50th Bislett Games Recap: Asbel Kiprop wins the Dream Mile, Genzebe Dibaba comes up short in 5000 WR attempt, and the HJ fizzles
by LetsRun.com
June 11, 2015
The 2015 ExxonMobil Bislett Games Diamond League track and field meeting – the 50th edition of the meet – was held today in Oslo.
Below we recap all of the events for you except for the women’s 1500 – starting with the mid-d and distance events.
The women’s 1500 recap is here: Women’s 1500: Laura Muir Becomes First Brit To Win A Diamond League 1500 As Her Brave Front-Running Gets Rewarded.
Men’s Dream Mile: Patien Asbel Kiprop Gets Rewarded, Souleiman’s 3:44 Attempt Gets Punished
Asbel Kiprop wins
Asbel Kiprop secured his first Diamond League victory of 2015 in 3:51.45 as Ayanleh Souleiman couldn’t hold on after going out aggressively (1:53.48 at 800). Souleiman went in with the goal of running 3:44 but he struggled to keep the extremely fast pace up once the rabbits dropped out at 1k and ultimately didn’t have enough to kick for the win. The final 100 meters were very exciting as five men — Kiprop, Souleiman, Silas Kiplagat, Ronald Kwemoi and Belgium’s Pieter-Jan Hannes — were all in the mix coming off the final turn, but ultimately Kiprop was able to open up a gap and sprint to the win.
The Race
The early stages of the race were reminiscent of the women’s 1500 earlier in the meet as Souleiman was the only one to go through the pacers, hitting 400 meters in 55.48 and 800 in 1:53.48, giving him a lead of 12 meters over the chase pack, led by Kiplagat (Kiprop was in third).
The final rabbit stepped off at 1000 meters and at that point it was up to Souleiman to do what Muir did and finish a wire-to-wire victory. However, Souleiman’s lead wasn’t nearly as big as Muir’s and by the time Souleiman hit 1200 in 2:53.50 (60.02 lap), Kiplagat, Kiprop and Norway’s Henrik Ingebrigtsen were right behind him with much of the pack in striking distance just behind them.
Just less than 100m to go
With 200 to go, Kiplagat went to the front and Kiprop followed, though Souleiman was not dropped entirely and still lurked in third. By the time they hit the home stretch, those three men were together but were joined by Pieter-Jan Hannes of Belgium and Ronald Kwemoi, both of whom had moved up aggressively on the final turn. It was anyone’s race.
Pieter-Jan Hannes (l) after his national record.
Kiprop made the strongest move and seized the lead, opening a gap on Kiplagat midway through the home stretch. Surprisingly, Hannes had gone right with Kiplagat and the two were running next to each other for much of the final straightaway as Souleiman and Kwemoi dropped back. Neither Kiplagat nor Hannes could make enough of a dent into Kiprop’s lead, however, as Kiprop used a 55.7 (ht) last lap to take the win in 3:51.25. Kiplagat separated from Hannes at the end for second, but Hannes was still overjoyed with third as he pointed to the sky in celebration of his new national record (3:51.84, a 3.47-second PR).
Bernard Lagat, who was initially entered, wound up a late scratch with the flu.
I'm not feeling well today. And unfortunately, I've made the hard decision to scratch from the #DreamMile. I came down w/ flu. Hate to DNS-
— Bernard Lagat OLY (@Lagat1500) June 11, 2015
Results
One Mile - Men
Pts
1 Kiprop , Asbel KEN 3:51.45 4
2 Kiplagat , Silas KEN 3:51.72 2
3 Hannes , Pieter-Jan BEL 3:51.84 1
4 Souleiman , Ayanleh DJI 3:52.69
5 Kwemoi , Ronald KEN 3:53.07
6 Holuša , Jakub CZE 3:53.46
7 Ingebrigtsen , Henrik NOR 3:54.44
8 Philibert-Thiboutot , Charles CAN 3:54.52
9 Gregson , Ryan AUS 3:54.88
10 Cronje , Johan RSA 3:58.80
Bett , Reuben KEN DNF
Ngetich , Hillary Cheruiyot KEN DNF
Lagat , Bernard USA DNS
Quick Take #1: For Asbel Kiprop, this was the opposite of last year’s race in Monaco
Last year in Monaco, Asbel Kiprop went for a fast time but was denied the win. In Oslo this year, Kiprop didn’t follow Ayanleh Souleiman’s attempt at a fast time but was rewarded with the victory.
