by Larry Eder
Amid last week’s allegations surrounding the Nike Oregon Project and Alberto Salazar, it would have been easy to forget that the outdoor season was still going on. So much was the focus on how this story could unravel and the implications it could have on the careers of so many people in the world of running, particularly from a British perspective on Olympic champion Mo Farah.
Yet after dealing with all the questions hammered at him in Saturday’s press conference well, it seemed that the pressure was easing and the focus was back on the Diamond League. At least temporarily. Just as long as he produced the goods in the 1500m the next day.
Mo pulled out of his race on the morning of competition, and flew back to Portland early. His statement noted that he was returning to Portland in order to get answers from coach Alberto Salazar, and focus on Beijing. Mo also apologized to his fans in his statement. Paula Radcliffe and Steve Cram noted that they thought departure was probably “ill-advised”.
Mo’s departure left the sport almost in the same position it had been a few days earlier, and Farah’s repaired image flailing once more.
Luckily, a number of his compatriots and the world’s best athletes stepped in to save his proverbial bacon and leave the fans not feeling to hard done by. I hope.
Having witnessed some awesome performances in Rome just three days earlier, the athletes that were in Birmingham provided further evidence for why this has been a breakthrough year in so many events. Not least in the field.
Whether it was Julius Yego’s incredible throw in the Javelin or the brilliant performances of Olympic champions Christian Taylor and Greg Rutherford, it’s hard to keep your eyes on the track right now in fear that you might miss something special on the infield or in the pits. Perhaps even a world record.
After seeing the high jump come to the fore in 2014, it seems that the rest of the jumpers and throwers have finally clocked on to the memo.
On this occasion it was the previously mentioned athletes who shined. All of whom have a back story as interesting as the other. Could the youtube-trained Yego, beat the European’s to the world title in Beijing? Will Rutherford complete the set in China? Can Taylor withstand the challenge of Pedro Pichardo to take world gold and potentially a world record? All three questions were evoked in my mind as they produced some epic performances on Sunday.
The performance of the meet was undoubtably that of the Kenyan, Julius Yego. As he produced a huge 91.39m, the best throw in the last nine years and a Diamond League and African record to boot. In the battle of final round efforts, Yego who had been leading throughout, overcame Vitezslav Vesely after the Czech athlete had produced his own final round monster-throw of 88.18m just moments earlier. In doing so he showed his grit and why he continues to rise in prestige, not only in terms of ability but also popularity.
As for the Brits, it was two young sprint stars that brought to the crowd to their feet and the volume of the Alexander Stadium a few decibels higher. Almost feeding off the positive energy of one another Adam Gemili and then Dina Asher-Smith broke lifetime bests and more important barriers on the track.
First, Gemili gave literally everything to power his way through line and to a first sub-10 second 100 meters of his career, running 9.97 seconds (and 100th sub 10 second 100m athlete) to become the first British athlete ever to break both 10 seconds for the 100m and 20 seconds for the 200m. Yet a crucial dip to do so on the line also caused rather costly hamstring injury as he fell to the track soon after.
Then came the turn of Asher-Smith, fresh off of becoming the best British female 100m sprinter of all-time two weeks ago in Hengelo, she then rose to second in the lists for the 200m by running 22.30 seconds. Yet it was her performance that was so impressive. After an another incredible start, Asher-Smith ran all the way to the line with Olympic champion Allyson Felix and Rome Diamond League winner Jenebeh Tarmoah to miss out on victory by just .01 of a second and prove that she is the real deal.
Exciting huh?
Now as the DL continues it’s journey onto Oslo on Thursday, before a quick return flight to America for the Adidas Grand Prix in New York on Saturday, it seems that although there is rightly a lot of investigation going on outside the stadiums in the actual competition there is also plenty to talk about.
