 CZE      87.28         20        
    2 Röhler , Thomas                  GER      86.56         12        
    3 Weber , Julian                   GER      84.29          8        
    4 Ruuskanen , Antti                FIN      82.69          6        
    5 Pitkämäki , Tero                 FIN      79.63          4        
    6 Veselý , Vítezslav               CZE      78.59          2        
    7 Amb , Kim                        SWE      78.52                   
    8 Sirmais , Zigismunds             LAT      74.52                   
      Walcott , Keshorn                TTO         NM

Women’s Discus: Sandra Perkovic Caps a Perfect Season with Diamond League Title

Sandra Perkovic made it through 2016 undefeated. All she had to do was show up tonight to win the Diamond League title, but she did what she has done all year – win.

Discus Throw - Women                                          
                                                            Pts
    1 Perkovic , Sandra                CRO      68.44         20        
    2 Robert-Michon , Mélina           FRA      63.91         12        
    3 Caballero , Denia                CUB      62.80          8        
    4 Fischer , Julia                  GER      61.80          6        
    5 Müller , Nadine                  GER      60.09          4        
    6 Craft , Shanice                  GER      58.46          2        
    7 Sendriuté , Zinaida              LTU      58.24                   
    8 Ashley , Whitney                 USA      57.69                   
    9 Lally , Jade                     GBR      57.39
   10 Martins , Fernanda               BRA      52.11

Women’s High Jump: Ruth Beitia Adds DL Title to Olympic Crown

The 37-year-old Beitia only lost once all year outdoors, at the Pre Classic (she was sixth), and though she failed to clear two meters, she can’t complain after winning Olympic and DL titles. She capped her season off in fine fashion tonight as she was perfect through 1.96 (enough to win the competition) but missed all three attempts at 2.02 (which would have tied her pb).

“This was my last meeting for this season,” Beitia said. “And this was a great night for me, una grandissima noche. 2016 was wonderful year for me with the gold medal at the European championships and the gold medal at the Olympic Games. And now tonight I win the Diamond Race. I am most happy. As for next year, I will compete indoors and then we will see. I will take it step by step.”

High Jump - Women                                             
                                                            Pts
    1 Beitia , Ruth                    ESP       1.96         20        
    2 Skoog , Sofie                    SWE       1.93         12        
    2 McPherson , Inika                USA       1.93         12        
    4 Licwinko , Kamila                POL       1.93          6        
    5 Palšyté , Airiné                 LTU       1.90          4        
    5 Demireva , Mirela                BUL       1.90          4        
    7 Gerashchenko , Iryna             UKR       1.90                   
    8 Spencer , Levern                 LCA       1.90                   
    9 Trost , Alessia                  ITA       1.90
   10 Hrubá , Michaela                 CZE       1.86

Women’s Long Jump: Reese Gets The Wins as Spanovic Gets The Cash

Brittney Reese, the 2012 Olympic gold and 2016 Olympic silver medallist, got the win with a fourth round jump of 6.95 which edged 2016 Olympic bronze medallist Ivana Spanovic who went 6.93 in round #1. Spanovic got the $40,000 jackpot however by just competing.

“This Diamond Race win means a lot to me because I was very angry with myself because I could not produce a bigger jump at the Olympic Games,” said Spanovic. “I have a business back home, a fitness center, maybe I will invest my Diamond Race money there. I did not make a big party after the Olympic Games to celebrate my medal because I had to leave for Paris and Lausanne. After Zurich I still have two more meetings but then I will have a big party because this year has been my most successful year.”

Long Jump - Women                                             
                                                            Pts               Wind
    1 Reese , Brittney                 USA       6.95         20              -0.2
    2 Španovic , Ivana                 SRB       6.93         12               0.0
    3 Klishina , Darya                 RUS       6.63          8              -1.0
    4 Balta , Ksenija                  EST       6.63          6              -1.2
    5 Ugen , Lorraine                  GBR       6.52          4              -1.4
    6 Bartoletta , Tianna              USA       6.51          2              +0.4
    7 Proctor , Shara                  GBR       6.51                         -1.4
    8 Sawyers , Jazmin                 GBR       6.44                         -0.4
    9 Bekh , Maryna                    UKR       6.38      +0.4
   10 Moguenara , Sosthene             GER       5.08      -0.3

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