2014 Lausanne: New Kenyan 1,500 Star Arrives As Centro Fails To PR, Dibaba Loses, Tyson Gay Returns, Bondarenko Goes For The WR, And Sum Keeps Winning

By LetsRun.com
July 3, 2014

The 2014 Athletissima Lausanne was held on Thursday evening in Switzerland and there was great action for track fans. We recapped the 5 big stories from Lausanne here, but below we have a much more detailed analysis of the whole meet, including the 5 big stories.

In the distances, Kenyans Eunice Sum and Jairus Birech continued their dominance in the women’s 800 and men’s steeple while 18-year-old Ronald Kwemoi was the surprise winner in the men’s 1,500 (Matt Centrowitz was just seventh in 3:32.70). Mercy Cherono made it a Kenyan sweep as she kicked by Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba to win a slow women’s 3,000.

A lot of the best storylines came outside the distance events as Kirani James and LaShawn Merritt continued their historically great 400 rivalry (James got the win here in a world-leading 43.74), convicted American drug cheats Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay went 1-2 in the 100 in Gay’s return to competition after a year-long doping ban and Ukraine’s Bohdan Bondarenko won the high jump and took three attempts at the world record.

We recap all the action for you below, starting with the mid-d and distance events.

Men’s 1,500: 18-year-old Ronald Kwemoi Announces Himself To The World

Ronald Kwemoi pulls away

Just like countryman Robert Biwott in the Shanghai 800, 18-year old Ronald Kwemoi won his Diamond League debut, making a hard move with 200 to go to win in 3:31.48. Mr. Consistent, Silas Kiplagat, was second while American Matt Centrowitz struggled with traffic over the final 400 and was seventh in 3:32.70.

The pace was honest from the beginning with the rabbits leading the field through 400 in 54.72. The man leading the main pack was, surprisingly, Frenchman Mahiedine Mekhissi-Bennabad, the two-time Olympic silver medalist in the steeplechase. Ethiopian Aman Wote and Kenyans Nixon Chepseba and Kiplagat sat behind him in second, third and fourth. Centrowitz was second-to-last in roughly 57 flat.

The field hit 800 at 1:51.06 (perfect pacing as the rabbit was supposed to run 1:51; Centrowitz 1:53 low) and with 600 to go Mekhissi-Bennabad had started to fade, leaving Kiplagat in the lead ahead of Olympic bronze medalist Abdelaati Iguider of Morocco and Ethiopian-born German Homiyu Tesfaye. The field was bunching up as the pace slowed and as they ran in the home stretch for the penultimate time, Centrowitz moved out to lane 3 to try and improve his position. He was much closer to the lead (just over a second behind) but the problem was there were a ton of bodies ahead of him and he wasn’t able to gain many positions.

Just before 200 remained, Kenyan Bethwell Birgen moved past Kiplagat into the lead and was quickly followed by Kwemoi, who opened up a small gap on the field. Kwemoi ran mostly unchallenged for the entire home stretch with a big battle behind him for second between Kiplagat, Wote, Iguider, Collins Cheboi and James Magut. Centrowitz had moved up well on the backstretch but he couldn’t do the same over the last 200. He was a bit boxed in during the final turn and when he finally found some space on the home stretch, he couldn’t make up any ground on the leaders.

Thought #1: Kenya has yet another new mid-d star — meet Ronald Kwemoi.

Earlier this summer, we laughed when a few people were concerned that people like Kiplagat and Asbel Kiprop weren’t going to run the Commonwealth Games. We thought, “Does anyone think whoever Kenya sends won’t be able to win the thing?”

The non-Kenyan who could possibly win is Nick Willis.

Kwemoi has no races in any of the results databases we look at until last year. He was ninth at World Junior XC and then ran in Japan for one of the Japanese teams with a best of 3:45 for 1500.

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This year he had run 13:21 and 3:42.5 in Japan. Pretty good for an 18-year-old but not amazing. Then in his next race, the Kenyan Champs (which doubled as trials for the Commonwealth Games), he won in 3:34.6 at altitude. Impressive, but Silas Kiplagat and Asbel Kiprop did not run.

Well, Kiplagat and many of the world’s best were in Lausanne today and there was no doubt the best runner over the final 100m was Ronald Kwemoi. Totally new to the sport and he’s already winning Diamond League events. Amazing.

Quick Thought #2: A disappointing time result for Centrowitz but this race weirdly reminded us of why he’s always in the hunt for a medal.

