Men’s 400m hurdles
The men’s 400m hurdles lived up to its top billing with Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba continuing his scintillating form to take the victory in a meeting record of 47.60 and continue his amazing run of sub-48 finishes. World Champion and local favourite, Karsten Warholm, making his first home appearance since his incredible victory in London last August could not repeat last year’s win at Bislett finishing second in 48.22. Yasmani Copello of Turkey was third in 48.54.
After the race, Samba said, “That was Samba over the hurdles, the difference between Rome was today it was a little bit windy. I cannot say I was confident coming into the last hurdle to win but I have better endurance in last metres. I am enjoying life and hope to continue to run fast next time in Stockholm. And Samba dance, I need to learn that more!”
Despite his disappointment at second place, Warholm was happy with his race, adding, “This is my second best race of my career. It is fantastic to race here but as you can see I am not running as fast as in Rome. I will sit down with my coach and see where I can improve before Stockholm on Sunday.”
Samba leads the IAAF Diamond League standings with 24 points from Copello with 17 and Warholm with 14.
Bislett Dream Mile
The evening was brought to a close with pre-race favourite, Elijah Motonei Manangoi taking the Bislett Dream Mile in 3:56.95 from Sadik Mikhou who was second in 3:57.10. In a great battle for third place, Taresa Tolosa held off Filip Ingebrigtsen despite the partisan crowd roaring the local man home. Tolosa of Ethiopia finished in 3:57.92 with Ingebrigtsen fourth in 3:57.92.
After the race, a delighted Manangoi said, “It is a special feeling to win the Dream Mile. Next time I want to do it again. It was so nice and tough race, although it looks easy. I was ready for any pace and that we were slower was according to my needs. I wanted to attack in last 100 metres as it happened. Next race Kenyan trials.”
Women’s 800m
Caster Semenya built on her Eugene victory with another comfortable win this evening in the 800m in 1:57.25 and secures another maximum eight Diamond League points.
She said, “I expected a better pace, maybe at 55 level, so that we could be there easily at 57, but it did not happen. I was ready for a faster time, but also 1.57 is not bad. Of course I enjoy winning races and the times will come. I will have 800 in Paris, then Lausanne the 1500m. The goal is to top the Diamond League.”
Olympic silver medallist Francine Niyonsaba was second in 1:58.57 just ahead of Ethiopia’s Habitam Alemu in third place in 1:58.58. Semenya leads the qualification standings with 16 points from Niyonsaba who has 13.
Men’s high jump
In the men’s high jump Mutaz Barshim took first place to continue his maximum points in the Diamond League this year. Barshim of Qatar cleared 2.36m at the first attempt after needing two jumps at the previous two heights as he got into his stride.
Danil Lysenko, the World Indoors Champion, was second after clearing 2.33m at his first attempt. Third place went to Donald Thomas of Bahrain on count back after clearing 2.25m.
Women’s javelin
Tatsiana Khaladovich won the women’s javelin with a magnificent final throw of 67.47m, a big personal best and Bulgarian national record. Pre-meeting favourite, China’s Huihui Lyu, who had led all through the competition with her first throw of 65.11m, was second while Nikola Ogrodnikova took third with a throw of 61.56m.
Delighted with her win, Khaladovich said “Today I was not expecting such a great result. I knew I was ready, but not for that! My main goal is to succeed at the European Championships but before that I want to throw well at the Diamond Leagues.”
Lyu remains in first place in the IAAF Diamond League standings with 15 points with Khaladovich hot on her heels with 13 points.
Men’s shot put
The 2017 World Champion Tomas Walsh continued his great 2018 form by winning the men’s shot put with a new meeting record throw of 22.29m. With the World Indoors and Commonwealth gold medals already under his belt he is looking to add the Diamond League crown to his 2018 haul. New Zealander, Walsh said, “I am pretty happy. The Eugene IAAF Diamond League did not go to plan so that gave me a kick up the backside. Ryan did some great throws tonight and I knew I had to match it in me to match him. We have a great head to head battle going on so it’s great to keep pushing each other and to produce some massive throws.”
Olympic Champion, Ryan Crouser of the USA who was second with a throw of 22.21m remains in first place in the Diamond League standings with 15 points to Walsh’s 13. Darrell Hill, USA, stays in third after his third place this evening.
