by Larry EderWhen I first began going to meets in the UK, I was fortunate to hang out with Ian Stewart. At the time, Ian was the meet director for British Athletics. It was Ian who orchestrated the race fields, the schedule and the feel of the events. I was fascinated how he would not only have the best athletes in the world, but also include young Brits and Americans, giving them a chance to race.
Mo Farah, photo by PhotoRun.net
When I asked Ian about his philosophy of meet direction, Mr. Stewart reminded me that one always, always must have something that the local crowd enjoys, and one must always end meets with a great race, so that the fans would return the following year.
This year, Kim Collins and Mike Rodgers dueled in a non-DL 100 meters, and Kim Collins, all of 41, got the nod in 10.11. This was one week after Kim Collins ran his PB of 9.94!
Spencer Barden, who worked with Ian Stewart for several years, now manages the meet fields. In 2016, with world leaders in the steeplechase, 1,500 meters and 600 meters, Spencer had the 3000 meters at the end of the meet. Mo Farah broke the 34-year old British record of David Moorcroft, and ran 7:32.62.
The new British record was a welcome finish to the Birmingham DL, held in Alexander Stadium. And it was that perfect ending for a fine day of athletics. As Ian Stewart would tell you, putting on a succcessful meeting is both sport and entertainment. The key is, kind readers, how to combine both in a successful manner.
Results are below (from BBC Sports):
SUNDAY, 5 JUNE, 2016
IAAF Diamond League, Alexander Stadium, Birmingham, England:
Men’s
100m:
1 Kim Collins (Skn) 10.11secs
2 Michael Rodgers (USA) 10.11
3 Chijindu Ujah (Gbr) 10.12
4 Sean McLean (USA) 10.24
5 Isiah Young (USA) 10.25
6 Adam Gemili (Gbr) 10.29
7 Aaron Brown (Can) DQ
8 Churandy Martina (Ned) DQ
600m:
1 David Rudisha (Ken) 1min 13.10secs
2 Pierre-Ambroise Bosse (Fra) 1:31.21
3 Erik Sowinski (USA) 1:15.06
4 Joshua Ralph (Aus) 1:15.50
5 Michael Rimmer (Gbr) 1:15.87
6 Marcin Lewansowski (Pol) 1:16.45
7 Luke Mathews (Aus) 1:18.05
8 Andrew Kiptoo Rotich (Ken) 1:18.56
3000m:
1 Mo Farah (Gbr) 7mins 32.62secs
2 Matthew Kiptanui (Ken) 7:44.16
3 Hillary Kipkorir Maiyo (Ken) 7:44.99
4 Andrew Butchart (Gbr) 7:45.00
5 Bethwell Birgen (Ken) 7:48.59
6 Jeroen D’Hoedt (Bel) 7:53.36
7 Ben St.Lawrence (aus) 7:53.68
8 Jonathan Taylor (Gbr) 7:57.96
9 Abraham Kibiwott (Ken) 8:02.95
10 Richard Wier (Gbr) 8:04.59
11 Dewi Griffiths (Gbr) 8:05.59
12 Brett Robinson (Aus) 8:11.01
13 Reuben Bett (Ken) DNF
14 Vincent Rono (Ken) DNF
3000m Steeplechase:
1 Conseslus Kipruto (Ken) 8mins 00.12secs
2 Paul Kipsiele Koech (Ken) 8:10.19
3 Barnabas Kipyego (Ken) 8:14.74
4 Brimin Kiprop Kipruto (Ken) 8:19.33
5 Jairus Kipchoge Birech (Ken) 8:20.31
6 Clement Kimuati Kemboi (Ken) 8:21.07
7 Krystian Zalewski (Pol) 8:29.00
8 Taylor Milne (Can) 8:30.42
9 Chris Winter (Can) 8:31.06
