by Larry Eder
Barshim 241, Lavillenie 605, fast sprints
EUGENE (USA, May 30): The 41st Prefontaine Classic was again something special for the 13 278 crowd. When we count 3000 m split then World leads in 14 events and meet and stadium records in 7 events. Lavillenie and Barshim jumped super results 605 and 241, Gatlin 200 m, series of sub 10.90 in women 100 m, Genzebe was on WR pace until 3km and two in women triple over 15 m. Two wins out of two events in Diamond Race now for James, Barshim, Malachowski and on the women side Sum, Ibarguen and Bartoletta.
Event by event
Men
100 m (non-DL): Gay is back with 9.88 (+1.5), his fastest since 2012, Rodgers 9.90 and first Chinese sub 10 by Su Bingtian 9.987 (only 3rd Asian sub 10 behind Ogunode and Francis) just ahead of super veteran Collins 9.990 (nobody ever clocked sub 10 in his age).
200 m: Gatlin confirms superb shape and equals his PB 19.68 (+0.9, also WL, 3rd career sub 20). Rest well beaten still Jobodwana 20.04 NR (4th best African all-time behind Fredericks, Obikwelu, Makwala).
400 m: James also shows who is number 1 with 43.95 WL (his 5th career sub 44). Merritt improves shape to 44.51 second ahead of Brown 44.54 (World Masters best for 35+ age). Masrahi 44.75 and Qatari junior Haroun 44.80.
800 m (non-DL): Aman beats them all in 1:44.92.
One mile (non-DL): Blankenship clocked 3:55.72 (WL, later to be improved) in dramatic finish, Holusa EL 3:56.39.
One mile (Bowerman): Souleiman repeats win from 2014 but in slower 3:51.10 still WL, Centrowitz 3:51.20 over World champ Kiprop 3:51.25 and Kiplagat 3:51.92. Ingebrigtsen 3:53.43 EL (10th).
Steeple: Kemboi in season opener used his usual tactics and attacked from behind in 8:01.71 WL, MR ahead of Birech 8:01.83 (first loss since Commonwealth Games). 3rd C. Kipruto 8:05.20 over Jager 8:05.28, Alaiz 8:19.85 EL (9th).
110mH: Sensation of the day, PML in his first race of the year wins and goes WL 13.06 (+1.5) over Merritt 13.12 (fastest since July 2013) and close call Oliver 13.132 with Ortega 13.134.
400mH: Also here surprise winner Dutch 48.20 just 0.02 ahead of Batman 48.22. Tinsley for 3rd 48.79 over Eurochamp Hussein 49.24.
HJ: Barshim cleared with space in first 241 (WL, MR, his 8th comp 240+ indoor or outdoor) and as in Shanghai did not continue to save energy. Surprise PB for 2nd Zhang 238, third Kynard 235 ahead of Ukhov 232.
PV: Lavillenie despite previous injury cleared 605 what is not only WL, MR, DLR but also his outdoor best and his 3rd best mark overall. And attacked WR 616. Kendricks and Holzdeppe way back 580.
Women
100 m (non-DL): First WL of the day with Gardner 10.836 PB and Thompson 10.838 PB (+1.5).
100 m: SAFP back in shape 10.808 over Ahoure 10.810, WL for both, for Ahoure also NR (2nd best African ever). Bowie 10.82 and Okagbare 10.87 shows how fast the track is.
400 m (non-DL): Felix beats SRR 50.05 to 50.29. Now 6:4 for Felix in career head-to-head at 400 m.
800 m: Sum continues to win in 1:57.82 WL after tough last 100 m with Wilson 1:57.87.
1500 m (non-DL): Here Simpson wins in 4:00.98 but missed WL by 0.02 over M. Cherono 4:01.26 PB, Hassan 4:01.65 and Rowbury 4:02.28. Alexa Efraimson US junior record 4:03.39 as 7th.
5000 m: Genzebe clocked 8:33.33 3k split (MR, WL) but afterwards could not exactly keep the WR pace but is 4th outdoors ever with sub14:20 (14:19.76). Faith Kipyegon debut 14:31.95 and comeback of V. Cheruiyot 14:46.69.
TJ: Koneva in second attempt 15.04 (+1.7) PB, WL, MR but was surpassed by Ibarguen in last attempt 15.18 (+2.1). She continues so with winning streak of 24 competitions.
JT: Obergfoll with 2nd attempt 63.07 beat them all, Spotakova still not finding the shape as 5th (59.84).
