by Alfonz Juck
Abderaaham Samba and Mutaz Barshim, two winners from Qatar, photo by PhotoRun.net
The Bislett Oslo Games were a huge success! A sell out crowd, first in several years shows that their approach to the meet, showcasing stars of Norway with well picked global stars, made a lot of sense and was a good fiscal approach. The Diamond League has now had five every good meets, with more focused approaches in each market (Doha, Shangha, Eugene, Rome, Oslo).
Will this help the Diamond League find sponsors in the future? We sure hope so!
Samba dance at Bislett
OSLO (NOR, June 7): Abderrahmane Samba and Tomas Walsh set meeting records as the crowd were treated to some positive home performances, although no wins. Andrius Gudzius was close to his world discus lead, while Tatsiana Khaladovich caused a surprise in the javelin. Full stadium and top crowd made it for another special Bislett Games.
MEN
200m: Ramil Guliyev clocked a season’s best 19.90 EL to win over Aaron Brown’s PB (19.98). Jereem Richards was third in 20.19 from Adam Gemili’s season’s best of 20.21.
800m (National): Norway’s Thomas Arne Rothe took the win with a big PB 1:45.75.
1500m (non-DL): Chris O’Hare won a close battle in a season’s best 3:35.96 as American Robbie Andrews was second in 3:36.05. Jakob Ingebrigtsen enjoyed home support as he went to second on the European junior all-time rankings with PB 3:36.06.
Mile: Elijah Manangoi returned to winning way in the historic Dream Mile, running 3:56.95 as they ignored the pacemaker. Sadik Mikhou was second in 3:57.10 and Teresa Tolosa third in 3:57.52. Norwegians Filip and Henrik Ingebrigtsen were fourth and sixth respectively with 3:57.97 and 3:58.46.
10,000m (non-DL): In a close finish, Dominic Kiptarus won in 28:05.34 on his 25-lap debut. Stewart McSweyn was second in a big PB of 28:05.37. Julien Wanders was just outside his best with 28:07.15 as Sondre Moen was down in fifth in 28:37.92.
400m hurdles: Abderrahmane Samba spoiled the party with his fourth sub-48 of the season, an easing-down meeting record 47.60 as home favourite Karsten Warholm faltered over the second half for 48.22 and second. Yasmani Copello was third with 48.54.
High jump: Despite failures at 2.30m and 2.33m which left him second, Mutaz Essa Barshim prevailed with a first-time 2.36m over Danil Lysenko, whose had a perfect record up up and including 2.33m. Barshim had three failures at 2.40m. Donald Thomas was third with 2.25m when jumpers battled with the sun.
Shot put: Tom Walsh won the battle of the titans. Ryan Crouser set a meet record of 22.21m in the fifth, but then Walsh went 8cm further with his last try. Darrell Hill was third with 21.20m. Crouser had also a long foul in last attempt.
Discus: Andrius Gudzius bounced back with victory with 69.04m, just outside his world lead, in the third round as Rome winner Fedrick Dacres was just eighth after some injury issues. Ehsan Hadadi was second in 67.05m and Daniel Stahl third in 67.04m.
WOMEN
100m: Murielle Ahoure won her first Diamond League of the year with 10.91 from Dina Asher-Smith, who took 0.07 from her British record with 10.92. Michelle-Lee Ayhe was third in 11.06.
200m (National): Helene Ronningen won with a Norwegian record of 23.27, she also clocked windy 11.34 (+2.5) in national 100 m.
400m: Salwa Eid Naser came home strongly for a 49.98 to back up her Rome win in a season’s best. Phyllis Francis was well back in second with 50.47, while Shakima Wimbley was third in 50.53.
800m: Caster Semenya was clear in 1:57.25, with Francine Niyonsaba second in 1:58.57. Habitam Alemu ran 1:58.58 ahead of a PB from Nelly Jepkosgei of 1:58.96.
3000m steeplechase: Hyvin Kiyeng overcame the faster-finishing Emma Coburn as she followed up her Rome win amid farce. Times were down (9:09.63 and 9:09.70) after one of the barriers was initially set too high and then adjusted mid-race. Daisy Jepkemei was third in 9:16.87.
100m hurdles (non-DL): Danielle Williams upset European No.1 Alina Talay with a season’s best 12.60 to 12.63 as Queen Harrison was third with 12.71.
400m hurdles: A second DL win of the year for Dalilah Muhamad, who had to run away from a close home-straight challenge from Shamier Little 53.65 to 53.94, both 2018 bests. As Sage Watson was third in 54.55, Zuzana Hejnova was back in fifth with 55.16.
Pole vault: Sandi Morris took the win with a second-time clearance of 4.81m as Anzhelika Sidorova was second with a season’s best 4.71m. Olympic and World winner Stefanidi no-heighted at 441.
Triple jump: Catherine Ibarguen followed her Shanghai win another thanks to 14.89m season’s best in round one. Toni Franklin was second on 14.57m and Kimberly Williams third in 14.50m.
Javelin: Tatsiana Khaladovich added more than a metre to her Belarusian record with a winning 67.47 EL ahead of China’s Huihui Lyu (65.11m) as Czech Republic’s Nikola Ogrodnikova was third (61.56m).
