by Alfonz Juck
David Rudisha (from London DL 2015), photo by PhotoRun.net
Rudisha close to Johnny Gray, top shape by Kenyans Kipruto and Kiprop
BIRMINGHAM (GBR, Jun 5): Nearly full Alexander Stadium saw in sunny weather in total seven World leads and six meet records, also two Diamond League records and second fastest 600 m ever. British record of Mo Farah in the 3000 m was the great ending of a succesful meet.
Event by event
Men
100m (non-DL) – Kim Collins and Mike Rodgers were both timed at 10.11 with Collins given the verdict (-0.8).
200m – Andre de Grasse 20.16 to Alonso Edward 20.17 (-1.5). Rome DL winner Ameer Webb was never a factor in fifth in 20.62.
400m – Kirani James was unchallenged in victory in a 44.23 meet record.
600m (non-DL) – African all-time best for David Rudisha (1:13.10) and a European all-time best for Pierre-Ambroise Bosse (1:13.21) to move to second and third on the world all-time lists.
1500m – Asbel Kiprop improved his world-lead by nearly three seconds to 3:29.33 to break Hicham El Guerrouj’s British all-comers’ record. Abdelaati Iguider a distant second in 3:33.10.
3000m (non-DL) – Mo Farah closed the programme with a solo run. He broke the 34-year-old British record of 7:32.79 by 0.17, also a WL.
3000m steeplechase – Conseslus Kipruto made it four from four on the DL circuit this year but missed the eight minute-mark which he wanted to break. His time of 8:00.12 was a world-lead and PB with Brit all-comers’ record. Jairus Birech only fifth in 8:20.31.
Long jump – Marquise Goodwin produced some of his best form to win with 8.42 (+1.0) ahead of Mike Hartfield (8.29, +1.3). Greg Rutherford’s win streak came to an end in fifth with 8.17 (-0.3).
High jump – Mutaz Essa Barshim back in form with a 2.37m world-lead before attempts at 2.40m and 2.44m. Erik Kynard 2.35m, Zhang Guowei 2.32m.
Discus throw – After fifth in Rome, Piotr Malachowski returned to form with a 67.50m victory ahead of Robert Harting (65.97 SB).
Women
100m – English Gardner confirmed she will be a factor at the US Oly Trials with a 11.02 win ahead of Dafne Schippers (11.09) against -1.2 wind.
400m (non-DL) – Big European lead for Floria Guei with a 50.84 PB. Christine Ohuruogu only seventh in 52.40.
800m – Francine Niyonsaba proved she’s the world’s second best with her fastest time in three years of 1:56.92. Renelle Lamote 1:58.02 PB in second.
5000m – Vivian Cheruiyot produced a 59.72 last lap to outsprint Mercy Cherono, 15:12.79 to 15:12.85.
100m hurdles – Yet another meet record from Keni Harrison at 12.46 (-0.3) ahead of Brianna Rollins (12.57) who twitched in the blocks. Sally Pearson only seventh in 13.25.
400m hurdles – Very close finish with Cassandra Tate given the verdict ahead of Eilidh Doyle. Both athletes were timed at 54.57.
Triple jump – A big upset with Olga Rypakova ending Caterine Ibarguen’s 34-competition win streak which dates back to the 2012 Olympics. Rypakova jumped 14.61m to Ibarguen’s 14.56m.
Pole vault – After an indifferent start to the year, Yarisley Silva improved her season’s best to 4.84 WL and DLR to beat in-form Ekaterini Stefanidi. Fabiana Murer 4.70m in fourth with Rio approaching.
Shot put – Tia Brooks produced a 19.73m PB in the fourth round to beat two-time Olympic champion Valerie Adams by ten centimetres.
Javelin – Madara Palameika won her second DL of the season with a season’s best of 65.68m and had the four best throws of the competition. It is non-Russian WL.