We tried our best to split Centro in this race separately.

400: Right around 57 flat.
800: Very close to 1:53 flat
1200: Very close to 2:51.1

He basically ran 57 – 56 – 58 and then closed in 41.6 (His last 400 was probably 55 high-56 flat).

Lots of traffic

Pacing wise, he ran smart but the problem was he was so far back, he ended up running a ton of extra ground over the final 500. Despite the seventh place finish and the lack of a pb, this race reminded us why he’s always near the medals in a championship.

Over the final 400, he was pretty much just as good as anyone in the field except for Kwemoi. If this was an Olympic final, one of the Kenyans ahead of him at the finish wouldn’t have been allowed in the race and it’s likely that one of them would have been off his game. That would move him up to 5th and then you add in the fact there would be fewer racers and he wouldn’t be coming from near last and he’s likely third or fourth.

Still, we would have liked to see him run USAs than focus on coming to Lausanne. Diamond League races are a dime a dozen. There is only one USAs every year.

On the boards: Centro skipped nationals to get 7th place in Europe

Quick Thought #3: It’s strange that Centrowitz had trouble getting into good position in this race because he always gets his tactics right in championship races.

Ronald Kwemoi celebrates

This was obviously a little faster than a global 1,500 final, but Centrowitz got off the line poorly (he told us at Pre that’s something he needs to work on as the same thing happened to him in the Bowerman Mile). As a result, Centrowitz had trouble getting into kicking position on the final lap, and once he found space, he didn’t have enough in his legs to move up at all.

He would have been much better suited staying on the rail and just hoping it opened up.

Quick Thought #4: What happened to Mahiedine Mekhissi-Bennabad?

When someone runs 4:09.30 in a men’s 1,500 in a Diamond League race, we want to know what happened. We rewatched the race and Mekhissi-Bennabad was in last with 100 to go but still in touch of the leaders. He should have run 3:38 or 3:39. But he didn’t run that and didn’t DNF. We’d like to know what happened to him because the Universal Sports feed didn’t show it. If he walked it in over the last 100, that’s pretty pathetic.

Messageboard Discussion: Benabbad Mekhissi 4:09 1500m at Lausanne.

Ronald Kwemoi celebrates

Wow, I’m winning.

Women’s 3000: Dibaba Kicks To The Win – Oh Wait, She Loses Again

This one was tightly bunched until the last lap

Indoors, the 3,000 was Genzebe Dibaba’s event as she set a world indoor record of 8:16.60 and convincingly won the event at World indoors in March. It’s been a different story since then, as Dibaba is now 0-for-2 in 3,000s outdoors as tonight after taking the lead at the bell she was gunned down by Kenya’s World Championships 5k silver medalist Mercy Cherono in the final 100.

Any chance of a fast race like the season-opener in Doha that saw seven women break 8:30 went out the window early as the field chose not to go with rabbit Lydia Wafula. Wafula was not running particularly fast and passed 1k in 3:04 (9:12 pace), yet she still held a big gap on the field.

The third-to-last lap was only covered in 72 seconds (9:00 pace) and with 600 to go, the entire field was still together. Yes, in a Diamond League race in July, every woman in the field had a chance to win with less than two laps to go. A penultimate lap of 68 seconds did little to string out the field and at the bell Dibaba surged to the lead and began to push. She was followed by last year’s WC bronze medalist at 5k, Almaz Ayana, with Cherono in third.

Those three gained separation with 300 to go, but on the backstretch, Ayana began to fade as Kenya’s Viola Kibiwot moved up into third. Entering the final turn, it was Dibaba with a slight gap on Cherono, who in turn had a slight gap on Kibiwot.

With 100 to go, the strain was evident on Dibaba’s face, whereas Cherono still looked very strong. Cherono went by Dibaba with about 60 meters to go and Dibaba was helpless to respond. Cherono pulled away for her third straight win (3k at NY Diamond League and 5k at Kenyan Commonwealth trials) in 8:50.24 while Dibaba had to settle for second.

Quick Thought #1: Maybe we should nickname Genzebe Dibaba “Miss March.”

She’s nearly unbeatable early in the year, having won World Indoors in both 2012 and 2014 but seems to struggle on a consistent basis in the summer months which obviously is a problem going forward.

Not that second place in the DL is a disaster but her aura of invincibility is gone.

Quick Thought #2: What is the point of paying for rabbits if the field isn’t going to use them?

