by Larry Eder
Great steeple was the top moment
PARIS (FRA): Meeting Areva as 8th stop of IAAF Diamond League 2015 entertained more than 41 000 fans with 3 area records, 6 world leads, 3 meet records and the losses of some of the biggest stars in world athletics: Kirani James, Renaud Lavillenie, Valerie Adams and Mutaz Essa Barshim. There was drama in the steeple, as Evan Jager fell but still clinched the AR on the USA’s Independence Day. Jimmy Vicaut impressed hugely with a European record equalling performance in the 100m. Wayde Van Niekerk ran an African record in the 400m to beat the Olympic champion.
Event by Event
Men
100m: Powell started powerfully and led throughout to win in 9.81 (1.3). His fastest since 2011. The big result came next. Vicaut closed on the Jamaican in the latter stages to equal the European record of 9.86. In third: Rodgers 9.99.
400m: Van Niekerk topples Kirani. The South African ran an African record of 43.96 to become the 11th man to run under 44. James lost ground in the final metres, clocking still high quality 44.17.
1500m: Makhloufi tracked the pacers and led into the final straight, but three athletes outsprinted him. Kiplagat got to the line first in a world leading 3:30.12 despite small injury, over Souleiman (3:30.17) and very fast finishing Kwemoi (3:30.43). Makhloufi was 4th in 3:30.50.
110mH (non-DL): Yordan O’Farrill took the B race with a good 13.29 (0.4).
110mH: Oliver had the lead until late when Ortega stormed through to take the win in a WL and PB of 12.94 (0.5), his first time sub 13. Oliver also dipped under 13, running 12.98. Shubenkov recorded a Russian record of 13.06 in third. Aleec Harris ran a PB of 13.11 in fourth.
3000mSC: Jager passed out Birech with two and a half laps to go and gapped the Kenyan in the final lap. But, while on sub 7:58 pace, the American clipped the last barrier and fell. Birech then sprinted through to win in a WL and MR of 7:58.83. Jager still got the AR with 8:00.45.
HJ: Barshim continues to struggle. The Qatari could only manage 5th with a best of 229. After winning in Cheboksary, Tsyplakov took the spoils again, this time with 232. Thomas cleared the same for 2nd. Ukhov is another not performing well, he was 9th in 224.
PV: Another favourite falls. Lavillenie also could only manage 5th, his best clearance being his opening 571, he failed at 586. Filippidis won with a Greek NR of 591. Braz got over 586 for 2nd.
LJ: Hartfield leaped 819 (-0.9) in the final round to take his first DL win. Gomis was next: 813 (-1.2). Lapierre had led into the final round with 8.07 (-1.2).
DT: Malachowski extended his DR lead by taking the win in 65.57 and seeing off the on-form Kovago (65.23). Morgan (62.03) still can’t back up his world leading performance.
Women
100m: SAFP was out best and no one could catch her. She raced to a WL and MR of 10.74 (+0.2). Okagbare (10.80) was the only athlete that looked to challenge, with Gardner third in 10.97.
800m: Sum continues her unbeaten streak. Almanza ran a PB of 1:57.70 to put her under pressure, but Sum had something extra, powering to a 1:56.99 world lead, the fastest time since 2013. In third, Buchel ran a Swiss record of 1:57.95. PBs also for Ludlow (1:58.68) and Price (1:59.10).
5000m: An uneven pace made a world record unlikely. With one lap to go G. Dibaba passed the front-running Ayana to pull away impressively to win in a MR of 14:15.41, strengthening her hold on fourth place on the all-time list. Ayana got to the line in 14:21.97 with Mercy Cherono the best of the rest in 14:34.10.
400mH: Hejnova is back. The world champion powered down the home straight to win in 53.76. Pedersen finished very fast and was rewarded with another Danish record of 53.99. Bahrain’s Adekoya led into the final straight; while she faded to third, she did get a NR of 54.12.
PV: Kiriakopoúlou made it a Greek double in the pole vault, both in national records. Her first attempt clearance at 483 was WL and she equaled the DL record.
TJ: Ibarguen put together a very consistent series, 14.87 (0.3) being her best. She had four efforts further than Koneva’s 14.72 (-0.5).
SP: Adams’ winning streak is broken. The New Zealander could only manage 18.79 for 5th on her comeback in a competition won by Schwanitz with 20.31.
JT: World record holder Spotakova recorded a SB of 64.42. Mickle (63.80) and Viljoen (63.15) followed.