Sprints
In the sprints it took a photo finish to separate Murielle Ahoure of the Ivory Coast and Briton’s Dina Asher-Smith in the women’s 100m. Ahoure was given the win in 10.91 with Asher-Smith’s second place of 10.92 a new British record. On breaking the British record, Asher-Smith said, “I’m over the moon. I can’t believe it! I am so happy with how the race went and to get the British record is amazing. This year is all about the focusing on the European Championships in berlin in August so I will use the Diamond League circuit to prepare for that.”
Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Michelle-Lee Ahye of Trinidad and Tobago was third in 11.06.
While in the men’s 200m World Champion Ramil Guliyev of Turkey was first in a season’s best of 19.90 holding off Canada’s Aaron Brown who was an impressive second in a personal best time of 19.98. Trinidad and Tobago’s Jereem Richards, who was second in both Eugene and Doha, took third place this evening in 20.19 which is enough to move him into the lead in the IAAF Diamond League standings with 20 points from Brown with 18 and Guliyev with 16.
Following his victory in a European lead time, Guliyev said “Great stadium, great public, nice weather and in such conditions you can only run well. And I am still not in top shape - I was actually planning by this time to go even faster as we started the season in May but some setbacks stopped me. My long term goal is to break the European 200m record of Pietro Mennea.”
Women’s pole vault
In the women’s pole vault Sandi Morris, the Indoor World Champion, took the maximum Diamond League points with her 4.81m clearance securing victory. Morris was happy to take the win in the windy conditions. “My winning jump was my best jump of the day. I got it right on the runway and executed well. I stopped at 487 because it was a tough day with a lot of wind and I was tired and did not want to hurt myself.”
Authorised Neutral Athlete, Anzhelika Sidorova was second with her season’s best clearance of 4.71m. Angelica Bengtsson of Sweden was third on count back. There had been some early casualties in the event with Olympic and World Champion Katerina Stefanidi and Yarisley Silva both suffering three failures at 4.41m.
Women’s 3000m steeplechase
In the 3000m women’s steeplechase, Kenya’s Hyvin Kiyeng held off USA’s Emma Coburn as Coburn fought furiously from the last obstacle to the line. Kiyeng followed up her victory in Rome last week by taking the eight Diamond League points with her winning time of 9:09.63. Coburn was second in 9:09.70 with Daisy Jepkemei of Kenya takimg third place in 9:16.87.
An unfortunate error with the steeple height meant the first three laps were run with the men’s height of 91cm instead of the women’s height of 76.
Other events
London 2017 silver medallist Salwa Eid Naser of Burundi won the women’s 400m in a season’s best of 49.98 from the Americans’ Phyllis Francis second in 50.47 and Shakima Wimbley third in 50.53. Francis continues to lead the IAAF Diamond League qualifying standings.
Olympic Champion Dalilah Muhammad of the USA won the women’s 400m hurdles in a season’s best, 53.65. She was pleased with her evening’s work, saying, “All went to plan, I wanted to win and a run a season’s best. I was satisfied and move on to the next race in July.” Second place, Shamier Little (USA) and Canada’s Sage Watson, who was third, also secured season’s bests in 53.94 and 54.55, respectively. Muhammad remains in first place in the Diamond League qualification with 23 points. Norway’s Amalie Iuel will be pleased with her personal best of 55.26.
Olympic Champion, Caterine Ibarguen jumped a season’s best 14.89m in the women’s triple jump to take the victory and another maximum eight Diamond League points. USA’s Tori Franklin was second with a leap of 14.57m with Kimberley Williams of Jamaica third with her jump of 14.50m. Williams and Shanieka Richards, who was fourth tonight, now share second place in the Diamond League qualification.
The men’s discus was won by Lithuania’s Andrius Gudzius with his third throw of 69.04m enough to secure victory on the night. He now tops the Diamond League standings with 15 points. Iran’s Ehsan Hadadi took second place with a throw of 67.55m just ahead of Daniel Stahl with the Swede’s last throw of 67.04m not quite enough.
In a non Diamond League event, Briton’s Chris O’Hare won the men’s 1500m in 3:35.96 with the crowd’s favourite, Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen third after being just pipped on the line by USA’s Robby Andrews.
The women’s 100m hurdles, also a non Diamond League event, was won by Jamaica’s Danielle Williams in 12.60 with Alina Talay of Bulgaria taking second and USA’s Queen Harrison third. Local favourite, Isabelle Pedersen was fourth in 12.78.
The IAAF Diamond League moves on to Stockholm where the Bauhaus Galen takes place on Sunday 10 June.