In 1500s/miles, when athletes go for truly fast times, they run the risk of either running out of steam or acting as a rabbit for the rest of the field, which can lead to defeats. Last year, Silas Kiplagat used Kiprop’s aggressive running to blast a 3:27.64 in Monaco. Heck, even Hicham El Guerrouj was in danger of losing when he set his mile WR of 3:43.13 as he dragged Noah Ngeny along to a 3:43.40.
Kiprop looked good at the Pre Classic two weeks ago, closing well to take third despite being 11th with a lap to go. He put himself in much better position this time and that enabled him to run away from everyone over the final 100. If he is to win a third straight world title in Beijing this year, he’ll need to follow the tactics from today, not Pre.
Quick Take #2: A massive run by Pieter-Jan Hannes
Hannes was surprisingly in contention with 100 to go and closed extremely well, battling for second with Kiplagat for a long time before eventually succumbing and taking third. Still, Hannes was over the moon with the time — a big PR which smashed the Belgian record of Marc Corstjens (3:54.57), also set in Oslo 22 years ago. This was a huge step forward for Hannes, who a year ago didn’t even make it out of the heats at the European Championships (he was 12th in the 3k at Euro Indoors this year).
Quick Take #3: Don’t sweat Souleiman’s fourth-place finish
Finishing fourth and losing to Hannes certainly isn’t something Souleiman expected coming into the race, but as Kiprop learned last year in Monaco, trying to run a really fast time saps your kick. That meant that Souleiman, who usually looks strong in the final 100, was a non-factor once the kicking really got going and had to settle for fourth. Had he chosen to race for the win and not time, Souleiman’s chances would obviously have been much better. He’s still incredibly fit and will be one of the favorites at Worlds this year.
Women’s 5000: Genzebe Dibaba’s Comes Up Well Short in WR Attempt
World records are hard to beat. Genzebe Dibaba is figuring that out this outdoor season.
Dibaba took her second crack at her sister’s Tirunesh’s world record of 14:11.15 , and came up well short running 14:21.29 for a dominating 17 second win over countrywoman Senbera Teferi, the 2015 World Cross Country silver medallist.
The pace started our all right as the first kilometer was covered in 2:50.91 (14:14 pace), but things slowed and when the second rabbit dropped out at 1800 with the pace already slowing Dibaba was in trouble. They slowed to 2:44.87 the second km (5:45.78) and countrywoman Teferi who would finish the race in second (14:38.57 pb) took over up front to help out Dibaba. When Dibaba went to the front, she churned out a few faster laps in the 67 second range but as she hit 4 laps to go she would need a sub 4:24 final 1600 to get the world record. Dibaba slowed again running a 69 point lap followed by a 70 and the question became could she break 14:20 or pr (14:19.76 outdoors). She came up just short despite a 65 second last lap as she was left with a 14:21.29 dominating win.
Results
5000 Metres - Women
Pts
1 Dibaba , Genzebe ETH 14:21.29 4
2 Teferi , Senbere ETH 14:38.57 2
3 Kibiwot , Viola Jelagat KEN 14:40.43 1
4 Burka , Gelete ETH 14:41.55
5 Cheptai , Irene Chepet KEN 15:03.84
6 Kuijken , Susan NED 15:07.38
7 Grøvdal , Karoline Bjerkeli NOR 15:15.18
8 Masai , Magdalene KEN 15:16.17
9 O'Connell , Jessica CAN 15:19.91
10 Twell , Stephanie GBR 15:21.36
11 Williams , Alisha USA 15:43.50
12 Belete , Mimi BRN 15:45.12
Broniatowska , Katarzyna POL DNF
Tverdostup , Tamara UKR DNF
Quick Take #1: Dibaba may not be the best 5000m runner in the world
With all of the focus on Dibaba’s world record attempts here and at Pre, one thing that has been lost is that Almaz Ayana has the fastest 5000m in the world with year a 14:14.32 win in Shanghai. Instead of a solo record attempt by Dibaba, track fans would much better benefit from a match-up from Almaz and Dibaba.They could get that at Worlds although there is no guarantee Dibaba runs the 5000m at Worlds. Dibaba told LRC at the Pre Classic the 1500 is still her favorite event but also told Sabrinna Yohannes that she’s moved to the 5000 this year.
While the 1500-5000 double is very doable at Worlds (The 1500 is first and ends before the 5000 starts), Dibaba might benefit from racing Ayana if she wants to only run one of the events at Worlds. Seeing how she stackes up wtih Ayana could help her figure out if she should run 1500 at Worlds. Considering she’s run 3:55 indoors before, it seems like she may have her best shot at gold in that event. But she hasn’t raced a 1500 outdoors this year or challenged Ayana at 5000 so she doesn’t really know.
