What a Meet! Zurich Weltklasse Recap: Jebet Goes 8:55, Semenya, Kendricks, Manyonga, Barshim Stay Undefeated as Kenya Dominates 1500, Gatlin Loses 100
by LetsRun.com
August 24, 2017
ZURICH – The first of the 2017 Diamond League finals were held tonight at the Weltklasse Zurich at Letzigrund Stadium and the meet did not disappoint. The highlight of the meet was the great Mo Farah ending his track career with an epic win after one of the craziest finishes we’ve ever seen, which we recap separately here.
With $100,000 in prize money per Diamond League event ($50,000 for first, $20,000 for 2nd, $10,000 for 3rd), the biggest stars of the sport had a lot of motivation and the undefeated seasons for Caster Semenya, Sam Kendricks, Luvo Manyonga and Mutaz Essa Barshim continued. However, it wasn’t easy sailing for all of the world champs as Justin Gatlin and Dafne Schippers both were defeated in the sprints.
The meet also served as redemption for a few people who had disappointing Worlds as Shaunae Miller-Uibo got a big win in the women’s 200 as did Kyron McMaster in the men’s 400 hurdles. World record holder Ruth Jebet won the women’s steeplechase in a scorching 8:55 after not medalling at Worlds.
Isaac Makwala, who was barred from running the 400 final at Worlds, made everyone wonder ‘What if’ by totally dominating the 400.
We recap all of the events for you below starting with the mid-d and distance events. Mo Farah’s final track race gets its own article: LRC The great Mo Farah ends his track career with an epic win after one of the craziest finishes we’ve ever seen
Women’s Steeplechase: Ruth Jebet returns to form with an 8:55 (!!!) as she and Beatrice Chepkoech both break 9:00
After Americans surprisingly went 1-2 in the women’s steeplechase at Worlds, order was restored tonight as the world record holder Ruth Jebet of Bahrain ran a sensational final 2 kms to get the win in a fantastic 8:55.29, the second fastest time in history, only bettered by her own 8:52.78 world record from last year. Jebet pulled away from Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech over the final 200, but Chepkoech was rewarded with a second place showing and her first sub-9 clocking of 8:59.84, making her the fourth woman in history under 9:00. Kenya’s 21-year-old Norah Jeruto, who didn’t even run Worlds for Kenya, ran a massive pb of 9:05.31 (previous pb of 9:15.35) for third.
America’s world champion Emma Coburn was a nonfactor in contending for the win but she did win a tight battle for fourth. Dropped by about 10 meters in the first km (3:01.94), Coburn ended up 4th in 9:14.81 ahead of the bronze medallist in London, Hyvin Kiyeng, who was fifth in 9:14.93.
The Race
Given how fast the final time was, it was remarkable how slow the start was. The first km split was just 3:01.94 but Chepkoech and Jebet rocked the 2nd km in a ridiculous 2:53.78, bringing them to two km in 5:55.72 and giving them a shot at the world record. However the pace slowed after that and with a lap to go (7:46) it looked like the world record was probably safe. Chepkoech stayed close to Jebet until Jebet took the lead towards the final water jump as Chepkoech started going backwards quickly.
3000 Metres Steeplechase - Women
1 Jebet , Ruth BRN 8:55.29
2 Chepkoech , Beatrice KEN 8:59.84
3 Tanui , Norah Jeruto KEN 9:05.31
4 Coburn , Emma USA 9:14.81
5 Jepkemoi , Hyvin Kiyeng KEN 9:14.93
6 Krause , Gesa Felicitas GER 9:15.85
7 Assefa , Sofia ETH 9:16.45
8 Chespol , Celliphine Chepteek KEN 9:17.56
9 Diro , Etenesh ETH 9:20.94
10 Schlumpf , Fabienne SUI 9:28.80
11 Kirui , Purity Cherotich KEN 9:40.89
Gathoni , Ann KEN DNF
Sidi Madane , Fadwa MAR DNF
Tuigong , Caroline Chepkurui KEN DNF
Quick Take: Ruth Jebet said she picked up an illness after the semifinals at Worlds, which may explain her 5th-place finish
Jebet was the dominant force in the women’s steeple last year, winning five of her six races (including Olympic gold) and setting the world record. She hadn’t been nearly as good this year — though she won in Shanghai, she also finished 3rd or worse in three other DL meets — but tonight she proved, once again, that she can reach a level that no other female steepler in history is capable of. And while she was very pleased with tonight’s run, with more even splits (her km splits were 3:02, 2:53, 2:59) she may have been able to lower her WR of 8:52.78
“Of course, if we have 2:58, 3:00…we could run even 8:50,” Jebet said.