10 Rob Mullett (Gbr) 8:31.13
11 Luke Gunn (Eng) 8:52.60
12 Lawrence Kemboi Kipsang (Ken) DNF
13 Brahim Taleb (Mor) DNF
1500m:
1 Asbel Kiprop (Ken) 3mins 29.33secs
2 Abdelaati Iguider (Mor) 3:33.10
3 Nick Willis (Nzl) 3:34.29
4 Vincent Kibet (Ken) 3:34.60
5 James Kiplagat Magut (Ken) 3:35.18
6 Ryan Gregson (Aus) 3:35.50
7 Silas Kiplagat (Ken) 3:35.52
8 Henrik Ingebrigtsen (Nor) 3:36.00
9 Jake Wightman (Gbr) 3:37.53
10 Dawit Wolde (Eth) 3:37.60
11 Thomas Lancashire (Gbr) 3:37.77
12 Timo Benitz (Ger) 3:37.77
13 Pieter-Jan Hannes (Bel) 3:41.10
14 Elijah Kipchirchir Kiptoo (Ken) DNF
15 Manuel Olmedo (Spa) DNF
16 Andrew Kiptoo Rotich (Ken) DNF
High Jump:
1 Mutaz Essa Barshim (Qat) 2.37m
2 Erik Kynard (USA) 2.35
3 Guowei Zhang (Chn) 2.32
4 Robbie Grabarz (Gbr) 2.22
5 Chris Baker (Gbr) 2.26
5= Jaroslav Baba (Cze) 2.26
7 Marco Fassinotti (Ita) 2.26
8 Gianmarco Tamberi (Ita) 2.20
Discus Throw:
1 Piotr Malachowski (Pol) 67.50m
2 Robert Harting (Ger) 65.97
3 Robert Urbanek (Pol) 64.12
4 Philip Milanov (Bel) 63.75
5 Rodney Brown (USA) 63.50
6 Benn Harradine (Aus) 62.10
7 Daniel Stahl (Swe) 61.93
8 Zoltan Kovago (Hun) 61.15
9 Markus Munch (Ger) 59.19
10 Brett Morse (Wal) 56.47
400m:
1 Kirani James (Grn) 44.23secs
2 Isaac Makwala (Bot) 44.97
3 Vernon Norwood (USA) 45.08
4 Matthew Hudson-Smith (Gbr) 45.13
5 Bralon Taplin (Grn) 45.25
6 Baboloki Thebe (Bot) 45.54
7 Rabah Yousif (Gbr) 45.59
8 Jarryd Dunn (Gbr) 46.30
200m:
1 Andre De Grasse (Can) 20.16secs
2 Alonso Edward (Pan) 20.17
3 Sean McLean (USA) 20.24
4 Churandy Martina (Aho) 20.43
5 Ameer Webb (USA) 20.62
6 Isiah Young (USA) 20.65
7 James Ellington (Gbr) 20.65
8 Chijindu Ujah (Gbr) 20.70
Long Jump:
1 Marquise Goodwin (USA) 8.42m
2 Michael Hartfield (USA) 8.29
3 Fabrice Lapierre (Aus) 8.21
4 Tyrone Smith (Ber) 8.18
5 Greg Rutherford (Eng) 8.17
6 Damar Forbes (Jam) 8.07
7 Christian Taylor (USA) 7.96
8 Mauro Da Silva (Bra) 7.85
Women’s
Javelin Throw:
1 Madara Palameika (Lat) 65.68m
2 Kathryn Mitchell (Aus) 63.93
3 Linda Stahl (Ger) 61.62
4 Christina Obergfoll (Ger) 61.27
5 Elizabeth Gleadle (Can) 61.00
6 Brittany Borman (USA) 58.76
7 Sunette Viljoen (Rsa) 58.54
8 Katharina Molitor (Ger) 58.41
9 Goldie Sayers (Gbr) 57.08
400m Hurdles:
1 Cassandra Tate (USA) 54.57secs
2 Eilidh Doyle (Gbr) 54.57
3 Georganne Moline (USA) 54.63
4 Dalilah Muhammad (USA) 54.75
5 Kemi Adekoya (Brn) 55.28
6 Joanna Linkiewicz (Pol) 55.41
7 Kaliese Spencer (Jam) 55.96
8 Denisa Rosolova (Cze) 56.50
Pole Vault:
1 Yarisley Silva (Cub) 4.84m
2 Katerina Stefanidi (Gre) 4.77
3 Nicole Buchler (Swi) 4.77
4 Fabiana Murer (Bra) 4.70
5 Wilma Murto (Fin) 4.50
6 Nikoleta Kiriakopoulou (Gre) 4.50
6= Katie Nageotte (USA) 4.50
8 Holly Bradshaw (Gbr) 4.35
1500m:
1 Sarah McDonald (Gbr) 4mins 08.18secs
2 Melissa Courtney (Gbr) 4:07.55
3 Claudia Mihaela Bobocea (Bel) 4:08.64
4 Bobby Clay (Gbr) 4:10.61
5 Rosie Clarke (Gbr) 4:12.41
6 Sarah Inglis (Gbr) 4:12.58
