by Alfonz Juck
The Rome Diamond League is always a high point in the DL season. The Stadio Olimpico is always tremendous, and the pressers are lots of fun as the Italian press find an athlete that they love and laud them with praise.
This is the event by event update by EME News, which we use with their permission.
Athing Mu, Rome DL, a win and a WL at 1:57.01, photo by Diamond League AG
Camacho-Quinn and Mu with strong World leads
ROME (ITA, Jun 9): Golden Gala Pietro Mennea was again a top evening for athletics. In total 4 World leads and 4 meeting records in main events. Jasmine Camacho-Quinn and Athing Mu delivered as Olympic champions. Men´s 5000 m was one of the fastest races ever and Sandi Morris raised the bar again. Kristjan Ceh starts to be at 70 m level at any time and Shericka Jackson produced to surprise of the evening beating Elaine Thompson-Herah. Home star Gianmarco Tamberi could not win again.
Short reviews
Men
100m – Fred Kerley dominated the last track event of the night in 9.92 ahead of Kyree King in 10.14.
200m (non-DL) – Another win for Kenny Bednarek in 20.01 ahead of Luxolo Adams (20.33) and Filippo Tortu (20.40).
400m – Kirani James produced a strong finish to take the victory in 44.54 from Vernon Norwood in 44.81.
5000m – Nicholas Kimeli outsprinted Jacob Krop in a thrilling sprint finish, 12:46.33 to 12:46.79. Kimeli’s time was a world lead and also broke Eliud Kipchoge’s meeting record. Also 7th best ever. The top eight all broke the 13 minute-barrier including Thierry Ndikumwenayo whose time of 12:59.39 was a national record for Burundi.
3000m steeplechase – Lamecha Girma recorded his third eight-minute-clocking in 10 days with 7:59.23 for a solo win from Abraham Kibiwott in 8:06.73 and Getnet Wale in 8:06.74. Conseslus Kipruto improved to 8:08.76 in fourth.
High jump – JuVaughn Harrison won on countback at 2.27m from Norbert Kobielski. Gianmarco Tamberi had to settle for third at 2.24m.
Shot put – A commanding win for Joe Kovacs over Filip Mihaljevic, 21.85m to 21.18m.
Discus – Another huge series from Kristjan Ceh who produced successive throws of 69.06m, 69.71m and 70.72m. Lukas Weisshaidinger defeated Daniel Stahl for second, 68.30m to 65.87m.
Women
200m – Shericka Jackson dispatched an elite field with a meeting record of 21.91 to win by more than three-tenths from Elaine Thompson-Herah (22.25) and Dina Asher-Smith (22.27). Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Allyson Felix were fourth and seventh respectively in 22.48 and 22.97.
800m – Athing Mu eased to a world lead of 1:57.01 to win by a huge margin from Renelle Lamote in 1:58.48. Elena Bello was a surprise third for Italy, taking her lifetime best down from 2:00.39 to 1:58.97.
1500m – Hirut Meshesha made it back-to-back wins on the Diamond League circuit, winning a tactical race in 4:03.79 from Ethiopian teammate Axumawit Embaye (4:04.53) and Laura Muir (4:04.93).
100m hurdles – Jasmine Camacho-Quinn improved her world lead and meeting record to 12.37 in her third and last competition in Europe for now. She was pushed by Britany Anderson who ran 12.50 despite hitting the last hurdle heavily with her lead leg.
400m hurdles – Femke Bol improved her season’s best to 53.02 for another one second-plus win over Janieve Russell (54.18) and Hanna Ryzhykova (54.50).
Long jump – Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk defeated Olympic champion Malaika Mihambo with her fifth round jump of 6.85m to Mihambo’s 6.79m.
Pole vault – Sandi Morris extended her unbeaten streak and won by 21 centimeters with a world lead of 4.81m. Holly Bradshaw and Roberta Bruni were equal second at 4.60m, with Katie Nageotte fourth on countback with Tina Sutej.
