byLarry EderNijel Amos won the men’s 800 meters last night in the Letzigrund, and that was just one of the highlights. I must say, Jenny Simpson and Shannon Rowbury going 1,2 in the women’s 1,500 meters was an amazing site, as Hassan, Jibet, Aregawi et al., were left behind. A thrilling series of middle distance and distance races.
Amos beats them all
ZURICH (SUI): Full stadium (25 000) saw another top Weltklasse and worthy IAAF Diamond League final. In nice summer weather Swiss fans celebrated their hero Hussein improving his best and national record by Buchler in pole vault. The most dramatic race was women 1500 m, meet record was registered in women steeple, Bailey-Cole beats stars in the 100 m and Amos the best possible field in the 800 m. The closest decision (by 0.002) in women 100 m and the biggest surprise of the evening was German javelin thrower Rohler. From 16 Diamond Race winners 4 repeated their wins from last year (Merritt, Taylor, Harper, Perkovic). At the end the fans saw UK X-Factor star Ella Henderson and a lights show.
Event by event
Men
100 m (non-DL): Bailey-Cole had the best last metres and won in his fastest of the year and tied his 2nd career fastest 9.96, Rodgers surprise 2nd and Eurowinner Dasaolu third from lane 1. Former stars Powell 4th and Gay 9th.
200 m: Battle among training partners won by Edward 19.95 (-0.9) over Ashmeade 20.01.The winner gets the Diamond trophy.
400 m: Merritt did what was expected a clear win in 44.36 and won the Diamond as last year.
800 m: Amos beat the loaded field which did not follow the pacemaker in 1:43.77. Rudisha attacked unusually from behind and was third 1:43.96 as Souleiman sprinted over in 1:43.93. Kszczot 7th, Aman 8th.
5000 m: Ndiku knew he needs to win to get the trophy and in strong finish did it exactly 13:07.01 as the other contender for Diamond Alamirew was only 12th.
400mH: Fredericks wins after CG and African Champs another top race, gets season best 48.25, but the trophy for Tinsley and biggest interest for 4th Eurochamp Hussein 48.70 PB and 70 minutes in the mixed-zone.
TJ: Taylor is the competitor, in last attempt gets the win 17.51 and the trophy. In good quality Compaore 17.45 and Claye 17.39.
SP: Hoffa ruled with his top mark of 2014 21.88 (plus four more 21+) over Storl 21.47 and Kovacs 21.43.
JT: Surprise of the evening, Rohler in first attempt huge PB 87.63 and gets the Diamond. Walcott improved for second time this year his Olympic golden mark to 85.77 national record.
Women
100 m: Just two thousands decided between VCB 11.032 and Ahoure 11.034 (-0.7). The win and the trophy. Third Okagbare 11.06 and nice fourth Schippers 11.10.
1500 m: US milers defeated Africans. Simpson and Rowbury fell after the line but were the top two with only sub 4 times. Third Kibiwott in last metres over Hassan, fifth Bahta 4:01.34 PB, Aregawi only 8th.
SC: Ghribi is having top shape at the end of the season with only meet record of the evening 9:15.23 but for Ayalew 2nd was enough to get the trophy. Fourth Jebet Asian senior record 9:20.55 and missed the world junior record only by 0.18.
100mH: As usual very dramatic, Harper Nelson gets it 12.58 (-0.5), Harrison fell so Pearson 2nd over Porter and Rollins
(12.71-12.73).
HJ: Kuchina had bad start at lower heights but managed in second two meters, Simic had superb competition from beginning, cleared all heights including 198 in first, but no luck at the two. Vlasic fourth 193.
PV: Murer as only one over 472 and has the trophy. Four others followed with 467, among them Swiss Buchler with NR as fifth.
LJ: Win was not enough for the trophy. Spanovic beats Bartoletta 680 to 676, but as they had the same points, the number of wins was 3:2 in favor of the US athlete.
DT: Croatian discus ruler Perkovic dominated with 68.36, but wanted more, possibly the MR (70.20).
4×100 m (non-DL): Zurich Trophy for Eurochamps Great Britain in national record and EL 42.21, Jamaica 42.33 and USA 42.48 beaten.
