2012 Aviva Birmingham Diamond League Recap

By LetsRun.com
August 26, 2012

Full recap of the Diamond League meet below.

The British crowd was excited to see Mo Farah sprint to a win over a very weak two-mile field as Aries Merritt got back to his winning ways after his DQ in Lausanne, Tyson Gay ran his first 200 in a couple of years and got beat, Matt Centrowitz had a let down in the 1500m, Carmelita Jeter beat Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce again, Mariya Savinova won her second unrabbited 800m in the UK this month, and Vivian Cheruiyot got outkicked.

*Full results here  *Athletics Weekly Recap here   *Reuters Recap here

Men's Two Mile: 8 Laps of Honour for Farah

This is the race everyone wanted to see even if it was really more about honoring double Olympic champ Mo Farah than actually racing. Simon Hart of the Telegraph put it best calling it "eight laps of honour" for Farah.

There was talk of Farah challenging Steve Ovett's UK two-mile record of 8:13.51 but the record was never in jeopardy here as Farah was content to just get the win in his first and only track race this year post-Olympics.

The race came down to the final lap. Farah was leading on the backstretch doing what he needed to keep the lead. Bobby Curtis then made a move to challenge Farah and six others were in contention with just over 200m to go. That is when Farah decided it was time to exert himself and he ran away from the field with ease the final 200m. Italian 10,000m runner Daniel Meucci was the best of the rest.

QT: Up next for Farah is a half-marathon September 16 versus Haile Gebrselassie at the Great North Run. That should be an interesting one. This one wasn't, but Farah deserved his day in the sun. Also, considering his wife gave birth to twins on Friday, just showing up to run was more than enough for the British fans.

*
Race Video

1
GBR
8:27.24
2
ITA
8:28.28
3
USA
8:29.43
4
KEN
8:29.57
5
USA
8:29.83
6
KEN
8:29.96
7
GBR
8:30.19
PB
8
USA
8:34.27
9
GBR
8:35.24
10
GBR
8:51.99
 
GBR
DNF

Intermediate times:
1618m Thompson, Chris (GBR) 4:21.07
2018m Thompson, Chris (GBR) 5:24.90
3018m Farah, Mo (GBR) 8:00.80

Women's 800m:Mariya Savinova Wins Her Second Straight Unrabbited 800m in the UK

With no rabbit, this race was different than what usually is seen in the Diamond League. 300m into the race the Olympic champion Mariya Savinova was in last. She sensed the pace was slowing and moved up during the straight going very wide to take the lead at the bell which was reached in 61.76.

On the back stretch Savinova was challenged by American Maggie Vessey as the field was still intact. With 200m to go Savinova found another gear and began to pull away. Marilyn Okoro of Britain tried to give chase but it was futile as Savinova got the win by over a second in 2:00.40. 2008 Olympic champion Pamela Jelimo, who beat Savinova Thursday in Lausanne, closed well the last 100m to get second in 2:01.43.

QT: We really shouldn't be surprised the Olympic champion won an unrabbited 800m race in the UK should we?

1
RUS
2:00.40
2
KEN
2:01.43
3
GBR
2:01.96
4
USA
2:02.01
5
GBR
2:02.28
6
KEN
2:03.20
7
GBR
2:03.33
8
GBR
2:03.39
9
USA
2:03.79

Intermediate times:
400m Savinova, Mariya (RUS) 1:01.76
600m Savinova, Mariya (RUS) 1:31.85

Men's 1500m: Centrowitz and Manzano Disappoint

Many in this field had raced Thursday night in Lausanne where Matt Centrowitz ran a big pr for third.

In this race, Centrowitz showed more confidence than he has in the past as he raced up front, going out in fourth on the first lap behind the two rabbits. The pace here, 57.02, however was slower than in Lausanne.

Centro would gradually fade back in this one and was not a factor when the race was decided with 200m to go.

Silas Kiplagat, the World Championship silver medallist, was leading with 200m to go, but there were roughly seven guys in contention including Nate Brannen of Canada.

Kiplagat did not have it the final 100m as Mekonnen Gebremedin had a great burst of speed to get the win in a modest 3:34.80. Centrowitz only finished 8th and Olympic silver medallists Leo Manzano was only 11th in 3:42.

