by Alfonz Juck
BRUSSELS (BEL, Sep 13): The Wanda Diamond League Final / Allianz Van Damme Memorial, even at the end of a long season, brought quality performances and exciting battles before 35 000+ crowd. And all this in very unfavorable weather conditions, after a rainy day and at 12-13 degrees Celsius. Oceanian record for Matthew Denny in the discus (69.96), meeting record, and another MR for Armand Duplantis (611). Valarie Allman in the women’s discus and Mondo gained their fourth Diamond League Final trophies, while four fresh Olympic champions were defeated. On the other hand, in 8 of 17 disciplines were new DL champions crowned. The DL Final continues on Saturday.
Short reviews
Women
100m: Alfred again on top in 10.88 (0.2) for her premiere DL title, over Asher-Smith (10.92), Richardson dropped to eighth (11.23).
400m: Third consecutive DL title for Paulino in 49.45, however slower than ‘hurdles queen,’ ahead of Holmes (50.32).
400m (non-DL): In a particular race designed for McLaughlin-Levrone, a victory for her in 49.11.
800m: Moraa clearly in an SB of 1:56.56 for her second DL title ahead of Bell (1:57.50).
High jump: Third consecutive DL title for Mahuchikh with 197 on countback over Olyslagers.
Triple jump: Premier DL title for Pérez-Hernández with 14.37 (-0.1) ahead of Ricketts with 14.22 (0.0).
Shot put: After the failure at the Olympics, premiere DL title for Mitton with 20.25 over Jackson (19.90) and Ogunleye (19.72).
Discus: Fourth consecutive DL title for Allman with 68.47 ahead of Bin Feng (67.49).
Men
100m: Premier DL title for A. Blake in fast 9.93 (0.1) in cold conditions ahead of Coleman (10.00) and Kerley (10.01).
400m: Dobson surprisingly the fastest in 44.49 outside lane, his premiere DL title, over James (44.63), who was over Norwood in the final battle.
400m (non-DL): Belgium’s Segers (45.38 PB) in an invitational race in honor of retiring Borlée twins, Kevin finished sixth (47.18).
1500m: In a session highlight, third 1500m DL title (4th overall) for Ingebrigtsen (3:30.37) outperforming T.Cheruiyot (3:30.93) in a home straight, Hocker third (3:30.94), Nuguse dropped to sixth (3:32.30) after a collision.
5000m: Second DL title for Aregawi in an SB of 12:43.66, in a clean Ethiopian sweep ahead of Gebrhiwet (12:44.25) and Tilahun Bekele (12:45.63 SB).
3000m steeple: Surprise, as El Bakkali was defeated after three years and 16 consecutive wins, premiere DL title for Serem in 8:06.90, Moroccan star was second (8:08.60).
110m hurdles: Zhoya confirmed his current shape and took a premiere DL title in 13.16 (0.4) over Simonelli (13.22).
Pole vault: Of course, Armand Duplantis with his fourth consecutive DL title and MR of 611 ahead of Karalis (582) and Jointly Broeders (=SB) and Kendricks (both 582).
Long jump: After a not-very-good season, a surprising win and premiere DL title for Gayle, and even an SB of 828 (0.4), Tentoglou again improved substantially in the final series, but 815 (0.2) was not enough and was surpassed by Ehammer with 816 (0.4).
Discus: Defending champion Denny decided in the first series with an AR/MR of 69.96 Alekna was attacking but managed to come to 68.86.