This isn’t the first time this year that the field in a DL distance race has neglected to go with the rabbit (remember the Oslo 5,000 where Rupp ran 13:03?) and it won’t be the last (in fact, it happened a few minutes later in the women’s 800). Though most of the field was relatively rested for this race, there are some times where runners in the 1,500, 3,000 and 5,000 simply aren’t ready to run fast.

It would make more sense to selectively employ rabbits on the Diamond League. Use them for the biggest races when it’s clear the multiple guys want to run really fast and there’s no chance of not following the rabbits. Otherwise, it makes more sense for meet organizers to save the money.

Beckwith got close on the homestretch

Women’s 800: Eunice Sum Wins Her 12th Straight 800

World champion Eunice Sum of Kenyan remained unbeaten on the year, as after going on in 1:27.70, she managed to hang on and the get win in a seasonal best of 1:58.48. America’s Molly Beckwith, who was third at the U.S. champs last week, made things interesting as she made a big charge at Sum between 600 and 700 before fading herself over the final 100 to fourth in a seasonal best 1:59.30.

The rabbit in this race, Agatha Jeruto, was very poor as she went out way too fast (54.96 for 400) and it ended up impacting the race as Sum probably went out faster than she otherwise would have (we had Sum in an unofficial 56.8). Sum had a big lead by 600 but she started to tie up during the final turn as Beckwith moved up well into second place. Beckwith continued to gain on Sum and with 100 to go, there was the possibility she or  Yekaterina Poistogova of Russia was going to pass Sum for the win. However, there’s a reason why Sum is the best 800 runner on the planet and she showed it in Lausanne. Relying on her strength, Sum held off Beckwith and Poistogova in the final 100 as they felt the effects of their big moves on the final turn.

Poistogova ended up second in 1:58.79 with 17-year old Tigist Assefa third in a new pb of 1:59.24.

Quick Thought #1: This was a classic 800 race as the winner was she who slows down the least

Sum had a sizeable lead at both 400 and 600. But as quickly as her lead was disappearing on the final turn, many observers likely thought, “The US’s Molly Beckwith is going to catch her,” as Beckwith was gaining rapidly.

We thought, “Wow Beckwith looks great and is really going for it but we bet she starts to tie up just like Sum.”

Often in 800s, it looks like the person in second is going to catch the person in first but experience has shown us that more often than not the person in second also hits the wall and ties up.

Quick Thought #2: How do you beat Eunice Sum?

Sum looked vulnerable in this one and we’re tempted to say that Ajee Wilson might have been able to beat her. But even in a race where Sum went out too fast and ran a big positive split, she still had enough strength in the final 100 to win. Sum can win every kind of race — recall how she made up a big deficit on Alysia Montano to win Worlds last year. We don’t know the best way to beat her right now.

Quick Thought #3: Molly Beckwith cost herself $1,000 by failing to defend lane 1.

Beckwith was running on the inside on the final straight and was set to get third (worth $4,000) but left a gap between herself and the rail and Ethiopian Tigist Assefa came through right at the line to nip Beckwith for third. Beckwith still ran a season best of 1:59.30 and took home $3,000 for fourth, but it’s never good to commit tactical errors like that.

Quick Thought #4: Brenda Martinez was a scratch.

Makes sense as she’s been really struggling of late.

Men’s steeple: Jairus Birech Remains Dominant As Conseslus Kipruto Returns

The men’s steeple was the Jairus Birech show. The rabbit and friend of LRC, Haron Lagat, took the field out in 2:39.80 and Birech was the only guy to stick with him by the half-way point. It was all Birech the second half of this one and he didn’t have a big enough kick to beat his own world lead (8:02.37) or a sub 8:00 clocking, but he did get $10,000 and the win.

QT #1: Birech is the man to beat
Birech got 4th in Doha to start the Diamond League season, and then was 2nd in a race in Beijing, but since then he has been three for three and picked up $30,000.

QT#2: Conseslus Kipruto looked pretty good in his return.

The Worlds silver medallist who seemed to be the future of the event last year returned from a back injury, which has been causing him hamstring issues, to make his outdoor debut and he was good enough to get second.

QT #3: It’s a shame this isn’t a Worlds/Olympics year as Evan Jager would have a great shot at a silver medal.