All this begs the question: how the heck did Jebet only finish 5th at Worlds?
“The body was not okay,” Jebet said. “I was not feeling good in final. I was sick in finals and I feel headache in finals.”
Quick Take: Beatrice Chepkoech reveals why she missed the first water jump at Worlds
Chepkoech has been knocking on the door of 9:00 all year, running 9:01 in Doha, 9:00 in Paris and 9:10 at Worlds despite missing the first water jump and later falling, and tonight she broke down the barrier, becoming the fourth woman ever under 9:00.
Chepkoech also explained that she missed the first water jump at Worlds because another runner made contact with her. Chepkoech said that when that happened, her she thought only of staying on her feet and before she knew it, she has passed by the barrier.
“Before we pass water barrier, someone brush me and then I say, Let me just react before I fall. And I look back. That’s why I miss the barrier.”
Quick Take: If you missed our pre-race sit-down with Emma Coburn, catch up now.
LRC Q&A: Emma Coburn Reveals The Greatest Race She’s Ever Seen, Greatest Workout Rep She’s Ever Run & What She Thinks Jenny Simpson Could Run In A Steeple Trust us, this isn’t your normal boring interview where you learn nothing about the person. We learned a lot about Coburn by sitting down with her in Zürich.
Women’s 800: Caster Semenya wins again but doesn’t chase a fast time again
The women’s 800 on the Diamond League circuit is following a familiar script. It seems like every time Caster Semenya is entered in a race, the meet organizers talk about how the race is going to be rabbited for a really fast time and once the race starts, Semenya shows absolutely zero interest in going for a fast time (by her lofty standards).
That’s certainly what happened tonight as Semenya was mid-pack at 400 (6th in 57.6) but at the end of the race, she was the one collecting the winner’s flowers as Semenya won in convincing fashion in 1:55.84 thanks to a 28.7 final 200.
The quick first lap of 56.8 for the first racer, Melissa Bishop of Canada, tired the mere mortals out, but Semenya was just getting started as she made a big move on the backstretch and had the lead by 600 (1:27.1). The quick start did result in some good times for everyone else in the race as the top 6 finishers all broke 1:57, led by Francine Niyonsaba (1:56.71) in second and Margaret Wambui, who closed well to get third in a new pb of 1:56.87 (1:56.89 was her old PB from Rio). 20-year-old Ethiopian Habitam Alemu, who went out in the semis of worlds, had a big race to grab fourth in a new national record of 1:57.05 (old Ethiopian record was Fantu Magiso’s 1:57.48 from 2012), which represented a massive near two-second pb (previous pb of 1:58.92).
800 Metres - Women
1 Semenya , Caster RSA 1:55.84
2 Niyonsaba , Francine BDI 1:56.71
3 Wambui , Margaret Nyairera KEN 1:56.87
4 Alemu , Habitam ETH 1:57.05
5 Hassan , Sifan NED 1:57.12
6 Lipsey , Charlene USA 1:57.99
7 Bishop , Melissa CAN 1:58.30
8 Büchel , Selina SUI 1:59.83
9 Sum , Eunice Jepkoech KEN 2:04.31
Verstegen , Sanne NED DNF
QT: Was this the final 800m of Semenya’s reign?
Caster Semenya has dominated the 800m the last two years. There’s a chance CAS could rule in the off-season in favor of the IAAF and allow the hyperandrogenism rules to be changed and for testosterone restrictions to be put in back in place next year. That would mean tonight could be the final time Semenya dominates at 800 on the world stage. She’s had a great year, winning all eight of her 800 competitions and running 1:55 in her last three meets after an undefeated 2016 season. Semenya may be prevented from dominating this event in the future, but she has done as well as anyone could being the ambassador for the event the last two years.
Semenya fans will still get to see her run the 600m Sunday at the ISTAF meet in Berlin.