QT: Good to see Centro at least mentally put himself in the race earlier on even if it did not work out.

QT2: 3:34.80 seems like a Leo Manzano type race. However, not all finishing times are run the same. This race had faster intermediate splits than the Olympic final. In the Olympic final  1200m was reached 2:54.72, nearly two seconds slower than here (2:52.79), yet the winning time at the Olympics (3:34.08) was faster. Makhloufi hammered home whereas these guys strangely crawled home in 42.

Rank Athlete Nation Result Diamond Points Diamond Ranking
1
ETH
3:34.80
9
2
 
2
KEN
3:35.09
4
4
 
3
KEN
3:35.74
1
6
 
4
KEN
3:35.74
8
3
 
5
KEN
3:35.88
1
6
 
6
CAN
3:36.07
 
 
 
7
MAR
3:36.27
 
 
 
8
USA
3:37.93
1
6
 
9
GBR
3:38.87
 
 
 
10
GBR
3:39.59
SB
 
 
 
11
USA
3:42.20
 
 
 
12
GBR
3:43.46
 
 
 
13
GBR
3:51.95
 
 
 
 
KEN
DNF
 
 
 
 
KEN
DNF
 
 
 

Intermediate times:
400m Rotich, Andrew Kiptoo (KEN) 57.02
800m Rotich, Andrew Kiptoo (KEN) 1:53.72
1200m Gathimba, Gideon (KEN) 2:52.79

Women's 3000m: Vivian Cheruiyot Gets Outkicked

This one was very slow the first 2km and came down to the final 100m where London 10,000m silver medallists Sally Kipyego had the lead in lane 1 and was trying to hold off double medallist Vivian Cheruiyot on her outside. Mercy Cherono was in third to start the final 100m, but she had just enough to beat Cheruiyot by .01. It also vaulted Cherono, who is four for four this year in 3000m, to the head of the Diamond League standings. Cherono tried to run the 1500m for Kenya at the Olympics, but did not make the team.

*Race Video

1
KEN
8:41.21
12
1
img
2
KEN
8:41.22
SB
10
2
 
3
KEN
8:42.74
1
6
 
4
KEN
8:43.75
SB
1
6
 
5
KEN
8:45.61
1
6
 
6
GBR
8:46.38
PB
 
 
 
7
ETH
8:48.84
1
6
 
8
ETH
8:52.89
 
 
 
9
GBR
8:55.11
PB
 
 
 
10
KEN
8:57.06
 
 
 
11
GBR
8:58.62
PB
 
 
 
12
USA
9:11.59
 
 
 
 
KEN
DNF
 
 
 

Intermediate times: 1000m Masai, Magdalene (KEN) 2:58.21
2000m Kipyego, Sally (KEN) 5:59.18

Women's 1500: Anna Pierce Gets the Win

Anne Pierce, training partner of Morgan Uceny, got a win here in a slow race in a field that included two 2012 Olympic 1500m finalists (Laura Weightman and Hellen Obiri).

*Video Interview: Anna Pierce Has Positive Outlook After Winning Here And Wishes She Was In This Shape Back At The Olympic Trials

1
USA
4:11.33
2
GBR
4:11.79
3
CAN
4:11.94
4
GBR
4:11.95
5
AUS
4:12.28
6
KEN
4:12.98
7
KEN
4:15.08
8
USA
4:15.26
9
GER
4:15.75

Intermediate times:
400m England, Hannah (GBR) 1:09.24
800m Weightman, Laura (GBR) 2:21.42
1200m Weightman, Laura (GBR) 3:25.71

Men's Steeple: 19 Year Old Jairus Birech Gets First DL Win

19 year old Jairus Birech who was fourth at the Kenyan Olympic Trials got his first Diamond League win. He and London bronze medallist Abel Mutai were clear of the field throughout and Birech ran away from Mutai after the last water barrier. American Donn Cabral got third.

KEN
8:20.27
 
2
KEN
8:25.42
 
3
USA
8:32.55
 
4
KEN
8:33.17
 
5
POL
8:42.38
 
6
GBR
8:47.09
 
7
AUS
9:09.45
 
 
MAR
DNF
 
 
CAN
DNS

Men's 110m Hurdles: Aries Merritt Keeps Winning

Merritt was DQd in Lausanne in his first race post-Olympics on Thursday. He got the win here running a quick 12.95 into the wind as Jason Richardson tied his PR challenging Merritt all the way.