Birech is way better than everyone else this year but the case can easily be made Evan Jager is #2 in the world. Take a look at the 2014 steeple list:

1    08:02.37    Jairus Birech
2    08:04.12    Ezekiel Kemboi  – hasn’t finished race since May 9
3    08:04.64    Brimin Kipruto – 8:14 today, hasn’t broken 8:11 since May 9
4    08:05.47    Paul Kipsiele Koech – 8:21 today, hasn’t broken 8:10 since May 21.
5    08:06.97    Evan Jager    USA

Men’s 400: Kirani James Wins With World Leader

Coming into the men’s 400, Kirani James and LaShawn Merritt were tied for the world lead at 43.97.

James now has the world lead to himself as he ran a 43.74 to win over Merritt’s 43.92 as Saudi Arabia’s Yousef Ahmed Masrahi set a national and Asian record of 44.43 in third.

James made it fast from the get-go and got out to a lead at 200. Merritt pulled close to even with 300 to go but James looked very strong in the final straight and never let Merritt past.

According to the DL twitter feed, “That’s only the second time outside of a championships that 2 men have broken 44 in the same race and the fastest time anywhere since 2007!”

Results

400 Metres – Men
Pts
1 James , Kirani                   GRN      43.74          4
2 Merritt , LaShawn             USA      43.92          2
3 Masrahi , Yousef Ahmed  KSA      44.43          1
4 Brown , Chris                    BAH      44.59
5 McQuay , Tony                    USA      45.14
6 Borlee , Kevin                   BEL      45.50
7 Verburg , David                  USA      46.00
8 Gordon , Lalonde                 TTO      48.38

QT: This is what track and field needs

The last two races between Merritt and James are the only times outside of championships that two guys have ever gone sub-44 in the same race. It’s happened a total of seven times in history: three times at the Olympics, once at Worlds, once at the U.S. Olympic Trials, and the two Merritt-James showdowns in 2014. When they raced at Pre, they both ran 43.97 with James winning. Merritt’s 43.92 today was also the second-fastest non-winning time ever 400m running doesn’t get better than this.

Merritt and James are both Olympic champions and they are not afraid to race each other frequently (10 times in the last three years). That is not only good for the sport and its fans, it brings out the best in Merritt and James as evidenced by their last two races.

Last year, these two raced each other five times. James won the first two but Merritt won the the last three, including his 43.74 world’s best win at Worlds.

This year, they’ve raced three times with James winning the last two both guys breaking into the 43s.

Women’s 100: Michelle-Lee Ahye Wins Narrowly

2014 world leader Michelle-Lee Ahye (10.85) of Trinidad & Tobago got the narrowest of victories over the Ivory Coast’s Murielle Ahoure in the women’s 100 as both were timed in 10.98. The US’s English Gardner was in the mix until the final 20 meters and ended up a well-beaten third in 11.19.

Blessing Okagbare stumbled badly at the start and ended up a DNF.

Results

100 Metres – Women                                  Wind: -0.3 m/s
Pts
1 Ahye , Michelle-Lee              TTO      10.98          4
2 Ahoure , Murielle                  CIV       10.98           2
3 Gardner , English                USA      11.19           1
4 Sailer , Verena                     GER      11.23
5 Schippers , Dafne                NED      11.28
6 Kambundji , Mujinga              SUI      11.34
7 Samuel , Jamile                  NED      11.37
Okagbare , Blessing              NGR        DNF

Men’s 400 Hurdles: Javier Culson Holds On

Culson had a big lead entering the final 100 but the US’s Michael Tinsley closed hard and just missed getting him at the line.

Culson, the world leader this year at 48.03, won in 48.32 to Tinsley’s season’s best of 48.40 (48.56 coming in).

Results

400 Metres Hurdles – Men
Pts
1 Culson , Javier                  PUR      48.32             4
2 Tinsley , Michael                USA      48.40            2
3 Fredericks , Cornel              RSA      49.00          1
4 Sanchez , Felix                  DOM      49.08
5 van Zyl , L.J.                        RSA      49.23
6 Gordon , Jehue                   TTO      49.29
7 Hussein , Kariem                 SUI      49.38
8 Williams , Rhys                  GBR      50.30

Quick Thought: Tinsley is another American that showed up at USAs and ran one round. He only managed a 52.56 at USAs.

Men’s 100: Tyson Gay Runs 9.93 in Return from Doping Ban But Justin Gatlin Is Too Good at 9.80

Justin Gatlin got out to an early lead and was never truly challenged as he pulled a way for the victory in a world-leading 9.80 seconds. Tyson Gay looked strong in his first race in a year and took second in 9.93 seconds. U.S. champ Michael Rodgers was third in a season best of 9.98.

