SCHIPPERS STARS AT BISLETT GAMES AS KIPROP AND KIPYEGON ARE DREAM MILE WINNERS

Asbel Kiprop of Kenya claimed an amazing fifth ExxonMobil Dream Mile in a world lead time of 3:51.48.

And in an exciting finale to the evening that brought the crowd to its feet Faith Kipyegon of Kenya won the women’s Dream Mile in a new world lead time of 4:18.60 pushed all the way by Britain’s Laura Muir who finished in 4:19.12.

In cool and sometimes tough, windy and conditions, the ExxonMobil Bislett Games produced some excellent performances in this Olympic year. Amongst the highlights were a new world junior record in the shot put for Konrad Bukowiecki of Poland and new world leads in the women’s 200m for Schippers and men’s Javelin for Thomas Rohler. 

Sadly the much anticipated 100m show down of youth against experience in the 100m ended badly for the ever green Kim Collins who pulled up with a groin injury. Canadian Andre de Grasse took the win in 10.07. 

As it happened…

Discus Throw (women)

Already leading in the Diamond Race, Olympic champion, Sandra Perkovic (CRO) comfortably increased her lead winning this evening with a throw of 67.10m.  Unbeaten this year it was also her third win in Oslo in a row.

Perkovic said “I always push myself, so it was not easy, I want every time the best possible result.  Today the fourth attempt which was not valid was maybe the best, but I did not have the right angle.  Every win is a good one.”

Nadine Muller (GER) took second with 63.09m with World Champion Denia Caballero (CUB) in third with 62.65m.

Fellow Cuban, Yaimi Perez will be disappointed not to proceed to the final rounds after bowing out with 61.91m.  Her 68.86m back in February remains second in the 2016 world list.

Triple Jump (men)

In the absence of Diamond Race leader Christian Taylor, this was an opportunity for Cuban Alexis Copello and Omar Craddock of the USA to close the gap.  However Craddock dropped out after the first three rounds.  But Copello took full advantage and the ten Diamond Race points with a jump of 16.91 (+0.2).  He is now just three points behind Christian Taylor with 17 Diamond Race points to Taylor’s 20.

Frenchman, Teddy Tamgho secured second place with a season’s best of 16.80 (-0.2) while Max Hess of Germany was third with 16.69m (+0.3).

Copello said “For me this win is very important, although I wanted to achieve a better result. But the win counts.  I’m not sure [of my plans] I want to be at the Games in Rio but I know it is not possible for Cuba.  Let’s see what the next weeks bring.”

Pole Vault (men)

Renaud Lavillenie of France shone again jumping 5.80m to secure the win and ten precious Diamond Race points to finish the night on 26 points.  As expected his main rival Canadian Shawn Barber pushed him hard coming in second with 5.73m and moving him into second place over Sam Kendricks in the Diamond Race with 16 points. Pawel Wojciechowski came third with a jump of 5.65m.

Lavillenie said “Very tough in this conditions.  But I managed to win and felt relaxed after I cleared 5.65 in my third attempt.  Then my competiton was good. I won and I jump 5.80m, all good things for me.”

Shot Put (men)

World champion and current world lead, Joe Kovacs (USA) had a great battle with junior Konrad Bukowiecki (POL) before securing the win with a throw of 22.01m.  Bukowiecki had led up to round five but in the end had to make do with second place and, significantly, a world under 20 record throw of 21.14.

Olympic champion and fellow Pole, Tomasz Majewski took third place with 20.56m.

Kovacs who now leads the Diamond Race now with 24 points said “You know Andreas [Thorkildsen] is a good friend.  My last two throws were excellent and I did not want to lose the young guy. I had a big warm up but it took me through the full competition to achieve the right throws.”

High Jump (women)

European champion Ruth Beitia (ESP) secured the win and ten Diamond Race points with a jump of 1.90m.  Second place went to Tonje Angelsen of (NOR), Michaela Hruba (CZE) and Sofie Skoog (SWE) who all jumped 1.85m.

Diamond Race leader Levern Spencer (LCA) could only manage 1.80m today but retains the lead with 16 points.

Beitia said “It was tough today, wind, cold and wet conditions.  I used my experience to win but the result is horrible.  I want to jump high very soon, this is not my result.”

400m Hurdles (men)

A tight finish saw surprise winner Yasmani Copello of Turkey coming through in a season’s best of 48.79 to just beat Javier Coulson (PUR) on the line.  Coulson’s 48.99 was also a season’s best. Michael Tinsley (USA) was third in 49.02 and now leads the Diamond Race with 24 points.

Copello said “This is a big win for me.  Winning the Diamond League and from lane one and in my fastest time this year. I always have the second part faster.  Next target for me is Amsterdam and then Rio.”

3000m Steeplechase (women)

World champion and third in the world all-time list, Hyvin Kiyeng (KEN), was first place in 9:09.57.  The win takes her ahead of Ruth Jebet (BRN) in the Diamond Race.  Ethopians, Sofia Assefa and Etenesh Diro Neda were second and third in 9:18.53 and 9:19.40 respectively.