*Race Video

Wind:-0.9
Rank Athlete Nation Result Reaction time Diamond Points Diamond Ranking
1
USA
12.95
MR
0.146
10
2
 
2
USA
12.98
=PB
0.165
14
1
img
3
USA
13.28
0.154
5
4
 
4
USA
13.34
0.156
 
 
 
5
BAR
13.42
0.160
 
 
 
6
GBR
13.52
0.146
 
 
 
7
RSA
13.59
0.139
 
 
 
8
JAM
13.76
0.155
1
6
 

Men's 200m: Tyson Gay Runs First 200m Since 2010 but Gets Beat

Tyson Gay hadn't run a 200 since 2010. He had the lead here on the homestretch but surprisingly ran out of steam as Nick Ashmeade who was fourth at the Jamaican Trials (Jamaica went 1-2-3 in London in the 200) got the win.

QT: Tyson Gay is getting healthy if he's running the 200. The bad news is he turned 30 earlier this month. How many good years does he have left?

QT #2: We say Gay was surprisingly run down given his past success at 200. But it wasn't surprising that he'd struggle since he hasn't run a 200 in so long. He made the right call in only running the 100 at the US Trials.

*Race Video

Wind:0.0
Rank Athlete Nation Result Reaction time Diamond Points Diamond Ranking
1
JAM
20.12
0.138
11
2
 
2
USA
20.21
0.148
2
6
 
3
USA
20.23
0.146
6
3
 
4
NED
20.36
0.155
12
1
img
5
USA
20.43
0.167
 
 
 
6
GBR
20.53
PB
0.173
 
 
 
7
GBR
20.80
0.150
 
 
 
8
JAM
20.80
0.165
 
 
 

Men's 400m: Angelo Taylor Goes Sub 45
Angelo Taylor
had a tough showing in the London Olympics. The two time Olympic champ did not medal in the hurdles then got walked down on the US 4X400 anchor. He showed he's still fast here with a win over London silver medallist Luguelin Santos.

1
USA
44.93
SB
0.145
6
3
 
2
DOM
44.96
0.193
10
1
img
3
BEL
45.15
0.183
5
5
 
4
SUD
45.54
0.161
 
 
 
5
USA
45.66
0.190
 
 
 
6
GBR
45.69
0.169
 
 
 
7
JAM
45.88
0.226
 
 
 
8
GBR
46.52
0.199

Women's 100m: Carmelita Jeter Wins Again

Carmelita Jeter beat two-time Olympic champ Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce in a photo finish in Lausanne on Thursday. Here it was more convincing.

*Race Video

Wind:+0.7
Rank Athlete Nation Result Reaction time Diamond Points Diamond Ranking
1
USA
10.81
MR
0.146
9
2
 
2
JAM
10.90
0.160
11
1
img
3
USA
11.22
0.145
1
8
 
4
NGR
11.22
0.151
 
 
 
5
USA
11.23
0.155
 
 
 
6
JAM
11.24
0.192
 
 
 
7
FRA
11.30
0.143
 
 
 
8
GBR
11.38
0.164
 
 
 

Women's 400m Hurdles: Olympic Champ Antyukh Only 4th

Kaliese Spencer held off hometown hope Perri Skhakes-Drayton as the Olympic champ Natalya Antyukh was only fourth. Spencer was initially DQ'd for a trail leg violation, but it was successfully appealed due to lack of "conclusive evidence."

1
JAM
53.78
MR
0.167
16
2
GBR
54.08
0.185
4
3
CZE
54.14
0.162
5
4
RUS
54.95
0.142
 
5
CZE
55.94
0.210
 
6
GBR
55.98
0.159
 
7
BEL
56.41
0.155
 
8
RUS
57.55
0.149
 

Women's 400m: Rosemarie Whyte Stops Christine Ohuruogo

The Brits no doubt wanted Olympic silver medallists Christine Ohuruogu to win this one but a season's best by Rosemarie Whyte stopped that.