Which brings us to whether Gay suffered enough off the track for his doping. On the telecast, Steve Cram asked, “Where is the penalty for Gay?” We’ll answer that.

1) He missed Worlds last year. If he served the normal two-year ban for a first-time doping offense, he’d simply miss the rest of the non-championship year. However, all of Gay’s results from July 15, 2012 until now are off the books. That is nearly two full years.

2) He is paying back hundreds of thousands of dollars in prize money and appearance fees. We don’t know of any other drug cheat who has done that. Presumably, he has to pay back every organizer to July 15, 2012.

3) Most importantly, he reportedly confessed everything he knew to USADA and cooperated fully. If drug cheats who don’t tell the truth and don’t help clean up the sport get a two-year ban, cheats who cooperate have to get something less otherwise there is no reason to cooperate. Considering the current drug laws in the sport, Gay’s ban seems appropriate.

Gay was one of our favorite sprinters when we thought he was clean and that’s still true. That being said, nothing will condone what he did.

Results

100 Metres – Men                                       Wind: +0.1 m/s
1 Gatlin , Justin                  USA       9.80
2 Gay , Tyson                      USA       9.93
3 Rodgers , Mike                   USA       9.98
4 Collins , Kim                    SKN      10.13
5 Bailey-Cole , Kemar              JAM      10.14
6 Simbine , Akani                  RSA      10.18
7 Bailey , Ryan                    USA      10.28
8 Mancini , Pascal                 SUI      10.43

On the boards: Doper 100: Gatlin 9.80 (+0.1) Lausanne 2014 *GATLIN 9.75

Men’s 200: Alonso Edward Surprises as Yohan Blake Bombs

Edward, who was the World silver medalist at 200 in Berlin 2009 but didn’t make the final last year, ran his fastest time since the final in Berlin five years ago to win handily in 19.84. Though he just missed Warren Weir’s world leader of 19.82, it was a big breakthrough for Edward as it was only the second time he’s broken 20 seconds.

The big story in this one, however, was Yohan Blake (#2 all-time at 200), who was just sixth in 20.48. Blake looked really good at the World Relays when Jamaica won gold in the 4×100 and 4×200 but he’s been far from his best on the Diamond League circuit so far, getting second in New York in just 10.21 (though with a -1.9 m/s headwind) and now finishing just sixth in Lausanne. Prior to 2014, Blake had never finished lower than third in a Diamond League race.

200 Metres – Men                                              Wind: +1.2 m/s
1 Edward , Alonso                  PAN      19.84          4
2 Ashmeade , Nickel                JAM      20.06          2
3 Lemaitre , Christophe            FRA      20.11          1
4 van Niekerk , Wayde              RSA      20.19
5 Ogunode , Femi                   QAT      20.25
6 Blake , Yohan                    JAM      20.48
7 Saidy Ndure , Jaysuma        NOR      20.54
8 Wilson , Alex                    SUI      21.18

On the boards: Blake is temporarily off the juice, and SUCKS

Men’s 110 hurdles: Pascal Martinot-Lagarde wins third straight DL race

The 110 hurdles hasn’t been as strong in 2014 as in recent years (two men sub-13.10 versus five last year and six in 2012) but Martinot-Lagarde has become the man to beat after wins at Pre, Oslo and now Lausanne. This was his best outing yet as he PR’d by .06 to run 13.06.

Devon Martin needs to get on a plane and go to Europe.

Results

110 Metres Hurdles – Men                                      Wind: +0.4 m/s
Pts
1 Martinot-Lagarde , Pascal        FRA      13.06          4
2 Shubenkov , Sergey               RUS      13.13          2
3 Riley , Andrew                         JAM      13.23          1
4 Oliver , David                         USA      13.23
5 O’Farrill , Yordan L.                 CUB      13.28
6 Wilson , Ryan                         USA      13.28
7 Richardson , Jason                USA      13.29
8 Ortega , Orlando                    CUB      13.38

Men’s High Jump: Bondarenko goes for the WR

After getting the win, Bohdan Bondarenko took several attempts at the world record but didn’t come close.

