by Alfonz Juck
Karston Warholm, photo by PhotoRun.net
Karston Warholm, photo by PhotoRun.net
The Oslo Bislett Games lived up to the hype, once again. The Bislett Games shows the excitement of a Scandinavian athletics meeting and how amazing the sport can be!
Warholm the king, Coleman the fastest
OSLO (NOR, Jun 13): What an evening at Bislett Games. After some days of rain and cold, sun came and decent temperatures. Sold out stadium saw historical European record by Karsten Warholm at 400 m hurdles, also a meet record. In total six World leads and another meet record in women steeple. Coleman´s 9.85 in not very hot conditions was also something special.
Short reviews
800m – Ryan Sanchez stepped up from second in Stockholm, finishing well in 1:46.34. Supposed pacemaker Cornelius Tuwei was second on 1:46.52.
3000m – Off a slow pace, Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega passed Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei with half a lap to go to set a world lead and PB of 7:32.17. Further back, Henrik Ingebrigtsen took nearly four seconds off the Norwegian record with 7:36.85.
Mile – The well-paced Marcin Lewandowski sprang the big surprise after most of the big contenders went off too quickly (800m in 1:53.04). The 3:52.34 was a world lead and NR in his first outing at the distance as he beat Vincent Kibet by four hundredths. Ayanleh Souleiman was third with 3:52.66.
400m hurdles – The run-in to Doha is a three-way battle as Karsten Warholm broke a 24-year-old European record with 47.33 and fell just 0.06 outside the world lead. It was also 0.31 off his Norwegian record and a meet record. Ireland’s Thomas Barr (49.11) passed a fading Kyron McMaster (49.12).
Pole vault – Sam Kendricks was the only one to clear 5.91m, doing so at the third attempt. Piotr Lisek, PB-setting Cole Walsh and Armand Duplantis were second, third and fourth on 5.81m.
Javelin – Low marks across the board saw Johannes Vetter’s 85.27m from the first round enough to win. He retired with a leg injury in round three, but the closest anyone could come was 84.74m (Magnus Kirt). Third was Cheng Chao-Tsun with 84.30m.
Women
200m – Dafne Schippers won easily in a season’s best of 22.56. Crystal Emmanuel also set a year’s best with 22.89 – ahead of Jenna Prandini in third (23.10).
800m (non-DL) – Halimah Nakaayi, with 2:01.93, headed runner-up Selina Buchel (2:02.32).
3000m steeplechase – Norah Jeruto was the surprise winner in 9:03.71 WL and MR as Beatrice Chepkoech ran 9:04.30 for second. Emma Coburn was third in 9:08.42.
100m hurdles – After a DQ for Brianna McNeal, Christina Clemons took victory in 12.69. Sharika Nelvis (12.74) and Elvira Herman (12.84) were next.
400m hurdles – A stunning finish by Sydney McLaughlin, who hit the first hurdle badly, saw her pass world leader Dalilah Muhammad in the closing strides. The winning time of 54.16 was slower than expected as Muhammad was second in 54.35.
High jump – Mariya Lasitskene wobbled the bar as she went clear at the third attempt at 2.01m for a world lead. Erika Kinsey was second with 1.96m. Morgan Lake and Yaroslava Mahuchikh were surprise early exits.
Triple jump – Caterine Ibarguen needed until the fifth round to pass Keturah Orji’s 14.53m. Eventually, 14.79m gave her a world lead and 36th Diamond League win.
Shot put – Gong Lijiao reversed the result from Shanghai over Chase Ealey, the best respective distances being 19.51m and 19.20m.
Javelin (non-DL): Kathryn Mitchell took the win with 56.07m.