QT: What a year for Lipsey
Charlene Lipsey of the US wasn’t a factor up front in this one, but she did run 1:57.99 to break 1:58 for the second time in her career and end her season on a high. It capped a tremendous year for Lipsey, who came into the season never having run faster than 2:00.60. Lipsey was a total nonfactor in this event and now she’s one of the best in the world, the seventh fastest American outdoors (1:57.38) and the fastest American ever indoors (1:58.64). Her career took off since partnering up with coach Derek Thompson and training partner Ajee Wilson.
QT: PB For Wambui
Ajee Wilson displaced Margaret Wambui as one of the big three this year, but that does not mean Wambui got worse this year. As mentioned above, her 1:56.87 tonight was a PR.
Men’s 1500: Timothy Cheruiyot wins as the Kenyans dominate
Kenya has dominated the men’s 1500 all year long – they went 1-2 at Worlds and hold the top three fastest performers on the year and five of the of the top seven – so it was only appropriate that Kenya dominated the DL final tonight as well by taking the top six places. World championship silver medallist Timothy Cheruiyot used a 54.9 final 400 and 26.1 last 200 to the lead the way with a win in 3:33.93 ahead of Silas Kiplagat (3:34.26), 2017 world champ Elijah Manangoi (3:34.65) and Asbel Kiprop (3:34.93).
Top non-African honors went to Britain’s Jake Wightman, who won the Diamond League 1500 in Oslo, as he placed seventh in 3:35.25. 2017 bronze medallist Filip Ingebrigtsen ran up front early but was a nonfactor late and was last in 3:41.36.
Even though the race was a DL final, it was rabbitted, but the racers weren’t interested in going with the hot 1:51.73 first 800 as the first of the contenders his 800 in about 1:54.5. The race was bound to come down to the last lap and Cheruiyot led throughout before really pulling away in the final 100.
1500 Metres - Men
1 Cheruiyot , Timothy KEN 3:33.93
2 Kiplagat , Silas KEN 3:34.26
3 Manangoi , Elijah Motonei KEN 3:34.65
4 Kiprop , Asbel KEN 3:34.77
5 Simotwo , Charles Cheboi KEN 3:34.93
6 Kibet , Vincent KEN 3:34.96
7 Wightman , Jake GBR 3:35.25
8 Holuša , Jakub CZE 3:35.81
9 Lewandowski , Marcin POL 3:36.02
10 Mikhou , Sadik BRN 3:36.04
11 Birgen , Bethwell Kiprotich KEN 3:38.87
12 Ingebrigtsen , Filip NOR 3:41.36
Kivuva , Jackson Mumbwa KEN DNF
Rotich , Andrew Kiptoo KEN DNF
Quick Take: The Kenyans have been totally dominant in the men’s 1500 this year
The 2017 Diamond League season began with Kenyan men going 1-2-3-4-5-6 in the 1500 in Doha, and they proceeded to go 1-2-3-4 at Pre and 1-2-3 in Monaco as well. Tonight, in the DL final, it was more dominance from the East African nation as Kenyan men went 1-2-3-4-5-6. Simply ridiculous.
Of course, Kenya “only” went 1-2 at Worlds, but one of their biggest talents (Kenyan Trials champ Ronald Kwemoi) didn’t even make the final as he battled injuries late in the season.
Quick Take: Same race, different result
Tonight played out in similar fashion to last month’s Monaco meet, albeit at a slightly slower pace. In both races, Manangoi was the first racer for the first two laps before Cheruiyot took over at 800 meters, though the pace was slower tonight as they did not go right with the rabbits. This time, however, Cheruiyot held off Manangoi — and everyone else — in the home straight to win the Diamond League final for the second year in a row.
Cheruiyot and Manangoi, training partners under coach Bernard Ouma, have been very close all season. Just check out their results:
| Date | Location | Distance | Manangoi | Cheruiyot |
| May 5 | Doha | 1500 | 1st, 3:31.90 | 5th, 3:32.87 |
| May 27 | Eugene | Mile | 2nd, 3:49.08 | 3rd, 3:49.64 |
| June 24 | Nairobi (Kenyan Trials) | 1500 | 3rd, 3:32.03 | 2nd, 3:31.05 |
| July 21 | Monaco | 1500 | 1st, 3:28.80 | 2nd, 3:29.10 |
| August 13 | London (Worlds) | 1500 | 1st, 3:33.61 | 2nd, 3:33.99 |
| August 24 | Zurich | 1500 | 3rd, 3:34.65 | 1st, 3:33.93 |
It’s hard to say exactly what allowed Cheruiyot to turn the tables on Manangoi tonight (we were doing another interview when Cheruiyot came through the mixed zone, and though we called out to him to stop, we don’t think he heard us). Perhaps he recovered better from London than Manangoi. Or perhaps not having to lead as much and push as hard earlier in the race made him a little fresher in the home stretch. Whatever the reason, he’s your Diamond League champion.
