2018 Monaco DL Diary: Seven World Leads, Beatrice Chepkoech sets WR 8:44.32 in women’s steeplechase!

MONACO (MON): Beatrice Chepkoech broke the world record to win the 3000m steeplechase at the EBS Herculis meeting clocking 8:44.32 at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Monaco. The Kenyan won by more than 16 seconds, having gone through the 2000-metre point in 5:49.81, following an opening kilometre of 2:55.23. Chepkoech, who finished fourth at the 2016 Olympic Games and at the 2017 World Championships, held the previous world-leading mark with her 8:59.36 clocking at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Paris. It was first night of athletics when sub 9 in women and sub 8 in men steeple was achieved. The World record bonus for Chepkoech is 50 000 USD. It was her 23rd race at the distance and 9th steeple women World record since 2001 when the event was introduced as World record event. “I wanted to break the World record, that was the plan from beginning of the season. And I was aware the biggest chance will be in Monaco due to weather, crowds and the whole environment. And this plan worked well. I knew I m running fast splits, but I was not worried, I felt strong during the race. I was thinking maybe I can break 8.50 but not at all was I dreaming about 8.44. And this time still could be improved Im sure. Maybe my next target could be to run under 8.40. It is great feeling I brought back to Kenya the steeple women record, Im very proud of it. And that after six years of running and three years with steeple.” She is the first Kenyan female with steeple WR.

MONACO (MON, July 20): The best meeting of 2018 (as described by many observers) so far EBS Herculis saw a world record for Beatrice Chepkoech in the steeplechase and superfast times for Shaunae Miller-Uibo (400m), Nijel Amos (800m) and Timothy Cheruiyot (1500m). Also setting world leads were Noah Lyles (200m), Soufiane El Bakkali (3000m steeplechase) and WL was equaled by Danil Lysenko (high jump). In total 15 983 spectators.

200m: Noah Lyles confirmed his special status as he set a PB, meeting record and world lead of 19.65 (+0.9)as Ramil Guliyev clocked 19.99 for second. Alex Quinonez was third with 20.03.

800m (non-DL): A great return to top form from Nijel Amos in one of the great two-lap races. His 1:42.14 after a sub-49 first lap is the 18th quickest in a history, a meeting record, world lead and the fastest since 2012. Brandon McBride set a Canadian record of 1:43.20 in second, while Saul Ordonez set new Spanish figures of 1:43.65 (and EL 2018) in third. Season’s best for Pierre Ambroise-Bosse in sixth (1:44.20) and Joseph Deng’s Oceania record of 1:44.21 (after 50 years) was good enough for only seventh.

1000 (non-DL): In the battle of two Tampere winners Solomon Lekuta prevailed over George Manangoi 2:17.42 (World U20 lead 2018) to 2:18.07.

1500m: Timothy Cheruiyot went to seventh on the all-time list with a world lead 3:28.41, leading fast times down the board. Elijah Manangoi was second with 3:29.64. Filip Ingebrigtsen set a Norwegian record of 3:30.01 (sixth all time by an European, also EL 2018) while brother Jakob set a European U20 record of 3:31.18 for fourth. Lot of PB´s set in this top race of the season, also Czech record for Holusa but 3:32.49 was enough for 10th.

3000m steeplechase: Soufiane El Bakkali set a world lead and PB of 7:58.15 after pulling away from Evan Jager (8:01.02, his second career time) on the last lap. Conseslus Kipruto was third with 8:09.78 (after back pain), just ahead of Benjamin Kigen.

110m hurdles: Sergey Shubenkov stayed on top with 13.07 (-0.2), with Orlando Ortega second on 13.18. Pascal Martinot-Lagarde was third with 13.20.

High jump: Danil Lysenko added 2cm to his PB with a world lead (equaled) and meeting record of 2.40m via a perfect field card. Yu Wang was second with 2.30m. Lysenko is 13th 240+ jumper outdoors ever.

Triple jump: Chris Taylor leaped 17.86 (+2.1, legal twice 17.66) in the second round as Pedro Pablo Pichardo came back with 17.67 (+2.4, legal 17.60) for second. Taylor dreams about ending the season with sub 45 in the 400 m and 18+ in triple.

100m: Marie-Josee Ta Lou made it four wins out of four over 100m in this year’s DL with a 10.89 (-0.1). Murielle Ahoure made it an Ivory Coast one-two with 11.01 as Elaine Thompson was third with 11.02.

400m: Meeting record, Diamond League record, Bahamas record and the fastest time in the world since 2009 for Shaunae Miller-Uibo, who clocked 48.97 in a close battle with Salwa Eid Naser, who set an Asian record 49.08 – the sixth fastest-ever non-winning time. Anita Horvat set a Slovenian record 51.22.

800m: Caster Semenya, after an opening 400m of 55.76, clocked a meeting record 1:54.60, the sixth quickest in history, with great times for place following. Francine Niyonsaba was second with 1:55.96. Natoya Goule set a Jamaican record 1:56.15 for third. Habitam Alemu set an Ethiopian record 1:56.71 for fifth.

3000m steeplechase: Beatrice Chepkoech took the event into another level with an eight-second improvement on the world record with 8:44.32 (splits: 2:55.23 pace, 5:49.81). Courtney Frerichs set a North American record with 9:00.85 (sixth on all-time list). Hyvin Kiyeng was third with 9:04.41 and Emma Coburn fourth with 9:05.06.

100m hurdles (non-DL): Queen Harrison comfortably won with a season’s best 12.64 (+0.3) from Dawn Harper-Nelson (12.90).

Pole vault: Anzhelika Sidorova won DL for first time and over a top field with an outdoor PB of 4.85m. Sharing second and 4.80m were Yarisley Silva and Katerina Stefanidi, while Sandi Morris was fourth with 4.80m. French record for Guillon-Romarin 475 ahead of her World leader McCartney 475 as 7th.