by Larry Eder
Bolt and Rudisha wins, WL for McCorory
NEW YORK (USA, Jun 13): The 7th leg of IAAF Diamond League at Icahn Stadium before sell-out crowd in strong winds had one world lead (400 m women) and meet records in women events 400 m, 1000 m, high jump and long jump. Usain Bolt gave the Jamaican fans in the stadium a win, but with 20.29 was not satisfied. Huge NR for Van Niekerk 44.24 in the 400 m is number two in World lists 2015. David Rudisha is back to fast times and missed the 800 m wold lead only by 0.02. Women pole vault with two 480 jumps was the technical events highlight. Close to meet records were Kovacs and Perkovic. After a break the series continues on July 4 in Paris.
Event by event
Men
100m: Gay didn’t start well and had to work hard to get the win. He just caught Bledman, who was running under protest after a false start, clocking 10.12 (-1.7) to Bledman’s 10.13 (first was dq after the race, then reinstated).
200m (non-DL): A -2.8 wind hampered Bolt’s hopes for a sub 20 clocking. His young training partner Hughe pushed him right to the line. Bolt took it in the end with 20.29, over Hughes’ 20.32.
400m (non-DL): Van Niekerk surprised with a South African NR of 44.24 to take the win in a dominant display. Chris Brown posted a time of 44.74 for second, continuing his strong start to 2015.
800m: Rudisha looked slightly vulnerable in the final straight, but he got back to winning ways with a season’s best of 1:43.58. 22 year old Boris Berian of the USA, who’s PB before 2015 was 1:48.89, improved incredibly to 1:43.84. Bosse (1:43.88 EL) and Centrowitz (1:44.62 PB) followed.
5000m: Willis launched the kick, but True timed his finishing spurt well and edged the New Zealander at the end, taking the win in 13:29.48. Willis followed with 13:29.78, with Amlosom of Eritrea setting a PB of 13:30.22 in third.
110mH: Oliver was dominant, running 13.19 (-1.2) to take the win. Richardson was second 13.26 as Ortega (5th, 13.34) and Harris (8th, 13.50) didn’t perform as well as expected.
400mH: Coming around last turn, Nigeria’s Miles Ukaomo had the lead. But Culson powered through in the final straight to win in 48.48 SB, with Van Zyl coming through strong in the final straight to take second in 48.78.
TJ: Pichardo won his third DL of the season with a best effort of 17.56 (-2.5) after opening with 17.54 (-0.2). He then passed for the final four rounds.
SP: Kovacs was an agonising 1cm from the MR with his 21.67 in round 2. Behind him there was great depth, with 3 others reaching 21m; Clarke (21.34), Walsh (21.16) and Richards (21.00).
JT: After feeling a pain in his groin in the first round, Vesely sat out the final four. But his first attempt of 83.62 was good enough to win, although Mannio threatened with 83.37 in the final round.
Women
100m (non-DL): Gardner followed her strong run at Pre with an 11.00 (0.4) clocking to win here.
200m: Bowie was a class apart, running into a -2.8 wind, she ran 22.23, a time only two athletes have gone faster than this year. She almost had the race wrapped up after 100m. It was close for second between Okagbare (22.67) and Simpson (22.69).
400m: McCorory impressed by storming through the final 200m to post a world leading 49.86, which is also a meet record. Nobody else was close, with Shaunae Miller running 50.66 for second.
800m: Wilson followed the pacemaker and when the pack looked ready to pounce coming into the final straight, she motored further ahead to take a convincing win in 1:58.83. Jepkosgei made it 11 years in a row of sub 2 performances, running 1:59.37. Chanelle Price (1:59.47) and Ludlow (1:59.93) also dipped under two.
1000 m (non-DL): Erin Donohue clocked 2:37.42 PB to win (also MR) ahead of Treniere Moser 2:37.53 (she was also 7th in the 800 m 2:00.42 just one hour before).
100mH (non-DL): Nelvis won, as expected, in triumphant fashion. Her 12.65 (-1.7) was well ahead of Porter’s 12.81 in second.
Steeple: Ayalew didn’t have anyone to worry about and didn’t want to hang around. She broke away from the pack early to win clearly in9:25:26. Higginson of the USA was the best of the rest, clocking 9:31.32.
LJ: Nettey and Bartoletta were only separated by 3cm, with the Canadian getting the win with a meet record of 692 (-1.3). Bartoletta’s best of 689 (-0.7) came in round 6.
HJ: As in Rome, it came down to Beitia and Vlasic. The Spaniard won again, but this time on countback. They both managed a meeting record of 197, with Beitia doing it on her second attempt and Vlasic on her third. Neither could clear 199.
PV: Murer and Kiriakopoulou both cleared 480. However, it was the Brazilian who finished on top on count-back. Kiriakopoulou jumped two Greek records of 474 and 480. Third WL holder Suhr 454.
DT: While her series wasn’t as impressive as in Birmingham, Perkovic was never challenged. Her 68.44 in round 1 was just 4cm from her MR. Her 25th win in Diamond League the best from all women.
