by Alfonz Juck
Ruth Jebet, Rio gold medalist, set WR 8:52.78 in Paris DL (photo from Rio), photo by PhotoRun.net
Jebet huge WR
PARIS (FRA, Aug 27): The IAAF Diamond League in Paris (for the last time at Stade de France, next year at smaller Charlety) was a huge success in terms of quality and results. Steeple world record, U20 World record in men 3000 m, superb World lead by European runner in women 1500 m. Just to mention three highlights.
Event by event
Men
100 m: Ivory Coast’s Ben Youssef Meite rounded off the evening by equalling his NR of 9.96 ahead of Akani Simbine (10.00) and Churandy Martina (10.01). Vicaut only fifth in 10.12.
800 m: Excellent race with 19-year-old Alfred Kipketer finishing strongly to win in 1:42.87 ahead of Taoufik Makhloufi (1:42.98) and Jonathan Kitilit (1:43.05). Top eight broke 1:44.
3000 m: Yomif Kejelcha missed out on Olympic selection but showed fine shape to win in a world U20 record and world-leading 7:28.19 ahead of long-time leader Abdelaati Iguider (7:30.09). Lifetime bests for six of the top seven.
400m hurdles: World champion Nicholas Bett returns to form with victory in a season’s best of 48.01 to defeat Kerron Clement (48.19) and European champion Yasmani Copello (48.24).
Triple jump: Chris Carter 16.92m for the win in a field without Rio medalists.
Pole vault: After a defeat in Lausanne, Renaud Lavillenie returns to winning ways over Sam Kendricks with a 5.93m clearance before three attempts at 6.00m.
Shot: Great contest with Tom Walsh going out to a meet record and Oceanian record of 22.00m in the sixth round to defeat Olympic champion Ryan Crouser by one centimetre.
Javelin: Back-to-back Diamond League wins for Jakub Vadlejch with a PB of 88.02m ahead of Julian Weber (87.39m) and Olympic champion Thomas Rohler (84.16m).
Women
200 m: Dafne Schippers 22.13 in her first race since the Olympics. Desiree Henry clocked 22.46 to move to equal third on the British all-time lists.
400 m: Natasha Hastings with her second fastest time of the season of 50.06 to defeat Diamond race leader Stephenie-Ann MacPherson (50.33).
1500 m:After Olympic disappointment, Laura Muir smashed her British record by more than two seconds with 3:55.22 (also WL, MR and 3rd best European all-time) to defeat Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon (3:56.72) and Sifan Hassan (3:57.13) among others. Top seven all broke the four-minute barrier.
100m hurdles: Kendra Harrison continues to dominate on the circuit with 12.44 ahead of Dawn Harper-Nelson (12.65).
3000m steeplechase: Ruth Jebet shattered Gulnara Galkina’s eight-year-old world record with 8:52.78. Splits: 2:56.36 at 1km, 5:54.16 at 2km. Hyvin Kiyeng 9:01.96 and Emma Coburn 9:10.19 in a repeat of the Olympic order with Genevieve LaCaze sixth in an Oceanian record of 9:14.28.
High jump: Ruth Beitia 1.98m for the win ahead of Levern Spencer (1.96m). One cm better than in Rio.
Long jump: Ivana Spanovic went out to 6.90m in the second round before retiring from the competition. Lorraine Ugen 6.80m in second.
Discus: Sandra Perkovic maintains his unbeaten streak and had the three best marks of the contest: 65.65m, 66.80m and 67.62m. She has 6 wins the maximum in DL now.