Men’s Steeple: Jairus Birech Dominates, Donn Cabral Gets A Tiny PR
After losing a close battle with 5 time global steeple champion Ezekiel Kemboi at Prefontaine, 22-year old Kenyan Jairus Birech, who won six of the 7 DL steeples last year, returned to his dominating ways in the men’s steeple tonight in Olso as he won going away in 8:05.63. 2013 World Champion silver medallist Conseslus Kipruto, who had started off his year with third place showings in Shanghai and Eugene, moved up a spot to second in 8:11.92. The only other man under 8:15 was Kenya’s Paul Kipsiele Koech (8:12.20, for 3rd).
Birech clearly wanted the pace hot so he could drop Kemboi before the bell as Kemboi has a lethal kick. Birech was on the heels of the rabbit early on.The first km was 2:39.52 and by 2km (5:21.83 for Birech), Birech had gapped the field and Kemboi was alread in 4th some 3-4 seconds back. After that, Kemboi totally packed it in as he ended up 10th in 8:30.07.
American Donn Cabral was fifth in a new pb of 8:19.07.
Results
3000 Metres Steeplechase - Men
Pts
1 Birech , Jairus Kipchoge KEN 8:05.63 4
2 Kipruto , Conseslus KEN 8:11.92 2
3 Koech , Paul Kipsiele KEN 8:12.20 1
4 Yego , Hillary Kipsang KEN 8:18.01
5 Cabral , Donald USA 8:19.07
6 Taleb , Brahim MAR 8:21.33
7 Zalewski , Krystian POL 8:22.44
8 Ndiku , Jonathan Muia KEN 8:25.80
9 Mullera , Ángel ESP 8:27.95
10 Kemboi , Ezekiel KEN 8:30.07
11 Kipyego , Barnabas KEN 8:30.70
12 Korme , Sisay ETH 8:32.54
13 Kristensen , Bjørnar Ustad NOR 8:49.53
Kimutai , Clement Kemboi KEN DNF
Lagat , Haron KEN DNF
Quick Thought #1: This race should have Evan Jager smiling.
6-times Evan Jager has broken 8:10 in his life. HE’s already run 8:05 this year. Very few guys in the world seem capable of that this year. Here are the people in the world under 8:10.
1 8:01.71 Ezekiel Kemboi KEN
2 8:01.83 Jairus Birech KEN
3 8:05.20 Conseslus Kipruto
4 8:05.28 Evan Jager USA
QT#2: Donn Cabral Is Consistent At 8:19
Running a PR is always a good thing but we imagine Donn Cabral must be tired of seeing 8:19 pop up on the clock. He’s PR today was a tiny one – by .07 – and now he’s now run in the 8:19s on four different occasions.
He ran his previous pb of 8:19.14 at Oxy in 2012. He ran 8:19.81 later that year to make the Olympic team. He ran 8:19.24 at Pre a few weeks ago and then 8:19.07 today.
Sprint Action
Women’s 100: Ahoure Gets Out Fast and Holds off VCB
Muriellle Ahoure got out great here and held off a late charge from Veronica Campbell Brown to win in 11.03 over VCB’s seasonal best of 11.08.
Ahoure was coming off a 10.81 second place PB finish at Pre. However, once you adjust for the wind (+1.7 at Pre, -.4 Oslo), Pre was equal to a 10.91 and this run a 10.99. Considering it was a cool night (60s) Ahoure – the double silver medallist in the 100 and 200 at the last World Championships – is really starting to find her form.
100 Metres - Women Wind: -0.6 m/s
Pts
1 Ahouré , Murielle CIV 11.03 4
2 Campbell-Brown , Veronica JAM 11.08 2
3 Santos , Rosângela BRA 11.27 1
3 Young , Jessica USA 11.27 1
5 Philip , Asha GBR 11.35
6 Lalova , Ivet BUL 11.47
7 Akakpo , Stella FRA 11.52
8 Okparaebo , Ezinne NOR 11.53
Women’s 100h: That’s What We Call A Photo Finish
After hitting a hurdle last week in Rome and false-starting in Birmingham on Sunday, American Jasmin Stowers — who had dominated the hurdles scene this year to that point — got back on top with a 12.84 victory in Oslo. 2013 world champ Brianna Rollins led almost the entire way, but Stowers closed better off the final hurdle and nipped Rollins at the line as both were credited with the same time. The winning time (12.84, the slowest in a DL race since June 2011) was slowed by a 1.4 m/s headwind on the home straight. Lolo Jones, running her first DL event of the year, was fourth in 13.14 as Americans swept the first five places.