1 Bondarenko , Bohdan UKR 2.40 4
2 Protsenko , Andriy UKR 2.40 2
3 Ukhov , Ivan RUS 2.38 1
4 Barshim , Mutaz Essa QAT 2.38
5 Drouin , Derek CAN 2.35
6 Kynard , Erik USA 2.32
7 Hanany , Mickael FRA 2.25
8 Tsyplakov , Daniil RUS 2.25
9 Dmitrik , Aleksey RUS 2.20
Jonas , Dusty USA NM

Men’s Discus: Malachowski wins

2014 world leader Piotr Malachowski got a narrow victory.

1 Malachowski , Piotr POL 66.63 4
2 Fernández , Jorge Y. CUB 66.50 2
3 Kanter , Gerd EST 64.91 1
4 Cadée , Erik NED 64.61
5 Ståhl , Daniel SWE 64.60
6 Casañas , Jennifer Frank ESP 63.86
7 Gudžius , Andrius LTU 63.38
8 Harradine , Benn AUS 63.23
9 Butenko , Victor RUS 62.09
10 Wierig , Martin GER 60.79

Men’s Pole Vault: Lavillenie wins

Renaud Lavillenie remained unbeaten.

Pole Vault – Men -Pts
1 Lavillenie , Renaud FRA 5.87 4
2 da Silva , Thiago Braz BRA 5.72 2
3 Ménaldo , Kévin FRA 5.62 1
4 Walker , Brad USA 5.62
4 Yamamoto , Seito JPN 5.62
6 Mohr , Malte GER 5.62
7 Dilla , Karsten GER 5.47
8 Lewis , Steven GBR 5.47
9 Lisek , Piotr POL 5.47
10 Filippídis , Konstadínos GRE 5.47
11 Richards , Marquis SUI 5.17
de Oliveira , Augusto BRA NM

Men’s Long Jump

Newly minted US champ Jeff Henderson remained hot and got the win over Olympic gold medalist Greg Rutherford.

Long Jump – Men – Pts Wind
1 Henderson , Jeff USA 8.31 4 +1.3
2 Rutherford , Greg GBR 8.19 2 +1.1
3 Li , Jinzhe CHN 8.10 1 +1.0
4 Tornéus , Michel SWE 8.07 +1.3
5 Rivera , Luis MEX 8.02 +0.5
6 Menkov , Aleksandr RUS 8.02 +0.5
7 Tsátoumas , Loúis GRE 7.97 +1.0
8 Sdiri , Salim FRA 7.78 +0.7
9 Zellweger , Yves SUI 7.65 +0.6
10 Gaisah , Ignisious NED 7.64 +0.9
Mokoena , Godfrey Khotso RSA NM

Women’s Triple Jump: Caterine Ibargüen remains undefeated

Ibargüen equaled her own world lead.

Triple Jump – Women – Pts / Wind
1 Ibargüen , Caterine COL 14.87 4 +1.5
2 Koneva , Ekaterina RUS 14.67 2 +0.3
3 Mamona , Patrícia POR 14.49 1 +2.6
4 Saladukha , Olga UKR 14.33 +1.5
5 Pyatykh , Anna RUS 14.27 +1.9
6 Gay , Mabel CUB 14.27 +0.3
7 Knyazyeva-Minenko , Hanna ISR 14.19 +0.7
8 Costa , Keila BRA 13.91 +2.0

Javelin Throw – Women

Barbora Špotáková got the win as world leader Linda Stahl was fourth.

1 Špotáková, Barbora CZE 66.72 4
2 Ratej , Martina SLO 64.63 2
3 Mickle , Kimberley AUS 64.20 1
4 Stahl , Linda GER 63.20
5 Viljoen , Sunette RSA 62.15
6 Patterson , Kara USA 61.77
7 Molitor , Kathrina GER 58.40
8 Mitchell , Kathryn AUS 58.23
9 Palameika , Madara LAT 57.76
10 Meier , Nathalie SUI 51.97

Shot Put Women

Valerie Adams got the win in the country where she trains, just missing her 20.46 world leader. As NZRun.com points out that is 51 wins in a row for Adams amazing. Adams is so good we take her for granted.

Pts

1 Adams , Valerie NZL 20.42 4
2 Gong , Lijiao CHN 19.65 2
3 Carter , Michelle USA 19.38 1
4 Borel , Cleopatra TTO 18.88
5 Leantsiuk , Yuliya BLR 18.72
6 Dubitskaya , Aliona BLR 18.20
7 Márton , Anita HUN 18.10
8 Kopets , Alena BLR 17.69