Quick Take: Jake Wightman, the top non-Kenyan in 7th, is hoping the rest of the world can be more competitive in the men’s 1500 in 2018 and beyond
Wightman has had a terrific year with a Diamond League win in Oslo and a victory in the Emsley Carr Mile just four days ago, but today, just like everyone else has been for most of the year, he was outclassed by the Kenyans.
“They’re hard to beat, those guys,” Wightman said. “I thought I was close enough with 200 to go where I could start picking them off, but last 100 I was holding on rather than pushing on.”
Despite Kenya going 1-2-3-4-5-6 tonight, Wightman does believe the rest of the world can close the gap moving forward.
“Filip [Ingebrigtsen] showed that [the rest of the world can be competitive] in Worlds when he picked up a bronze, but in a Diamond League, they’re always going to be strong…hopefully the next few years, it will start being competitive between everyone, not just the Kenyans.”
Sprints
Justin Gatlin got upset, Shaunae Miller-Uibo delivered in the hot women’s 200m, and Isaac Makwala got the DL title.
Men’s 100: CJ Ujah pulls the upset as Justin Gatlin finished 4th
With the 2nd (Christian Coleman), 3rd (Usain Bolt) and 4th (Yohan Blake) place finishers from Worlds not competing in Zurich, world champ Justin Gatlin was the clear favorite, but he could only manage 10.04 for fourth place as Great Britain’s CJ Ujah earned the biggest win of his career in 9.97, just edging Ben Youssef Meite, who was credited with the same time.
Ujah did not make the final at Worlds, but he has been running well all year — he claimed wins in London, Rabat and Birmingham — but this was his first career Diamond League victory (in the other meets, the 100 was not a DL event).
“I just wanted to take the confidence from Birmingham to Zurich. My coach told me ´Just keep it smooth and simple´. I did a lot of speed works. I wanted to do my A-Game and I did it. I am the Diamond League champion – it feels amazing. …This is like a personal revenge for the world championships for me, I was pretty upset not to be in the final. So today, I redeemed myself. It is great to beat the world champion.”
100 Metres - Men Wind: 0.0 m/s
1 Ujah , Chijindu GBR 9.97
2 Meité , Ben Youssef CIV 9.97
3 Baker , Ronnie USA 10.01
4 Gatlin , Justin USA 10.04
5 Young , Isiah USA 10.10
6 Simbine , Akani RSA 10.10
7 Powell , Asafa JAM 10.11
8 Gemili , Adam GBR 10.13
9 Wilson , Alex SUI 20.80
Women’s 100 hurdles: Sally Pearson’s amazing year continues
World record holder Keni Harrison qualified for this race but did not compete, and with no Harrison, world champ Sally Pearson took advantage as she clocked 12.55 to nip Sharika Nelvis — who did not even qualify for Worlds — who was credited with the same time.
“This is my first time to be a Diamond League champion,” Pearson said. “I am really excited. I crossed the finish line first, it was tough. This race was competitive and fast.
“I almost fell over, I wanted it so badly.”
100 Metres Hurdles - Women Wind: -0.3 m/s
1 Pearson , Sally AUS 12.55
2 Nelvis , Sharika USA 12.55
3 Manning , Christina USA 12.67
4 Williams , Danielle JAM 12.73
5 Talay , Alina BLR 12.80
6 Harper Nelson , Dawn USA 12.93
7 Stowers , Jasmin USA 12.95
8 Castlin , Kristi USA 13.03
Women’s 200: Miller-Uibo comes on strong
In a loaded women’s 200, Shaunae Miller-Uibo, the 2016 Olympic 400 champ, came on strong late to take the win in a new pb of 21.88 as she went from 4th to 1st in the last 50. Dafne Schippers and Marie-Josee Ta Lou, who went 1-2 at Worlds, entered the homestretch side by side battling for the lead, and Olympic 100-200 champ Elaine Thompson was outside of them primed to strike and moving up on the homestretch. But as Thompson moved up, moving up even faster in the outside lane was Miller-Uibo, who blew by everyone to win in a national record 21.88.
