by Alfonz Juck
This is the event-by-event review of the Memorial Kamila Skolimowska DL meeting, held on July 16, 2023! What a meet, and the broadcast was well done!
Ingebrigtsen 3:27.14 WL+ER, Barshim 236 WL, Rojas 15.18 WL, Kitaguchi 67.04 WL
CHORZOW (POL, Jul 16): What a meeting! The Silesia Kamila Skolimowska Memorial Diamond League brought an unforgettable experience. Excellent crowds of around 30,000 spectators watched an event full of close clashes decided by photo-finish, surprising winners, returning champions, excellent performances, bulk of personal bests, and fulfilled World Championship standards and a joy for home spectators. A newcomer in the Diamond League series noticed 11 meeting records (+ one equaled), and also four world leads, and four area records.
Short reviews
Men
100m – Akani Simbine surprised the expected US duel by winning the tight race in 9.97 (0.0) ahead of Fred Kerley (9.98), Cravont Charleston fourth (9.99), and the top five sprinters were within 0.04 sec. Range.
400m – The World record holder is definitely back! Wayde van Niekerk stormed to a new meet record of 44.08, the second time behind non-finisher Muzala Samukonga this season. Second Botswana’s Bayapo Ndori (44.61 =PB) ahead of Alison dos Santos (44.73) in a successful return from injury.
1500m – Jakob Ingebrigtsen again improved the world lead and European record to 3:27.14, also a meet record and fourth in the all-time lists in a records-full race, as 10 of fourteen finishers smashed their PBs, and 13 of them went below Budapest standard. Abel Kipsang was second (3:29.11) over Reynold Kipkorir (3:30.30) and Andrew Coscoran (3:30.42, a new national record for Ireland).
3000m steeplechase – The pace was not enough to attack the world record but sufficient to improve the meeting best. Soufiane El Bakkali won clearly in 8:03.16, and Abraham Kibiwott was a distant second (8:08.03).
110m hurdles (non-DL) – Cuba’s Roger Iribarne, after clocking a PB of 13.21 (0.3) in the heat, narrowly defeated Just Kwaou-Mathey (13.25/-0.2 vs 13.26).
High jump – Thrilling battle, the best men’s high jump competition since the Tokyo Olympics. “Classic” clash between Mutaz Essa Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi got a bonus from German Tobias Potye, who twice resisted his end in the contest by a third successful attempt before equalling his PB at 230. After clearing 232 by all three, Tamberi and Potye jumped 234 while Barshim, after two fails, saved the third chance. And then the Qatari got over 236 in his only attempt, a victory, world lead, and new meet record.
Pole vault – Another high-level performance of Armand Duplantis. He showed four successful attempts, including the winning 601, before failing three times at 613. Second, Sam Kendricks equaled his season’s best of 591.
Shot put – Ryan Crouser is a clear winner, but he overtook in-shape Payton Otterdahl (21.88) from the fifth attempt only and improved in the sixth to 22.55.
Hammer throw (non-DL) – Wojciech Nowicki (80.02) outperformed Rudy Winkler (78.11), third Eivind Henriksen improved his season’s best to 76.75.
Women
100m – Sha’Carri Richardson won the “World Champs prelim” in 10.76 (0.2) over Shericka Jackson (10.78), Ewa Swoboda third in 10.94, for the first time under 11-sec.
400m – Home crowds were excited by a performance of Natalia Kaczmarek, who produced a personal best and a new meet record of 49.48. Favorited Marileidy Paulino finished third only (50.00), also defeated by Like Klaver (49.81 PB). Also, a national record for Chile by Martina Weil, who finished eighth in 51.07.
800m – Mary Moraa took advantage of a fast first lap (57.1) and smashed the competitors with her season’s best and meet record of 1:56.85 over Halimah Nakaayi, who produced the Ugandan national record with 1:57.78.
1500m (non-DL) – Lydia Lagat paced the race quickly (59.5 / 2:05.6), enabling the field to achieve excellent times. Top seven runners under 4 minutes, top ten below the Budapest standard, and 10 of fifteen finishers with personal bests. Ethiopians dominated the competition, with Hirut Meshesha winning in a meet record of 3:54.87. Second, Birke Haylom (born 2006) produced 3:54.93, the best “non-Chinese” mark for both U18 and U20 categories, fifth Linden Hall improved the Oceanian record (3:57.27) just ahead of the best European Melissa Courtney-Bryant (3:58.01 PB).
3000m – Another fast women’s distance with seven personal bests and meet record for Freweyni Hailu with 8:26.61. Second, Lilian Rengeruk (8:27.80), the best European Agate Caune as, seventh with a new national record for Latvia (8:39.78) and South American record by Venezuelans Joselyn Daniely Brea, finishing tenth (8:43.26).
100m hurdles – Tobi Amusan improved to 12.34 (0.9), equalling a meet record by winning over Kendra Harrison (12.35) and Nia Ali (12.38).
High jump – Iryna Gerashchenko cleared all heights on her first attempt and won the competition with 198 ahead of Nicola Olyslagers and Yuliia Levchenko, who were successful in third. All three improved a meeting record and failed at 201; Levchenko produced her best performance since 2020. Yaroslava Mahuchikh was a late withdrawal due to health problems.
Triple jump – Yulimar Rojas leaped, in her final attempt, to 15.18 (0.3) – a world lead and new meet record, second Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk with 14.70 (0.3).
Hammer throw – Brooke Andersen’s 75.40 in the fifth series was enough to win over Janee’ Kassanavoid (74.27).
Javelin throw – Haruka Kitaguchi was in the early lead but was overtaken by Mackenzie Little in the fourth series (64.50). The Japanese took the lead in the fifth again and added a huge throw of 67.04 in her final attempt. It is a personal, national, meet record, and world lead.
