by Stuart Weir
Stuart Weir wrote three articles on the Lausanne Diamond League on June 30, 2023.
Lausanne – Britwatch
There were 12 British athletes in action in Lausanne
Keely Hodgkinson was second in women’s 800 in 1:58.37, commenting: “Not my best put together race. Today was not my day. Mary Moraa was better. I’m disappointed because I think I’m better than that”.
Jemma Reekie, who is now coached by John Bigg, was fifth in 1:59.32, a third sub-2-minute race this month. She described it as “a very messy race, but I’ll take a 1:59. Training is going well. There have been big changes, and I’m learning about myself and about racing”.
Olympic bronze medalist in 2021, pole vaulter Holly Bradshaw, has had a horrendous time since. Her pole broke in the 2022 World Championships, causing her to fall awkwardly and not compete again last season. She was due to compete in Doha in 2023 but withdrew from the competition with an injury. In Lausanne, she was fifth with 4.51. She told me: “I am really, really happy as I have not competed since British Champs last year and actually only did my first training session since Doha on Monday. It’s been really frustrating as I’ve had injury after injury in the last 12 months. I am in this predicament where I don’t have a ranking profile, so finishing fifth and getting a load of points is a big tick for me – more than I expected”. She added that her goal is Paris 2024 with Budapest 2022, a bonus if she can achieve it.
Darry Neita was second in the 100m in 11.07 and Imani Lansiquot fifth in 11.24; a disappointed Neita said: “Tonight, it didn´t feel great. My time was 11.07, and I was hoping that I would stay below the 11 mark; but it´s OK after all, even though it was not my best performance”.
Jessie Knight was fourth in the 400m hurdles in 55.13, and Lina Nielsen was seventh in 56.62. Knight told me: “The time wasn’t great, but I got the strides that I wanted. I’m quite tired as I’ve done a lot of racing. I am quite happy with it strategically, given the tired legs – fourth in a Diamond League isn’t bad”.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen inevitably won the 1500m, with Josh Kerr third in 3:29.64. Elliot Giles, normally more an 800m runner, was fourth in a PR of 3:31.56, while Neil Gourley was sixth in 3:32.63. Kerr told me: “It was great. Very time-trialy, under 3:30 for the first time in a couple years. It went to plan apart from the last 100m, but I’ll get stronger as the season goes on”.
Neil Gourley told me: “It was a strange one. I felt a bit rough from the start. We all have those nights, so I won’t read too much into it”.
Aimee Pratt was tenth in the 3000m steeplechase in 9:28:00
Josh Zeller was seventh in the 110m hurdles in 13.58
