RunBlogRun comments: This is Stuart Weir’s first piece on the Muller Grand Prix Birmingham. It is early, as Stuart and I agreed to a piece on Monday. I like this view of the four very different 100 meter races. Enjoy the story, as you have Stuart’s pieces all season long, as he has traipsed around Europe and North Africa, covering events for @runblogrun.
Elaine Thompson, Pre Classic, photo by PhotoRun.net
A tale of four 100 metres races.
The Mὕller Grand Prix, otherwise known as the Birmingham Diamond League included a women’s 100 metres (Diamond event) and three other 100 metre races.
The women’s 100 attracted a stellar field with heats and a final in the programme. Olympic champion, Elaine Thompson, won in 10.92 with Marie-Josee Ta Lou (double silver at London 2017) second in 10.97. Thompson said: “I had to bounce back first time after a disappointing World Championships. The time is nothing to get excited about but I have not got a time in my head that I am targeting for the rest of the season. I’m just focusing on my races. I am leading the Diamond Race so I have that as my main focus, to get me hands on that trophy. That is motivating me for the rest of the season”.
The men’s race saw CJ Ujah (member last week’s GB gold medal winning sprint relay team) winning an all British race in 10.08. It was a less happy event for his relay team-mate, Adam Gemili, who jumped the gun and was DQed.
A delighted Ujah, said afterwards: “It was a clean and relaxed race which is just what I needed before the Diamond Race final in Zὕrich. There is plenty to build on but I know I’m capable of winning. Getting a win here four days before is massively motivating for me. The British crowds have been incredible. To be introduced as a world champion was crazy”.
An intriguing women’s T37/38 combined class race for runners with cerebral palsy, included 4 IPC world champions in the field. Sophie Hahn was the clear favourite on paper and so it proved as she won in 12.83
She said afterwards: “It was a great race. I am very happy with my time. To be running in front of a home crowd again was awesome. It was fantastic to have four World Champions in the race; we spur each other on. I thought it would be close. Kadeena[Cox] and Georgie[Hermitage] had a battle but I had to focus on myself. This is the end of my season now so a bit of a break and then back in the gym to focus on the Commonwealths”
Jonnie Peacock (11.03) just held off America’s Jarryd Wallace (11.12) – first and third at the 2017 IPC World Championships in the T44 (single below knee amputees) 100 metre race . Peacock, who had run a 1000 metre event the previous day, was pleased with his result as it was the first race since the July World Championships. He explained: “I managed the win but it wasn’t the quickest. I’ve had three weeks off basically – a sickness bug followed by a cold so today was understandable really”. He added : “I just want to thank the crowd for all of their support. Today was the first time my event’s been included in the IAAF Diamond League in four years so it meant a lot to me”.
A 100 metres race is always hard to beat. So much the better when you have four of them!
