by Alfonz Juck
SZEKESFEHERVAR (HUN, Jul 18): The 13th Istvan Gyulai Memorial (WACT Gold) was highlighted in hot weather by World leading 400 m time, 43.74, produced by Olympic winner Steven Gardiner. It was also a meet record, second Rusheen McDonald 44.03 over Vernon Norwood 44.63, and in fourth Attila Molnar equaled his Hungarian record 44.98. The second meet record of the day was 4:00.18 by Nelly Chepchirchir in the 1500 m over Brenda Chebet at 4:01.25 and Winnie Nanyondo’s 4:01.96. Sprints were the hot topics here; NCAA star Julien Alfred in her first pro meet, clocked 10.89 (+0.7) and beat Sha´Carri Richardson 10.97 in the 100 m.
Shericka Jackson was the clear 200 m winner in 22.02 (+1.0), whereas another NCAA star who made a pro debut, Rhasidat Aledeke, was second in 22.36. Sada Williams won the 400 m in 50.34, followed by Europeans Andrea Miklos in 50.80 and Susanne Gogl-Walli in 50.87 PB. In hurdles, Tobi Amusan clocked a season-best of 12.35 (-0.5) ahead of Nia Ali at 12.41 and Alaysha Johnson at 12.50 with Tia Jones at 12.51. Jamaican Andrenette Knight improved to 53.26 in the 400 m hurdles, also third best 2023. Behind her season bests for Janieve Russell 53.72 and Rushell Clayton 53.79. Blake´s were top two in the 100 m, Yohan 10.04 (-0.1) over Ackeem 10.09. Alexander Ogando surprisingly beat Erriyon Knighton in the 200 m 19.99 (+1.1) to 20.05. Close hurdles finish had Daniel Roberts winning in 13.12 over Hansle Parchment in 13.14 and Tyler Mason also in 13.14. Peter Bol won the 800 m in 1:44.48, with Gabriel Tual second in 1:44.55; in the steeple, Moroccan Mohammed Tindouft’s 8:15.73 took the following five runners to personal bests.
Crouser over 22, Stahl wins discus battle.
SZEKESFEHERVAR (HUN, Jul 18): Technical events at Gyulai Memorial top mark was 22.51 by Ryan Crouser in the shot put, beating Joe Kovacs 22.06 and Tom Walsh 21.85. Miltiadis Tentoglou won the long jump in the last jump with 829 (-0.3), as Tajay Gayle was leading from the fourth round with 824 (+1.0). Olympic winner Daniel Stahl took the discus battle with 68.98 over Andrius Gudzius 67.66 and Kristjan Ceh with 67.60 with Mykolas Alekna 67.21. The surprise winner in the hammer was fresh European U23 Champion Mykhaylo Kokhan with 79.37, season-best over Wojciech Nowicki’s 77.89 and local star Bence Halasz’s 77.82 (best of 2023). In only a women’s technical event, Serbian Milica Gardasevic led from the 2nd round with 671 (+0.4) and confirmed it in the last round with 680 (-0.5). Olympic medalist Ese Brume was second 669 (+0.8) over home Petra Banhidi-Farkas 666 (+1.4).