1
JAM
50.20
SB
0.189
2
GBR
50.67
0.152
3
USA
51.00
0.189
4
JAM
51.44
0.211
5
USA
51.45
0.187
6
USA
52.09
0.167
7
GBR
52.62
 
8
GBR
52.92
0.157

Men's High Jump: Grabarz Gets the Win and Heads DL Standings

Robbie Grabarz, the Olympic bronze medallist, continued his fine 2012 getting the win before the home crown. Most importantly it moved him in front of the Diamond League standings. If he beats Jesse Williams in the last Diamond League meet, Grabarz will win the $40,000 Diamond League title.

Grabarz had jumped 2.37 in Lausanne earlier in the week which only got him third but tied the British record.

QT: Jesse Williams' struggles continue. Earlier in the year, the 2011 World Champion had a strangle hold on the Diamond League rankings but since the Olympics has struggled.

Rank Athlete Nation Result
Diamond Points Diamond Ranking   2.15
2.38
2.20
 
2.24
 
2.28
 
2.32
 
2.35
 
1
GBR
2.32
13
1
img
 
-
x
xo
 
o
 
o
 
o
 
xx-
 
2
RUS
2.28
4
5
   
o
 
o
 
o
 
o
 
x-
 
xx
 
3
RUS
2.28
1
7
   
o
 
xxo
 
o
 
o
 
xxx
 
 
 
4
QAT
2.24
4
3
   
-
 
o
 
o
 
xxx
 
 
 
 
 
5
BAH
2.24
 
 
   
xxo
 
xo
 
o
 
xxx
 
 
 
 
 
6
FRA
2.24
1
7
   
o
 
o
 
xo
 
xxx
 
 
 
 
 
6
USA
2.24
1
7
   
o
 
o
 
xo
 
xxx
 
 
 
 
 
8
CAN
2.20
 
 
   
xo
 
o
 
xxx
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
9
USA
2.20
12
2
   
xo
 
xo
 
xxx
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Women's Pole Vault: Jenn Suhr Gets Back on Track

Suhr, the Olympic champ, no heighted in Stockholm in her first post-Olympic meet. Here she got the win over London silver medallist Yarisley Silva.

Rank Athlete Nation Result
Diamond Points Diamond Ranking   4.22 4.42 4.57 4.65 4.73  
1
USA
4.65
4
4
   
-
-
xo
o
xxx
 
2
CUB
4.65
10
2
   
-
xo
o
xo
xxx
 
3
BRA
4.42
10
1
img
 
-
o
xxx
 
 
 
3
CZE
4.42
2
6
   
-
o
xxx
 
 
 
5
AUS
4.42
 
 
   
xxo
xo
xxx
 
 
 
6
GER
4.22
 
 
   
o
xxx
 
 
 
 
7
USA
4.22
 
 
   
xo
xxx
 
 
 
 
 
GER
NM
8
3
   
-
-
xxx
 
 
 
 
GER
NM
1
9
   
-
xxx
 
 
 
 

Men's Long Jump: Greg Rutherford 3rd in First Post Olympics Meet

The surprise Olympic champ Rutherford made his first appearance post-Olympics. He skipped 3 jumps in a row dealing with an injury and only managed 7.88.

1
RUS
8.18
+0.7
9
2
   
8.18
(+0.7)
x
(0.0)
x
(+0.4)
x
(-0.9)
-
 
2
USA
7.95
+0.4
2
7
   
x
(+0.3)
7.79
(0.0)
x
(+0.2)
7.71
(-0.4)
x
(+0.8)
7.95
(+0.4)
3
GBR
7.88
+0.4
5
3
   
7.86
(+0.4)
7.88
(+0.4)
-
-
-
x
(+0.3)
4
GBR
7.78
+0.5
3
6
   
7.59
(+0.3)
7.76
(+0.3)
7.69
(-0.4)
7.76
(-1.3)
7.78
(+0.5)
7.72
(-0.1)
5
GBR
7.78
-0.4
   
x
(+0.5)
7.59
(-0.6)
7.76
(+0.5)
x
(-1.4)
x
(0.0)
7.78
(-0.4)
6
GER
7.76
0.0
   
7.64
(+1.7)
7.63
(+1.0)
7.65
(+0.4)
-
7.76
(0.0)
7.68
(+0.7)
7
AUS
7.68
+0.7
10
1
img
 
7.68
(+0.7)
-
 
 
 
