by Stuart Weir
Yemane Crippa, photo by photo by Giancarlo Columbo / FIDAL
An exciting Golden Gala, and Stuart Weir did a nice job on the Rome Diamond League meeting on 17 September 2020!
Six highlights in Rome
Elaine Thompson-Herah
Elaine Thompson-Herah, photo by Diamond League
Elaine Thompson-Herah won the 100m in10.85 a World Lead. Whose world lead did she beat by one hundredth of a second, I wonder. Oh, yes a certain Mrs Fraser-Pryce. Mrs Herah commented: “I leave here with the World leading time, I’m super excited. This tells me where I am at the end of this season, and tells me how I can prepare for next year”.
Arthur Cissé, photo by Stuart Weir via TV
Arthur Cissé seemed to have the 100m won but Akani Simbine (South Africa) overtook him in the last few meters to win in 9.96
Jemma Reekie loves the warm up area in Rome, photo by Giancarlo Columbo / FIDAL
Jemma Reekie avenged her defeat by Hedda Hynne (second) earlier in the week and beat her field and training partner, Laura Muir, into third place, winning the 800m in1:59.76. Reekie commented: “It was a really good race. It was fun. I am happy to finish the season on a win. I would have liked to achieve a new SB or a PB, but I tried something new. Plus, the pace was too slow. I felt safe the whole time. This was the last race of the season. I will go home to Scotland and spend my holidays there with friends and family. This is my first race in the Olympic stadium, I love it, especially the warm-up stadium”.
Jacob Kiplimo, photo by Giancarlo Columbo / FIDAL
The 3000m was the race of the night. Sean Tobin, the pacemaker, set it up well for Australia’s Stewart McSweyn to take up the running. On the last lap it became the battle of the Jacobs. Jakob Ingebrigsten seemed to have got himself into a winning position but – Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda overtook him on the final few meters. Kiplimo’s winning time was 7.26.64 but like Kiplimo, McSweyn Ingebrigsten and Yemaneberhan Crippa all set national records.
Karsten Warholm, photo by Giancarlo Columbo / FIDAL
It is a measure of his brilliance this season that we are disappointed that Karsten Warholm’s winning time in the 400m hurdles was only 47.07. He commented: “f course, I am satisfied. This is my third best time ever. I ran really low 47ers on a regular basis this year. I am very happy. This season has been a good experience for me. It is good fun for me coming here to Rome with the warm weather and no winds – unlike back home in Norway where it is cold now and rainy. The World record? I am quite used to talk about it and I love it because it shows that I am in the right pace, that I am close”.
Mondo Duplantis, photo by Giancarlo Columbo / FIDAL
When is a world record not a world record? Armand Duplantis won the pole vault in 6:15 which equals his world record, achieved indoors. World Athletics no longer recognize indoor and outdoor records in the pole vault but from his reaction, Mondo does! He said afterwards: “World record – well, I would not say that I am used to it. It is crazy. It was a really strong competition for me, so long. In the last two jumps I found my rhythm again. Maybe I will party a bit, just hang out with the guys, but trying to stay a little focused because I have one last meeting in Doha in one week. I will stay in Rome until I fly to Doha. After this last meeting in Doha, I can really party and chill”.
Women
100m Elaine Thompson-Herah (10.85)
400m Lieke Klaver (Netherlands) 50.98
800m Jemma Reekie (GB) 1 :59.76
100m hurdles Nadine Visser (Netherlands) 12.72
400m hurdles Femke Bol (Netherlands) 53.90
High Jump Yuliya Levchenko (Ukraine) 1.98
Men
100m Akani Simbine (South Africa) 9.96
3000m Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda) 7.26.64
400m Edoardo Scotti (Italy) 45.21
110m hurdles Andy Pozzi (GB) 13.15
400m hurdles Karsten Warholm (Norway 47.07)
High Jump Andriy Protsenko (Ukraine) 2:30
Pole Vault Armand Duplantis (Sweden) 6:15
Shot Put Nick Ponzio (USA) 21.09