Kiyeng said “This is exactly what I needed now, an easy race.  No pressure, clear win.  All according to my plan.  Fast times will be on my mind after the Olympic Games, not now.  If my body is ok and we have good pacemakers I thnk we can attack the world record after Rio.”

400m (women)

A great win for Stephanie Ann McPherson of Jamaica in 51.04 gives her a precious ten Diamond Race points and with a total of 19 she is now just one point behind Shaunae Miller (BAH).

Natasha Hastings (USA) took second place in 51.38 and Novlene Williams-Mills (JAM) third in 51.66. 

McPherson said “I expected a faster race but I executed it well in the last 100m.  It was a good race and the right preparation for our trials. We are a strong group close to each other so it will about execution in Kingston.  Of course my goal is to qualify for the Games.”

Javelin Throw (men)

German Thomas Rohler won the javelin with his second throw of the evening, a magnificent world lead of 89.30m.  Second place went to Johannes Vetter, also of Germany with a personal best throw of 87.11.  Third was Keshorn Walcott (TTO).  Rohler further extends his Diamond League race lead with today’s win taking him to 24 points.

5000m (men)

It was a clean sweep for Ethiopia with first place to Hagos Gebrhiwet in 13:07.70 who moves into second place in the Diamnd Race. Muktar Edris was second today in 13:08.11 extending his lead in the Diamond Race. 

Edris’ 12:59.43 in Eugene remains the world leading time this year.  Third place today went to Yomif Kejelcha in 13:08.34.

Gebrhiwet said “I have been injured so coming later to shape.  Shanghai was not good, now better.  I beat all other candidates for Olympics in our team today but time was not good. I must try in next race in Stockholm to confirm my Olympic selection. In Ethopia we do not have trials but go with times.”

Long Jump (women)

Serbian Ivana Spanovic has never won the Diamond Race but 2016 looks like it could be her year as she extended her lead at the top to 12 points.  Her 6.94 (-0.5) secured first place with Canadian Christabel Nettey second with a jump of 6.68 (+0.2) and Shara Proctor of Great Britain third with a season’s best jump of 6.67m.

World Champion, Tianna Bartoletta of the USA came in fourth here and moves up to fourth in the Diamond Race but Spanovic now has a commanding lead.

100m hurdles (women)

It was an American 1-2-3 with 2013 World Champion, Brianna Rollins taking her first career win in the Diamond League running into a headwind in 12.56.  Second was Dawn Harper-Nelson in a season’s best 12.75 just pipping Jasmin Stowers on the line who was third in 12.79.

Rollins said “It was great and smooth.  I just came and wanted to have fun.  I ran the same time as in Birmingham so the consistency is there.  At the Olympic trials just to execute is the plan.  Nothing more.”

Local favourite, World Junior and European under 23 champion, Isabelle Pedersen ran a season’s best of 13.12 to finish sixth.  The race also saw a welcome return from injury for the 2012 Olympic champion, Australian Sally Pearson. She has happy memories of Bislett as she holds the Stadium record of 12.49 but today fisnished in seventh place in 13.14.

100m (men)

Twenty one year old Canadian Andre de Grasse in a season’s best of 10.07 took the honours in the 100m.

Michael Rodgers (USA) was second in 10.09 and fellow American Dentarius Locke third in 10.12.   Sadly 40 year old Kim Collins (SKN) trailled in last place with a groin injury.

De Grasse said “I am pretty happy with the race, I ran my season’s best as I wanted. In the enxt races I hope to see some improvements.  Next one should definitely be sub-10.”

ExxonMobil Dream Mile (men)

Asbel Kiprop clearly loves Oslo and today he won his fifth Bislett Dream Mile in 3:51.48. Fellow Kenyan Elijah Manangoi, who is currently just four points behind his compatriot Kiprop in the men’s 1500m Diamond Race, came second in a new personal best of 3:52.04. Taoufik Makhloufi of Algeria was third in 3:52.24.  Kiprop also extended his first place in the Diamond Race with 30 points to Manangoi’s 22.

200m (women)

In one of the most exciting races of the evening, Word Champion Dafne Schippers produced a burst of speed on the bend and took first place in 21.93. The win also moves Schippers into the lead in the Diamond Race.

Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson was second in 22.64 with Ivet Lalova-Collio (BUL) third in 22.78, her season’s best.

Schippers said “In this conditions to run under 22 is very special for me.  The curve here is excellent but I must admit the last 50m was tough. After all the Diamond League races I need to rest and train a little bit before the European Championships in my country. No more races until then.”

ExxonMobil Dream Mile (women)

Faith Kipyegon of Kenya continued where she left off in Shanghai and Eugene winning in 4:18.60, a new world lead.  She also extends her lead in the Diamond Race with 30 points over nearest rival, Dawit Seyaum’s 10.

Great Britain’s Laura Muir was a close second in 4:19.12 with Meraf Bahta in third in 4:25.26.