by Alfonz Juck
Sifan Hassan, photo by PhotoRun.net
Obiri and Hassan with top times
ROME (ITA, Jun 8): First European stop in IAAF Diamond League Pietro Mennea Golden Gala 2017 brought 4 World leads and 1 meet record including lot of surprises. Sifan Hassan offered great display of shape in women 1500 m as did both jumping winners Ekaterini Stefanidi with Mariya Lasitskene. Hellen Obiri ruled in the 5000 m without any doubts. Italian athletics celebrated junior Tortu in the 200 m before a crowd of close to 30 000.
Event by event
Men
100m (non-DL) – European one-two with Chijindu Ujah clocking 10.02 (-0.2) ahead of Jimmy Vicaut in 10.05 with Baker only third also 10.05. Last time Obikwelu won as European the 100 m in 2008.
200m – Andre de Grasse found improved form with a 20.01 (+0.6) season’s best ahead of fast finishing Christophe Lemaitre (20.29). In his first serious race at the distance, Filippo Tortu was fourth in 20.34 to move to fourth on the European all-time U20 lists.
800m – In a tactical encounter, Adam Kszczot defeated world U20 champion Kipyegon Bett 1:45.96 to 1:46.00. Pacemaker Kinyor started too fast (49.25).
3000m steeplechase – Olympic champion Conseslus Kipruto was pushed hard by Olympic fourth placer Soufiane El Bakkali, 8:04.63 WL to 8:05.17 PB.
110m hurdles – Aries Merritt equalled his season’s best of 13.13 (-0.3) ahead of Orlando Ortega (13.17) with Sergey Shubenkov improving his season’s best to 13.21.
Javelin – With his last throw of the competition, Thomas Rohler went beyond the 90m-line with 90.06m to defeat teammate Johannes Vetter (88.15m).
Women
100m – Sub-11 for Dafne Schippers with 10.99 (+0.5) ahead of Marie-Josee Ta Lou (11.03) and Michelle-Lee Ahye (11.07).
400m – Natasha Hastings won by more than half-a-second with 50.52 from Novlene Williams-Mills (51.04).
1500m – Sifan Hassan set a meeting record and world-lead of 3:56.22 ahead of Kenya’s Winny Chebet (3:59.16) and Germany’s Konstanze Klosterhalfen (3:59.30) who both set big PBs.
5000m – Hellen Obiri improved her world-lead down to 14:18.37 to break Vivian Cheruiyot’s Kenyan record. Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba faded to sixth in 14:41.55. Gidey with 14:33.32 missed the World U20 record by 3 seconds.
400m hurdles (non-DL) – Jamaica’s Janieve Russell opened the programme with a 54.14 win ahead of Denmark’s Sara Petersen (54.35 EL)
Triple jump – Yulimar Rojas handed Caterine Ibarguen a rare defeat, 14.84m to 14.78m, actually her first win over the Olympic champion ever.
High jump – Another win for Mariya Lasitskene with a 2.00m clearance before three attempts at 2.05m.
Pole vault – World-leading mark of 4.85m for Katerina Stefanidi before three attempts at a world record of 5.07m.
Shot put – Back-to-back Diamond League wins for Gong Lijiao with 19.56m with Olympic champion Michelle Carter only third (18.86m).
