by Stuart Weir
Brits in Monaco
There were four GB athletes in the Herculis meet in Monaco but only two were in the original list with Yemi Mary John and Amy Hunt getting a late invitation.
Jemma Reekie was fifth in a 1000m race in 2:31.44, just 0.6 seconds outside Laura Muir’s Scottish record, also set in Monaco. Jemma told me that she liked 1000m, explaining “I think my 1500m strength and speed from the 800 come together quite nicely but I had been hoping for a better tactical race today. The race was messy but I’m out here to get ready for the World Championships. I’m building and building. I’m not happy where I’m at but I’m happy where I am in training and hopefully we’ll see that come through”.
Yemi Mary John another late call-up was seventh in the 400m in 51.10, a race won by Marileidy Paulino with the first four finishing under 50 seconds. Yemi told me: “I did not run quite as fast as I wanted but it was my first time in a Diamond League so a great experience. It was also an opportunity to race some incredible athletes. Monaco is an amazing stadium with so much energy. I’m delighted to be here and to have had this experience. My hopes for the season are just to have the best season I can and to qualify for the world championship in the individual 400. Next week I’m running in the European under 23s”.
Max Burgin was running well in the 800 until he was spiked from behind in a crowded race. Clearly in some discomfort he kept running but lost touch with the pack and finished last in 1:47.71. Twelve athletes seems a lot in an 800 so perhaps it was an accident waiting to happen.
Amy Hunt sixth in 100m in 11.17
Julien Alfred won the 100m in 10.79. There were 4 other athletes in the race who had gone sub 11 this year but none of them managed it in Monaco. I had hopes that Amy might have become a sub 11athlete herself in Monaco. Amy was philosophical about the time: “I think the times were a bit deceptive because some of these girls have been running 10.9 week in week out but crossing the line in the same times shows us where we are. It was unfortunate that we were held at the start line for the longest amount of time ever. I was just trying to stay warm because it was getting a little bit cool”. The sprinters must have been out for 10 minutes while the stadium announcer talked about how the field events were going and then the inevitable light-show. Great for the spectators but unhelpful to the sprinters.
Amy is a very thoughtful athlete who really tries to answer the question. Asked about her race she told me: “I need to watch the race back. I had a really good first ten meters and I think that surprised me. Then I got into my rhythm but felt I was being thrown everywhere. This track is so reactive and I was not quite prepared to be part of that. I got a lot of things wrong in that race but also a lot of things right it’s good to try out a few things on the track in that environment. I just wanted come in here and have fun because last time I put too much pressure on myself wanting everything to be perfect. My biggest aim tonight was embrace it, enjoy it. I knew there was going to be the light show because we’re in such a special place. I just wanted to embrace the moment and enjoy it. I hadn’t planned to do Monaco [she got a late invitation] but it’s really nice to have the opportunity to be here”.
