Christian Cantwell, Osaka GP, May 7, 2010, photo by PhotoRun.net.

A nice start to the 2010 Diamond League! This in spite of hot (80 degrees F), humid, and windy conditions (just look at the flags, and wind reading for Asafa Powell!). World leaders in the men’s shot, women’s 1,500m, men’s 5,000m, steeplechase and 800 meters! Allyson Felix ran a superb 400 meters, winning in WL 50.15 and Asafa Powell ran 9.75, in his heat!  For me though, the 1,500 meter women’s race, between Burka and Langat, was the highlight of the meet!

Watch for detailed report on Saturday. It is first Friday night in Wisconsin with sun out, so I am heading out!

EME NEWS (MAY 14, 2010) UPDATE

EVENT BY
EVENT IN ONE SENTENCE

MEN
100 m: Asafa Powell showed great early shape with windy 9.75 and 9.81. He
considers the first race a better one. Top five clocked sub 10, even with
+2.3 very impressive for so early in the season.
800 m: David Rudisha fulfilled the promises, after 50 400 split he controlled
the race and improved world lead and meet record to 1:43.00. Olympic winner
Asbel Kiprop was also excellent with 1:43.45 ahead of Amine Laalou and world
champ Mbulaeni Mulaudzi as all went sub 1:44.
5000 m: That could be one of the fastest races of the year, Eliud Kipchoge gets
world lead 12:51.21 and top five under 13:10. Vincent Chepkok clocked
impressive PB 12:51.45 as second. World CC champ Joseph Ebuya struggled with
small injury.
400mH: Pity the wind was blowing at the beginning in the first part of the race
into the faces. Times could be better, Bershawn Jackson got a major
victory over reigning olympic winner and world champion.
Steeple: Ezekiel Kemboi again confirmed who is ruling the event, the world
champ clocked world lead 8:06.28, but was disappointed with pacemakers as he
planned for as he said 7:55.
Triple jump: As expected Cubans were the best and Alexis Copello in last round
was able to fly to 17.47 world lead and win.
Shot put: Christian Cantwell was improving with every throw and was sorry he
was not able to have two more. But still twice 21.82 world lead and meet record
is something special.

WOMEN
200 m: Kerron Stewart was clearly controlling the race, with windy 22.34. But
she will not go for all 200 races in the series.
400 m: Allyson Felix clocked world leading 50.15 and confirmed her status
beating the remaining world elite (only Sanya Richards-Ross was missing). But
she will not go for all 400
in the series, next race after Manchester straight 200
is New York 200 m.
1500 m: The stadium was exploding during that race by Ethiopian fans, but the
lucky one was Kenyan and oly winner Nancy Lagat in excellent world lead
4:01.63. World champ Maryam Jamal only 9th. Impressive Norway´s Makestad as
sixth in this tough competition.
100mH: Great depth, between first and eighth only 0.24 difference. Lolo Jones
despite touching some hurdles had a great finish and won. Doha is Doha for
her.
High jump: Blanka Vlasic beat Chaunte Howard (who won the hearts of the
spectators) on count-back with 198. No world lead here.
Discus throw: Cuban world medalist Yareli Barrios in third throw 64.90 in swirling winds
was enough to beat in-shape world champ Dani Samuels (64.67).
Pole vault: German Silke Spiegelburg came without poles and hurried after the
competition to the airport. After clearing world leading 470 in third she did not
even continue.
Javelin throw: Probably the technical event of the evening with changing orders
and great depth in top four places. New Slovenian record for Martina Ratej 67.16 in second round was
a leader but then faded to third as Mariya Abakumova got new meet record
and world lead 68.89 and world record holder Barbora Spotakova improved with
last throw to 67.33.

POWELL AND RUDISHA
IMPRESSIVE
DOHA (QAT, May 14): IAAF Diamond League opener started with nine world leading
marks and six meet records in front of around 15 000 in hot, humid and
windy weather. Leading the Diamond Races are Doha winners with four points,
second two and third one. Interestingly in women pole vault tie for third.
Interestingly no one false start was registered.

SHAHEEN RUNS IN KENYA
ELDORET (KEN, May 14): The Nation informs that Africa 1,500m champion
Alex Kipchirchir and Beijing Olympics sensation Nicholas Kemboi made a successful
comeback on Friday with 6th New KCC/Athletics Kenya track and field meeting’s
800m final slots in Eldoret.

RELATED

SEMINARS RAISE CURTAIN FOR BIG MOMBASA MEET

Kemboi won his heat in 1:51.6 and Kipchirchir was fourth
(1:54.4). In the 1500 m
heats Haron Keitany won in 3:44.2 over steeple world record holder Saif Saeed
Shaheen (3:44.6). William Biwott won the second heat in 3:44.2, in third young
Nickson Chepseba (3:52.7). Hosea Macharinyang won the 5000 m heat in 13:53.7. Irene
Jelagat was the best in the women 1500 m (4:18.6).

CORRECTION

Dillingen is in Germany not in Luxemburg.

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