200 Metres - Women Wind: +0.1 m/s
1 Miller-Uibo , Shaunae BAH 21.88
2 Thompson , Elaine JAM 22.00
3 Ta Lou , Marie-Josée CIV 22.09
4 Schippers , Dafne NED 22.36
5 Jefferson , Kyra USA 22.61
6 Kambundji , Mujinga SUI 22.71
7 Facey , Simone JAM 22.80
8 Emmanuel , Crystal CAN 23.94
Men’s 400: Isaac Makwala destroys the field
This was supposed to be the race the world did not get to see in London, Wayde van Niekerk vs. Isaac Makwala. But after van Niekerk scratched, we were left with Makwala vs. Steven Gardiner (the silver medalist at Worlds) and we didn’t even get that as Gardiner faceplanted out of the blocks and wound up a DNF as shown in this tweet.
Free coaching tip. How not to start a 400m race. pic.twitter.com/0e8AE9hRH8
— LetsRun.com (@letsrundotcom) August 24, 2017
In his absence, Makwala cruised to the win in 43.95, over half a second ahead of everyone else.
“In London everything was bad for me,” Makwala said. “I lost everything there. I didn’t have the chance to run the final there. I was aiming for gold or silver. Today I wanted to win the Diamond League. This aim I have reached. Wonderful. There is one race left in Zagreb. Then I will close my season.”
400 Metres - Men
1 Makwala , Isaac BOT 43.95
2 Roberts , Gil USA 44.54
3 Norwood , Vernon USA 45.01
4 Maslák , Pavel CZE 45.67
5 Borlée , Kévin BEL 45.77
6 Bonevacia , Liemarvin NED 46.31
7 Conradie , Pieter RSA 46.45
Gardiner , Steven BAH DNF
Men’s 400 hurdles: Kyron McMaster runs down Karsten Warholm
Norway’s Karsten Warholm surprised many by winning the world title at age 21 but he has an even younger rival to worry about in the form of 20-year-old Kyron McMaster. Tonight, Warholm ran the fastest 400 hurdle race of his life, 48.22 (previous pb of 48.25 from Worlds), but McMaster, the world leader, ran the front-running Warholm down on the homestretch to emerge with the victory in a quick 48.07 seconds. We would have loved to have seen what McMaster, the 2017 world leader, was capable of at Worlds, but he was DQ’d in the first round in London.
Switzerland’s Kariem Hussein, who was 8th at Worlds, equaled his pb to grab third in from of the home fans.
400 Metres Hurdles - Men
1 McMaster , Kyron IVB 48.07
2 Warholm , Karsten NOR 48.22
3 Hussein , Kariem SUI 48.45
4 Clement , Kerron USA 49.20
5 Copello , Yasmani TUR 49.23
6 Green , Jack GBR 49.41
7 van Zyl , L.J. RSA 49.92
8 Jackson , Bershawn USA 50.02
Women’s 400 hurdles: Zuzana Hejnova wins it
The Diamond League final isn’t until next week in Brussels, so many of the top women in the event (including all three London medalists) skipped this one. Two-time world champ Zuzana Hejnova still ran well, however, clocking a season’s best of 54.13 to take the win after Olympic silver medalist Sara Petersen led most of the way.
It’s worth noting that world champ Kori Carter won’t be in the DL final next week as she didn’t qualify. Her only official DL result this year was a 7th place showing at Pre (2 points) as while she won in Monaco, that win didn’t count in the DL standings as the 400h wasn’t a DL event in Monaco.
400 Metres Hurdles - Women
1 Hejnová , Zuzana CZE 54.13
2 Petersen , Sara Slott DEN 54.35
3 Sprunger , Léa SUI 54.66
4 Fontanive , Petra SUI 54.66
5 Doyle , Eilidh GBR 55.09
6 Nel , Wenda RSA 55.86
7 Pedroso , Yadisleidis ITA 56.15
8 Baumann , Jackie GER 58.55
Women’s 4x100m Relay Zurich: Jamaica looks great
Great Britain appeared to have this one locked up as they had a huge lead going into the anchor but Elaine Thompson, who skipped the 4 x 100 at the World champs, blitzed the final 100m to get the win. Jamaica’s winning time of 41.85 was just .03 off what the US ran to win at Worlds.