7 Josephine Moultrei (Gbr) 4:17.82
8 Sandra Eriksson (Fin) 4:17.97
9 Victoriya Kushnir (Blr) 4:20.29
10 Julia Cooke (Gbr) 4:25.06
11 Selma Kajan (Aus) DNF
12 Alison Leonard (Gbr) DNF
Claire Tarplee (Irl) DNF
400m:
1 Floria Guei (Fra) 50.84secs
2 Christine Day (Jam) 51.09
3 Morgan Mitchell (Aus) 51.25
4 Seren Bundy-Davies (Gbr) 51.33
5 Anyika Onuora (Gbr) 51.55
6 Lisanne De Witte (Ned) 52.14
7 Christine Ohuruogu (Gbr) 52.40
8 Marie Gayot (Fra) 52.49
Triple Jump:
1 Olga Rypakova (Kaz) 14.61m
2 Caterine Ibarguen (Col) 14.56
3 Olha Saladukha (Ukr) 14.40
4 Kimberly Williams (Jam) 14.36
5 Paraskevi Papachristou (Gre) 14.26
6 Liadagmis Povea (Cub) 13.92
7 Shanieka Thomas (Jam) 13.88
8 Laura Samuel (Gbr) 13.12
Shot Put:
1 Tia Brooks (USA) 19.73m
2 Valerie Adams (Nzl) 19.63
3 Cleopatra Borel (Tri) 18.78
4 Anita Marton (Hun) 18.41
5 Jillian Camarena-Williams (USA) 17.74
6 Brittany Smith (USA) 16.82
7 Sophie McKinna (Gbr) 16.49
8 Rachel Wallader (Gbr) 16.44
100m Heat 1:
1 Dafne Schippers (Ned) 11.23secs
2 Ashleigh Nelson (Gbr) 11.31
3 Michelle-Lee Ahye (Tri) 11.38
4 Carina Horn (Rsa) 11.57
5 Daryll Neita (Gbr) 11.60
6 Maire Jose Ta Lou (Civ) 11.63
7 Asha Philip (Gbr) 11.65
8 Kimberly Hyacinthe (Can) 11.82
100m Heat 2:
1 English Gardner (USA) 11.02secs
2 Tianna Bartoletta (USA) 11.07
3 Desiree Henry (Gbr) 11.07
4 Dina Asher-Smith (Gbr) 11.08
5 Simone Facey (Jam) 11.13
6 Ezinne Okparaebo (Nor) 11.27
7 Ewa Swoboda (Pol) 11.28
8 Jamile Samuel (Ned) 11.38
100m Final:
1 English Gardner (USA) 11.02secs
2 Dafne Schippers (Ned) 11.09
3 Tianna Bartoletta (USA) 11.11
4 Dina Asher-Smith (Gbr) 11.22
5 Ashleigh Nelson (Gbr) 11.24
6 Simone Facey (Jam) 11.24
7 Desiree Henry (Gbr) 11.32
8 Michelle-Lee Ahye (Tri) 11.48
800m:
1 Francine Niyonsaba (Bdi) 1min 56.92secs
2 Renelle Lamote (Fra) 1:58.01
3 Melissa Bishop (Can) 1:58.48
4 Lynsey Sharp (Gbr) 1:59.29
5 Marina Arzamasova (Blr) 1:59.97
6 Chanelle Price (USA) 2:00.08
7 Ajee Wilson (USA) 2:00.81
8 Joanna Jozwik (Pol) 2:01.94
9 Laura Roesler (USA) 2:01.54
10 Rose-Anne Galligan (Irl) DNF
100m Hurdles:
1 Kendra Harrison (USA) 12.46secs
2 Brianna Rollins (USA) 12.57
3 Kristi Castlin (USA) 12.75
4 Dawn Harper-Nelson (USA) 12.78
5 Tiffany Porter (Gbr) 12.86
6 Nia Ali (USA) 12.95
7 Sally Pearson (Aus) 13.25
8 Lucy Hatton (Gbr) 13.36
5000m:
1 Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot (Ken) 15:12.79secs
2 Mercy Cherono (Ken) 15:12.85
3 Janet Kisa (Ken) 15:19.48
4 Haftamnesh Tesfaye (Eth) 15:24.04
5 Eloise Wellings (Aus) 15:26.19
6 Genevieve Lacaze (Aus) 15:27.13
7 Birtukan Fente Alembu (Eth) 15:39.55
8 Dominika Napieraj (Pol) 15:41.47
9 Jessica Andrews (Gbr) 15:46.82
10 Joanne Pavey (Gbr) 15:47.64
11 Deirdre Byrne (Irl) 15:58.65
12 Emma Clayton (Gbr) 16:07.47
13 Camille Buscomb (Nzl) 16:11.17
14 Jessica Coulson (Gbr) DNF
15 Renata Plis (Pol) DNF
16 Sara Louise Treacy (Irl) DNF,
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