by Alfonz Juck
Mutaz Barshim, photo by PhotoRun.net
RunBlogRun comments: The men’s high jump was the finest event of the Birmingham meeting. Barshim started to fly at 2.31 meters, then, 2.33 meters, and at 2.35 meters. Then, the gambler came out and Barshim passed 2.37 meters, then took two attempts at 2.39 meters. On his final attempt, Barshim went over 2.40 meters and cleared!
A magnifiscent end to Mo Farah’s track career, with a 3000m win in front of his fans. Now, off to Zurich.
Barshim 240 topps the bill
BIRMINGHAM (GBR, Aug 20): Final DL meet before the two finals registered before nearly capacity crowd at Alexander Stadium as top result a nice 240 WL/MR clearance by Mutaz Essa Barshim. Also great women 3000 m won by Sifan Hassan in meet record with two more meet records in hammer men and women. Men World champions from London were better then the women ones. Also all qualifying places for both DL finals were decided.
Event by event
Men
100m (non-DL) – CJ Ujah won the all-British 100m in 10.08 from James Dasaolu (10.11) and Zharnel Hughes (10.13). Adam Gemili was DQ’d for a false start.
200m – Ramil Guliyev is still unbeaten at 100m and 200m this season. The world champion won again in 20.17 from Ameer Webb (20.26) with Isaac Makwala fourth in 20.41.
400m (non-DL) – Big win for 32-year-old Dwayne Cowan in a 45.34 PB ahead of Vernon Norwood in 45.52.
800m – Nijel Amos claimed his fourth Diamond League win of the season in 1:44.50 ahead of Poles Adam Kszczot (1:45.28) and Marcin Lewandowski (1:45.33).
Mile (non-DL) – British one-two from Jake Wightman (3:54.92) and Chris O’Hare (3:55.01). Evan Jager faded to seventh in 3:57.39.
3000m (non-DL) – In his last track race on British soil, Mo Farah stopped the clock at 7:38.64 to defeat Spain’s Adel Mechaal in 7:40.34.
110m hurdles – World record-holder Aries Merritt won it from Sergey Shubenkov on the dip, 13.29 to 13.31. Two false starts by Darien and Brathwaite.
Long jump – Jarrion Lawson claimed the win with his third round jump of 8.19m before passing the last two rounds. Ruswahl Samaai was second with 8.03m.
High jump – Performance of the day from Mutaz Essa Barshim who produced a world-lead and meeting record of 2.40m in third attempt. Syria’s Majed Aldin Ghazal led after clearing 2.31m on his first attempt but soon retired.
Shot put – Tom Walsh produced the two best throws of the competition in the last two rounds: 21.75m and 21.83m. Ryan Crouser was second with 21.55m.
Hammer (non-DL) – Pawel Fajdek beat Nick Miller by nearly seven metres with his sixth round effort of 78.51 (also a MR).
Women
100m – Elaine Thompson returned to winning form in 10.93 ahead of double world silver medallist Marie-Josee Ta Lou (10.97). Dafne Schippers was a tired sixth in 11.22.
400m – Big win for teenager Salwa Eid Naser from Bahrain in 50.59 over Allyson Felix (50.63) with world champion Phyllis Francis fourth in 51.18.
800m (non-DL) – Ethiopia’s Habitam Alemu clocked 1:59.60 ahead of Lynsey Sharp (1:59.97).
1500m – Surprise win for Ethiopia’s Dawit Seyaum (was not in London) in 4:01.36 from Kenya’s Winny Chebet (4:02.24). World silver medallist Jenny Simpson was seventh in 4:03.71.
3000m – Sifan Hassan improved her Dutch record and meet record to 8:28.90 EL ahead of Konstanze Klosterhalfen, who broke Irina Mikitenko’s long-standing German record with 8:29.89. World 5000m champion Hellen Obiri had to settle for fourth in 8:30.21, one place ahead of Eilish McColgan in a 8:31.00 PB.
400m hurdles – After just missing out on the medals in London, Zuzana Hejnova improved her season’s best to 54.18 EL to defeat Olympic champion and World leader Dalilah Muhammad (54.20).
Triple jump – Caterine Ibarguen produced a sixth round jump of 14.51m to supplant Kimberly Williams (14.44m) with world champion Yulimar Rojas only seventh with 13.94m.
Pole vault – Ekaterini Stefanidi remains unbeaten outdoors with a 4.75m before attempting a meet record of 4.88m.
Discus – Sandra Perkovic went out to 67.22m in the third round to take the lead before extending it out to 67.51m in the sixth round. Denia Caballero was second with 65.24m.
Hammer (non-DL) – Joanna Fiodorow won the competition with her opening throw of 71.14 MR ahead of Sophie Hitchon (70.96m). Poland won the hammer challenge.