Brianna Rollins (inside) and Jasmin Stowers – That’s what we call a tight finish
The winner is Stowers on the outside
Results
100 Metres Hurdles - Women Wind: -1.4 m/s
Pts
1 Stowers , Jasmin USA 12.84 4
2 Rollins , Brianna USA 12.84 2
3 Harrison , Queen USA 13.02 1
4 Jones , LoLo USA 13.14
5 Coward , Jacqueline USA 13.18
6 Talay , Alina BLR 13.18
7 Pedersen , Isabelle NOR 13.27
8 Hansen , Ida Bakke NOR 14.20
Women’s 400h: Spencer Stays Unbeaten
28-year old Jamaican Kaliese Spencer of Jamaica stayed unbeaten on the year as she earned a narrow victory over American Georgine Moline in a world leading 54.15 to Molines seasonal best of 54.29.
The previous world leader, Asian champ Kemi Adekoya of Bahrain (54.31), struggled and was just fourth in 55.37.
Spencer has now won all three of the DL races on the season in Shanghai, Birmingham and Oslo. Moline was the winner in Rome but the 400h didnt count in the standings there.
400 Metres Hurdles - Women
Pts
1 Spencer , Kaliese JAM 54.15 4
2 Moline , Georganne USA 54.29 2
3 Hejnová , Zuzana CZE 55.14 1
4 Oluwakemi , Adekoya BRN 55.37
5 Rosolová , Denisa CZE 55.60
6 Child , Eilidh GBR 55.97
7 Williams , Tiffany USA 56.28
8 Titimets , Anna UKR 57.46
Men’s 200 – Lemaitre FTW
2011 World Championships bronze medalist Christophe Lemaitre recorded his second career DL win, taking the 200 in 20.21 in a watered-down field (no Jamaicans, no Americans except for Harry Adams). It was a solid time for Lemaitre — .07 faster than he ran in Rome a week ago, even though he had a 0.8 m/s tailwind in Rome and a 1.2 m/s headwind in Oslo.
200 Metres - Men Wind: -1.2 m/s
Pts
1 Lemaitre , Christophe FRA 20.21 4
2 Jobodwana , Anaso RSA 20.39 2
3 Kilty , Richard GBR 20.54 1
4 Adams , Harry USA 20.75
5 Nkanata , Carvin KEN 20.77
6 Zalewski , Karol POL 20.89
7 Ellington , James GBR 20.90
8 Saidy Ndure , Jaysuma NOR 20.97
Men’s 400 – Teenager Wins It
19-year-old Steven Gardiner of the Bahamas got the win in his first-ever Diamond League race, separating over the second turn to run 44.64 and move up to #8 on the world list in 2015 (he came in ranked #17 at 44.98).. With no Kirani James or any Americans, the field was pretty weak in this one, but Gardiner still put in a good performance, lowering his PR by .34 of a second despite wind on the homestretch.
400 Metres - Men
Pts
1 Gardiner , Steven BAH 44.64 4
2 Hudson-Smith , Matthew GBR 45.09 2
3 Maslák , Pavel CZE 45.39 1
4 Rooney , Martyn GBR 45.46
5 Makwala , Isaac BOT 45.74
6 Warholm , Karsten NOR 46.23
7 Williams , Delanno GBR 46.32
8 Ekelund-Arenander , Nick DEN 46.38
Field Events
Men’s High Jump: The World Record Hype Fizzles
The dream matchup in the men’s high jump failed to materialize as in a field that contained Mutaz Essa Barshim, Bohdan Bondarenko, Ivan Ukhov, Erik Kynard and Derek Drouin, the top two finishers were a total surprise: China’s Guowei Zhang, who got the win, clearing 2.36, and Marco Fassinotti of Italy, who was one of four men to clear 2.33 (he took second on countbacks as he had no misses until 2.36). Barshim and Bondarenko both cleared 2.33 but wound up just tied for third and fifth, respectively.
High Jump - Men
Pts
1 Zhang , Guowei CHN 2.36 4
2 Fassinotti , Marco ITA 2.33 2
3 Barshim , Mutaz Essa QAT 2.33 1
3 Kynard , Erik USA 2.33 1
5 Bondarenko , Bohdan UKR 2.33
6 Drouin , Derek CAN 2.29
6 Tsyplakov , Daniil RUS 2.29
8 Ukhov , Ivan RUS 2.25
9 Protsenko , Andriy UKR 2.25
10 Donisan , Mihai ROU 2.25
11 Thomas , Donald BAH 2.20
Men’s Long Jump: Rutherford Is In Great Form
The Olympic champion Greg Rutherford of Britain is starting to have a fine 2015 campaign. We don’t know how the rest of it will turn out but he’s had an amazing 4 days.