 
8
LAT
7.50
+0.4
   
7.50
(+0.4)
x
(+1.4)
7.29
(+0.9)
7.18
(-0.7)
x
(+0.8)
x
(+0.8)
9
USA
7.28
-0.2
   
x
(+0.1)
7.28
(-0.2)
-
 
 
 

Women's Shot: Valerie Adams Keeps Dominating

1
NZL
20.52
 
20
1
img
 
20.52
20.18
20.25
x
20.21
20.49
2
USA
18.71
 
5
3
   
18.66
18.71
x
x
x
x
3
TRI
18.36
 
1
7
   
18.35
17.89
18.30
18.20
18.36
x
4
GER
18.20
 
1
7
   
18.20
x
x
x
x
x
5
RUS
18.09
 
3
5
   
x
x
18.09
18.08
x
x
6
BLR
17.89
 
   
17.89
x
x
17.67
x
17.52
7
GER
16.39
 
   
x
16.38
16.20
16.27
16.33
16.39
8
GBR
15.89
 
   
15.89
15.79
x
15.83
x
15.43

Women's Triple: Olha Saladukha Wins Despite Fouling on First 4 Attempts

1
UKR
14.40
+0.3
10
2
   
x
(+0.8)
x
(+0.3)
x
x
14.40
(+0.3)
13.99
(+0.4)
2
JAM
14.37
+0.8
6
3
   
13.55
(+0.2)
14.08
(+0.3)
14.37
(+0.8)
13.92
(0.0)
x
(+0.1)
14.32
(+0.2)
3
KAZ
14.34
0.0
16
1
img
 
14.34
(0.0)
14.27
(+0.6)
x
(+0.4)
-
x
(+0.1)
x
(+1.1)
4
JAM
14.09
+0.7
   
x
(-0.1)
x
(0.0)
13.74
(+0.5)
13.80
(0.0)
14.09
(+0.7)
x
(-0.4)
5
RUS
13.87
+0.6
1
6
   
13.87
(+0.6)
13.61
(+0.2)
13.54
(-0.1)
13.76
(+0.5)
-
-
6
BRA
13.84
+0.6
2
5
   
x
(+0.2)
13.60
(+0.2)
x
(+0.7)
13.73
(+0.8)
13.84
(+0.6)
13.84
(-0.3)
7
SVK
13.81
-0.1
   
x
(+0.2)
x
(+0.4)
13.81
(-0.1)
12.36
(+0.2)
13.78
(-0.3)
13.79
(-0.1)
8
POR
13.30
+0.8
   
13.07
(+0.1)
13.08
(+0.3)
13.14
(+0.4)
13.30
(+0.8)
x
(+0.6)
-

Men's Discus: Olympic Champion Robert Harting's Win Streak Continues

1
GER
66.64
 
4
5
   
x
x
66.64
x
x
x
2
EST
65.79
 
11
1
img
 
63.83
x
64.04
x
65.79
64.79
3
LTU
65.63
 
5
4
   
62.65
64.27
65.63
x
63.99
64.05
4
GBR
64.49
 
3
7
   
63.71
63.03
x
x
x
64.49
5
POL
63.41
 
4
5
   
60.38
62.47
x
x
x
63.41
6
ESP
62.49
 
3
7
   
x
61.57
61.89
62.49
x
x
7
AUS
60.71
 
   
59.12
60.36
60.71
x
x
x
8
GBR
57.47
 
   
x
57.07
x
57.47
55.69
x

Women's Javelin: Meet Record for Spotakova

1
CZE
66.08
 
MR
18
1
img
 
66.08
64.37
-
63.89
61.93
-
2
GER
63.19
 
3
5
   
57.64
61.32
x
x
61.44
63.19
3
UKR
62.82
 
2
6
   
60.97
61.06
62.82
62.37
x
x
4
RSA
62.13
 
7
2
   
62.13
59.58
60.18
58.80
60.18
61.14
5
AUS
60.47
 
   
56.95
57.84
x
x
60.47
x
6
LAT
57.67
 
   
56.27
57.67
x
57.40
x
x
7
GER
57.03
 
   
55.50
56.60
x
x
x
57.03
8
ISL
53.56
 
   
53.56
52.85
51.76
x
x
x

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