by Alfonz Juck
Tom Walsh lets it go! 22.60 m! photo by Photorun.net
Noah Lyles, after his 200m win! photo by Photorun.net
The Zurich DL was a fantastic meet! Big races, big throws and big Jumps! Four new champs, and some close races. This is how EME saw the races and events in the most livable city in the world!
Walsh 22.60 and Lyles 19.67
ZURICH (SUI, August 30): Sixteen Diamond League titles were decided in the first of the two finals, with several successful defences. Noah Lyles’ 19.67 and one of he best ever men’s shot competitions in-depth, led by Tomas Walsh’s 22.60m, were among the highlights. At the end flying fish, Pegasus and firework.
Short reviews
Men
200m: Noah Lyles made it five wins out of five over Ramil Guliyev, 19.67 being his fourth 19.6 in as many races. Guliyev was second on 19.98 and Jereem Richards (20.04) was third.
400m: Fred Kerley won in 44.80 after favourite Steven Gardiner dropped out. Nathan Strother was second with 44.93 and Matthew Hudson-Smith third with 44.95.
1500m: Timothy Cheruiyot defended his Diamond League title with a time of 3:30.27 as Elijah Manangoi was second in 3:31.16. Third went to Ayanleh Souleiman (3:31.24).
3000m steeplechase: A one-shoed Conseslus Kipruto was back on form as he overtook Soufiane El Bakkali after the final barrier in 8:10.15 to 8:10.19 for his fourth DL series win. Evan Jager was third with 8:13.22.
400m hurdles: Kyron McMaster surprisingly beat Karsten Warholm in a close run for the line 48.08 to 48.10. Yasmani Copello was third with 48.73.
Long jump: Luvo Manyonga defended his title but only with an 8.36m in the last round, putting himself ahead of Ruswahl Samaai (8.32m). Henry Frayne was third with 8.16m.
Shot: Tomas Walsh was close to his best with 22.60m – a DL and meeting and the 13th best in history – as second to fifth were best-ever marks for places: Darrell Hill (22.40m), Ryan Crouser (22.18m), Darlan Romani (21.94m) and Tomas Stanek (21.87m).
Javelin: Andreas Hofmann’s third-round 91.44m, equaling his second best ever, gave him the DL title. Magnus Kirt was second with 87.57m and Thomas Rohler second with 85.76m.
Women
100m: With 11.01, Murielle Ahoure took only her second DL win of the year, clearly beating Dina Asher-Smith (11.08) and favourite Marie Josee Ta Lou (11.10).
800m: Caster Semenya was in a race of her own as she went through 400m in 56.06 on her way to 1:55.27. Ajee Wilson, with 1:57.86, was second and Natoya Goule was third with 1:58.49.
5000m: Hellen Obiri kicked away from Safan Hassan on the last lap (at 59 seconds level), but the two were close to the line – 14:38.39 to 14:38.77. Senbere Tefere was third with 14:40.97.
400m hurdles: Dalilah Muhammad defended her title with 53.88 from Shamier Little (54.21), with Janieve Russell third on 54.38.
High jump: 1.97m was enough for Mariya Lasitskene to retain her title. Yuliya Levchenko was second on 1.94m and Marie-Laurence Jungfleisch was third on 1.90m.
Pole vault: Katerina Stefanidi took her third consecutive DL title, holding off Sandi Morris with a first-time success at 4.87m. Morris shared a best height of 4.82m with third-placed Anzhelika Sidorova.
Triple jump: By just one centimetre, Caterine Ibarguen (14.56m) maintained her 2018 unbeaten run (in triple jump), clocked up her fifth Diamond League series win and 34th individual DL win. Shanieka Ricketts was second, while Kimblerly Williams was third on 14.47m.
Javelin: Tatsiana Khaladovich took the win in the last round with 66.99m, demoting Shiying Liu (66.00m) into second. Kara Winger was third with a season’s best 64.75m.
4x100m (non-DL): A great final leg by Dina Asher-Smith took the Brits past Salome Kora and Switzerland, the times 42.28 and 42.49 in the Zurich Trophy.
