by Stuart Weir
London delivers again
The London Diamond League is simply the best. You may say that I am biased but actually, I think the evidence is pretty conclusive. 57,000 watching a track and field meet. Where else would that happen? It is back in the London Stadium as it is now called, which produced so many amazing moments during the 2012 Olympics just adds to the occasion.
It helps when you have a stellar field of world stars combined with some outstanding British performances. People worried that six days before the Olympics would have been too close to attracting the right caliber of athlete – they were wrong.
The usual two-hour Diamond League program was preceded by youth relays, national races, Paralympic events, and three field events – including the men’s shot put. Who in the right mind would want to include a contest between Ryan Crouser, Jow Kovacs, and Tom Walsh in the main program! Especially as it was Leonardo Fabbri who beat them all with 22.72.
The main event began with Femke Bol setting a meeting record of 51.30. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is an outstanding athlete but very difficult to see in action. Femke runs and runs and runs. Nina Kennedy won the pole vault with 4.85 but it was another disappointing evening for home favorite, Molly Caudery (4.65) and reigning Olympic champion, Katie Moon (4.50).
Malaika Mihambo won the long jump with her first jump of 6.87.
But what do you need to get the crowd going – did I mention that it was 57,000? – is a bit of British success. Enter Matt Hudson-Smith who won the 400 in 43.74, a world lead and European record. Matt said afterwards: “43 seconds before Paris is exactly what me, my coach and team were aiming for.
To get that world lead and to set myself up for Paris is what I really needed to show the rest of the world what I am capable of. Before today I wrote on a paper that I was going to run 43.7, because I did a race model and my coach had told me I was in 43 seconds shape. All I had to do was go out there and show it, not blow it at the beginning. Getting ready for Paris is all that matters and I believe today was very important for that”.
Keely Hodkinson won the 800m in 1:54.61 a WL and NR. There were PRs for Jemma Reekie (1:55.61) and a three second PR of 1:56.28 for Georgia Bell who were second and third. I don’t care what anyone else is doing, Keely has put down a marker for Paris. Elena Bello ran 1:58.89 and was tenth! Hodgkinson said afterwards: “I felt really good today, I just wanted to go for it and see what was there. It was a little bit of bravery and fearlessness with a great atmosphere like this, I didn’t want to waste the opportunity. It’s so nice when you’re walking through and you hear people shouting your name. The Brits know how to put on an athletics meet, I wish there were more in this country because it’s the best crowd I’ve ever run in front of. I’m feeling really good and confident ahead of Paris. Obviously the main aim is just to get to the final first and then once we’re there we can discuss getting medals. The team did so well today, Jemma got a huge PB so it’s looking good for Paris. There was a women’s relay with GB1 winning in a WL =NR time of 41.55. For good measure GB2 came third.
There was other frustration for two British athletes in the Emsley Carr mile, which Oliver Hoare won in 3:49.03. The athletes had not reached the first bend before Neil Gourley and George Mills were lying on the track, having been caught up in a tangle of legs. I particularly felt for Gourley, who had told me in Monaco that he was interrupting his altitude training to run in London because he felt he was short of races. So frustrating.
Both Dina Asher Smith and Daryll Neita had talked themselves up ahead of the women’s 200 but it was Gabrielle Thomas who won in 21.82 from Julian Alfred who set a new Saint Lucian national record of 21.86. The British girls were third and fourth in 22.07 and 22.20 – some way off the pace.
Viewers of Sprint now know how competitive Noah Lyles is. He stormed to victory in the 100m in 9.81 a PR in a race in which the top five were sub 10. Zharnel Hughes was 6th in 10.00, a disappointing time so close to Paris.