4x100 Metres Relay - Women
1 Jamaica JAM 41.85
2 Great Britain & N.I. GBR 41.86
3 Germany GER 42.32
4 Switzerland SUI 42.93
5 United States USA 43.68
6 Italy ITA 44.61
7 Switzerland U20 SUI 46.31
Netherlands NED DNF
Field Events: Manyonga, Barshim and Kendricks keep perfect seasons alive to win DL titles
The big theme in the field events was the three male stars — Luvo Manyonga of South Africa in the long jump, Sam Kendricks of the US in the pole vault, and Mutaz Barshim of Qatar in the high jump — all keeping their perfect outdoor seasons intact and winning the Diamond League titles. Under the old scoring system, Manyonga, Kendricks, and Barshim would have had the titles wrapped up, but they had to come out and earn them tonight and they were up to the task.
Men’s Long Jump: Manyonga remains unbeaten
World champ Luvo Manyonga of South Africa of completed an undefeated season as he got the win with a 8.49 fourth-round leap (27′ 10¼”). His compatriot, Ruswahl Samaai, was second at 8.31m (27′ 3¼”) as American Jarrion Lawson was third in 8.12 (26′ 7¾”) so the top three here were the same as in London except that Samaai and Lawson switched places.
“I am very proud of my season because I am undefeated. My training paid off, I always do what my coach tells me to do,” said Manyonga. “I will go home to South Africa and will go to Durban with my family and then on vacation to Cape Town with my girlfriend.”
Long Jump - Men
Wind
1 Manyonga , Luvo RSA 8.49 -0.7
2 Samaai , Ruswahl RSA 8.31 0.0
3 Lawson , Jarrion USA 8.12 -0.7
4 Tornéus , Michel SWE 8.09 -0.3
5 Lapierre , Fabrice AUS 7.94 -0.3
6 Lasa , Emiliano URU 7.79 -1.1
7 Hartfield , Mike USA 7.67 -0.9
8 Gföhler , Benjamin SUI 7.49 +0.2
9 Mokoena , Godfrey Khotso RSA 7.13 -0.1
Men’s Pole Vault: Kendricks remains unbeaten
American Sam Kendricks found a way to do what he’s done all year – win. Kendricks needed three attempts to get over 5.80m (19′ 3) but then he got over 5.87m on his first clearance to move to a perfect 12 for 12 on the year as Poles Piotr Lisek (2nd at Worlds this year) and Pawel Wojciechowski (2011 world champ) tied for second at 5.80m (19′ 0¼). France’s B, who came in having won every single Diamond League title ever dating to 2010, no-heighted, missing three times at 5.63m.
“How do I feel? Happy, because I know that it may never come again. I cannot see myself do it again, be world champion and Diamond League champion,” said Kendricks. “I had so much fun with the athletes tonight. Yes, there is rivalry amongst us competitors, but we still can have fun. Zurich is so special. We have the world´s best in every event. This is really cool. To be here at the end of the season and to say ´I have finished.’”
Pole Vault - Men
1 Kendricks , Sam USA 5.87
2 Lisek , Piotr POL 5.80
2 Wojciechowski , Pawel POL 5.80
4 Marschall , Kurtis AUS 5.73
5 Barber , Shawnacy CAN 5.63
6 Ménaldo , Kévin FRA 5.63
7 Filippídis , Konstadínos GRE 5.48
8 Alberto , Dominik SUI 5.48
9 Chiaraviglio , Germán ARG 5.48
10 Joseph , Stanley FRA 5.33
11 Kudlicka , Jan CZE 5.33
Lavillenie , Renaud FRA NM
Men’s High Jump: Barshim remains unbeaten
As was the case with Sam Kendricks in the pole vault and Luvo Manyonga in the long jump, Mutaz Essa Barshim came into the Diamond League final as the world champ, as the world leader and unbeaten on the year and left with yet another victory as he cleared both 2.33m (7′ 7¾”) and 2.36 (7′ 8¾”) whereas no one else even got higher than 2.30 (7′ 6½”). In case you are counting, he’s 10 for 10 on the year.
