by Alfonz Juck
ZURICH (SUI, Aug 31): Weltklasse was again world-class, with perfect organization and a famous ending with singers, cars, and fireworks. In cool weather, from 12 competing Budapest individual winners, 8 won their events. Tamberi, Warholm, Chopra, and Kerr were the four who did not repeat their wins from last week. The highlights were the Swiss record in hurdles, Barshim over 235, and Mondo Duplantis seriously attacking 623 WR. The surprise of the evening – McMaster beating Warholm.
Short reviews event by event
Women
100m – Sha’Carri Richardson remained in shape by winning in 10.88 (-0.2) and got a DL final ticket. Elaine Thompson-Herah clocked a season-best of 11.00 and finished third only 0.003 behind Natasha Morrison.
200m – Shericka Jackson’s victory in 21.82 (-0.8) was clear, second Daryll Neita (22.25) over Kayla White (22.33). All secured their tickets for the DL finals.
400m (non-DL) – Shaunae Miller-Uibo posted the best mark and first victory on her comeback after giving birth by winning in 51.83 from Annina Fahr (51.97)
800m – Stepping down, Laura Muir smashed the competitors in 1:57.71 over Catriona Bisset (1:58.77) and Adelle Tracey (1:59.05), U20 Audrey Werro finished seventh in a new PB of 1:59.50.
3000m steeple – Same order as in Budapest, Winfred Yavi (9:03.19) ahead of Beatrice Chepkoech (9:03.70) and Faith Cherotich (9:07.59). This time Chepkoech attacked Yavi longer than in Hungary. Fourth, Luiza Gega has a national record for Albania (9:09.64).
100m hurdles – Unexpected World champion Danielle Williams won again in 12.54 (-0.2) over Alaysha Johnson (12.58) and Kendra Harrison (12.59). Unfortunately for Williams, securing a DL final spot was not enough. Jasmine Camacho-Quinn was a late withdrawal due to illness.
Triple jump – Yulimar Rojas, this time in the lead since the first series with three 15m+ marks (15.00/-0.8 – x – 14.70/-0.2 – 15.15/0.2 – x – 15.15/0.9). She won ahead of Shanieka Ricketts (14.78/0.6) and Liadagmis Povea (14.73/0.2). The first two and also Leyanis Perez and Maryna Bekh-romanchuk, secured their DL final places.
4x100m (non-DL) -Netherlands won in solid 42.86 ahead until the last meters leading the home team 42.94 as anchor Gutschmidt fell at the end.
Men
200m – Another victory for Noah Lyles in 19.80 (-0.5) but this time it was closer ahead of Erriyon Knighton (19.87) and Zharnel Hughes (19.94). Knighton became the first qualified for DL finals.
400m (non-DL) – Havard Bentdal Ingvaldsen confirmed his shape and won in 45.28 over Davide Re (45.49).
1500m – World champion Josh Kerr (3:30.51) defeated by Yared Nuguse (3:30.49), third Abel Kipsang (3:30.85) ahead of George Mills (3:30.95 PB). Nuguse and Kipsang secured places for the DL finals.
5000m – Yomif Kejelcha destroyed the field in 12:46.91 from Selemon Barega (12:54.17) and Grant Fisher (12:54.49).
110m hurdles (non-DL) – Jason Joseph topped the race clocking a new national record for Switzerland of 13.08 (-0.1), moving to the European all-time top 10; second was Enrique Llopis (13.31).
400m hurdles – Kyron McMaster, after a fast first half in 47.27, defeated Karsten Warholm (47.30), and third Alison dos Santos (47.62). It is the first Warholm’s loss since September 2018, ignoring his injury-affected performance at Oregon 22.
High jump – Mutaz Essa Barshim was again on the top, clearing 235 on his first attempt (he offered one try at 240), Hamish Kerr was second with an outdoor NR for New Zealand of 233, Sanghyeok Woo third (231), Gianmarco Tamberi this time fourth only (228). All got DL final tickets.
Pole vault – Mondo Duplantis tried again at WR after clearing 600 on the first attempt. Mainly 2nd and 3rd attempts were very close. Sam Kendricks, still in shape after missing World Champs, was second in a season-best of 595 over KC Lightfoot, Thibaut Collet and Kurtis Marschall (all 585).
Long jump – The competition progressed slowly but with a thrilling finish. Miltiadis Tentoglou led from the second series (804), but was outperformed in the fourth by Tajay Gayle (807/-0.5) and fifth by Jarrion Lawson (85/-0.7) and even almost eliminated from the final round by Radek Juska (804/-0.7). But the Greek again produced an enormous sixth jump to win with 820 (-0.5).
Javelin – Another dramatic competition with Neeraj Chopra only qualifying for the final throw on his fourth attempt. He pushed further in the sixth with 85.71, but it was not enough to beat Jakub Vadlejch who got a valuable victory with 85.86 (from the fourth series), third Julian Weber (85.04).