Four days ago in Birmingham he jumped his second best mark ever 8.35 for the win. Here in Oslo he followed up with an 8.25 win. Michael Hartfield of the US was a distant second in 8.04.
Long Jump - Men
Pts Wind
1 Rutherford , Greg GBR 8.25 4 0.0
2 Hartfield , Mike USA 8.04 2 +0.4
3 Menkov , Aleksandr RUS 8.00 1 +2.2
4 Taylor , Christian USA 7.93 -0.6
5 Mokoena , Godfrey Khotso RSA 7.90 -0.6
6 Visser , Zarck RSA 7.85 +1.1
7 Tornéus , Michel SWE 7.75 -0.5
8 Cáceres , Eusebio ESP 7.69 -1.1
Men’s Discus Throw: Urbanek Gets His First Win
Poland’s Robert Urbanek won his first Diamond League event with a third toss of 63.85 meters, good enough to best the Netherlands’ Erik Cadee and Poland’s Piotr Malachowski, both of whom threw 62.32. Urbanek’s winning mark was just the 50th-best throw of 2015 and was the shortest winning throw in Diamond League history.
Discus Throw - Men
Pts
1 Urbanek , Robert POL 63.85 4
2 Cadée , Erik NED 62.32 2
3 Malachowski , Piotr POL 62.32 1
4 Harting , Christoph GER 62.19
5 Kanter , Gerd EST 61.18
6 Hadadi , Ehsan IRI 60.46
7 Kupper , Martin EST 60.43
8 Skagestad , Sven Martin NOR 58.72
9 Aunevik-Berntsen , Magnus RøsholmNOR 54.83
10 Isene , Ola Stunes NOR 53.25
Women’s Triple Jump: 25 In A Row For Ibargüen
Colombia’s Caterine Ibargüen won her 25th straight triple jump competition with a 14.68m leap. Ibargüen was actually trailing Bulgaria’s Gabriela Petrova, who is just 22, entering the 4th round as Petrova jumped 14.57 in round three but Ibargüen would surpass that in roung 4 with her 14.68 and then again in round 6 (14.58).
Triple Jump - Women
Pts Wind
1 Ibargüen , Caterine COL 14.68 4 -0.1
2 Petrova , Gabriela BUL 14.57 2 -0.9
3 Saladukha , Olga UKR 14.46 1 +0.3
4 Koneva , Ekaterina RUS 14.36 -1.2
5 Knyazyeva-Minenko , Hanna ISR 14.22 -1.3
6 Mamona , Patrícia POR 14.19 -0.8
7 Costa , Susana POR 13.58 -0.3
8 Costa , Keila BRA 13.58 +0.1
Women’s Shot Put: Schwanitz Continues To Roll
German Christina Schwanitz, the 2013 worlds silver medallist, continued to be the top shot putter in the world with Valerie Adams still not having competed this year. Schwanitz, the world leader at 20.77, picked up her second Diamond League victory of the year and in four days (she also won in Birmingham on Sunday) with a 20.14 throw. American Michelle Carter was second with an outdoor seasonal best of 19.20m (previous best 18.51 but she threw 19.45 indoors).
Shot Put - Women
Pts
1 Schwanitz , Christina GER 20.14 4
2 Carter , Michelle USA 19.20 2
3 Smith , Brittany USA 18.93 1
4 Johnson , Felisha USA 18.66
5 Brooks , Tia USA 18.54
6 Borel , Cleopatra TTO 18.50
7 Márton , Anita HUN 17.96
8 Sundsteigen , Kristin NOR 13.87
Women’s Javelin Throw: Marharyta Dorozhon Sets National Record – Gets Win
27-year old Marharyta Dorozhon of Israel, the 2006 world junior bronze medallist, broke her own Israeli national record of 63.85m and picked up her first ever DL win with a 64.56m throw.
2011 bronze medallist Sunette Viljoen, the world leader in 2015 at 66.62, was second in 64.56. Two-time Olympic champ Barbora Špotáková was third in 64.10m – an improvement of her 63.45m seasonal best.
Javelin Throw - Women
Pts
1 Dorozhon , Marharyta ISR 64.56 4
2 Viljoen , Sunette RSA 64.36 2
3 Špotáková , Barbora CZE 64.10 1
4 Ratej , Martina SLO 62.59
5 Gleadle , Elizabeth CAN 61.84
6 Winger , Kara USA 61.64
7 Obergföll , Christina GER 60.88
8 Hjálmsdóttir , Ásdís ISL 59.77
9 Palameika , Madara LAT 59.51
10 Abakumova , Maria RUS 57.68