High Jump - Men
1 Barshim , Mutaz Essa QAT 2.36
2 Ghazal , Majd Eddin SYR 2.31
3 Bondarenko , Bohdan UKR 2.31
4 Grabarz , Robert GBR 2.24
5 Mason , Michael CAN 2.24
6 Protsenko , Andriy UKR 2.24
7 Bednarek , Sylwester POL 2.20
8 Gale , Tom GBR 2.20
9 Przybylko , Mateusz GER 2.20
9 Thomas , Donald BAH 2.20
11 Castro , Luis Joel PUR 2.20
12 Tamberi , Gianmarco ITA 2.16
Women’s triple jump: Olga Rypakova halts Caterine Ibarguen’s bid for 5 straight DL titles
2016 Olympic champion Caterine Ibarguen was looking to make it five straight DL titles tonight, but she was undone by 2012 Olympic champion Olga Rypakova of Kazakhstan, whose 14.55 leap in round three beat out World Champ Yulimar Rojas by three centimeters and Ibarguen by 7 centimers — the second narrow defeat for Ibarguen this month (she lost Worlds by two centimeters).
Under the old scoring system, Ibarguen, who posted three wins, a second and a third on the 2017 DL circuit, would have won the title handily but tonight she had to settle for third. This was the first time Ibarguen finished lower than second in any competition in over five years (h/t Jon Mulkeen).
Triple Jump - Women
Wind
1 Rypakova , Olga KAZ 14.55 -0.2
2 Rojas , Yulimar VEN 14.52 +0.8
3 Ibargüen , Caterine COL 14.48 -0.2
4 Williams , Kimberly JAM 14.41 -0.9
5 Knyazyeva-Minenko , Hanna ISR 13.99 -0.1
6 Mamona , Patrícia POR 13.85 +1.0
7 Jagaciak , Anna POL 13.79 +0.3
8 Panturoiu , Elena ROU 13.35 +1.0
Women’s javelin: Barbora Spotakova adds the DL crown to her world title
Spotakova entered the final round in third place but came up with a clutch 65.54-meter toss on her final attempt to take the win and the $50,000 prize. Spotakova was hoping for more, however (she has thrown further on three separate occasions this year).
“It feels very strange to be the Diamond League champion because my performance was not good, I wanted to do better. This was very strange. l did very good throws in the warm-up, I thought it was going to be a very good competition for me. And then I did my furthest throw in the sixth attempt, but this sixth attempt was not a nice one. I am a little disappointed about this. I do not like to finish my season with such a throw.”
Javelin Throw - Women
1 Špotáková , Barbora CZE 65.54
2 Roberts , Kelsey-Lee AUS 64.53
3 Kolak , Sara CRO 64.47
4 Khaladovich , Tatsiana BLR 62.89
5 Ratej , Martina SLO 62.77
6 Palameika , Madara LAT 62.60
7 Winger , Kara USA 62.01
8 Gleadle , Elizabeth CAN 59.06
9 Ruckstuhl , Géraldine SUI 52.08
Women’s shot put: Lijiao Gong crushes the field
Gong is the only woman to surpass the 20-meter barrier this year and she was the only woman over 19 meters tonight, going 19+ on five of her attempts, though all six of her throws would have been enough to win.
Shot Put - Women
1 Gong , Lijiao CHN 19.60
2 Márton , Anita HUN 18.54
3 Leantsiuk , Yuliya BLR 18.47
4 Carter , Michelle USA 18.27
5 Bunch , Daniella USA 18.20
6 Dubitskaya , Aliona BLR 18.02
7 Borel , Cleopatra TTO 17.85
8 Smith , Brittany USA 16.13
Men’s javelin: Jakub Vadlejch repeats as DL champ
This was billed as a battle of the Germans — Olympic champ Thomas Rohler against world champ Johannes Vetter — but in the end, it was the Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch who earned the Diamond trophy for the second consecutive year thanks to his 88.50-meter second-round toss. Vadlejch was clearly the best tonight as his 86.86 throw in round 4 would also have been good enough to win.
Javelin Throw - Men
1 Vadlejch , Jakub CZE 88.50
2 Röhler , Thomas GER 86.59
3 Pitkämäki , Tero FIN 86.57
4 Vetter , Johannes GER 86.15
5 Walcott , Keshorn TTO 85.11
6 Kirt , Magnus EST 84.73
7 Chopra , Neeraj IND 83.80
8 Magour , Ahmed Bader QAT 83.73