El Bakkali fulfilled 7 meet records
RABAT (MAR, May 31): Excellent edition of Moroccan leg of Wanda Diamond League with 7 meet records, 3 World leads, and two more outdoor World leads. And the first European under 8 minutes in the steeple is German Frederik Ruppert. And expected home win at the end by Soufiane El Bakkali. Four European wins by Burgin, Werro, Mahuchikh, and Zapletalova. Burgin beats Wanyonyi, and Crouser is still trying to find his previous shape. Great depth in all middle distances. The series continues on Thursday with the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea in Rome.
Event-by-event short reviews
Men
200 m: Bednarek came close to WL with a clear 19.69 (+0.4) MR win. Tebogo closed well at 19.96, over Dambile at 20.03.
400 m: In the first race since March in Australia, Patterson 44.11 MR ahead of Hudson-Smith 44.25 EL.
800 m: Burgin soloed to pay off; he won with 1:42.98, an outdoor WL, and beat closing World champ Wanyonyi (1:43.56) and Moula (1:43.73). Top 10 under 1:45.
1500 m: In a dramatic finish, Nuguse was able to keep the position 3:30.35 MR over closing Nader 3:30.43 EL with Habz 3:30.68 and Ciattei 3:30.90 PB.
Steeple: El Bakkali’s last round decision and led to 7:57.25 WL (his 2nd best ever) and took German Ruppert to European record 7:57.80 (Mekhissi has the current 8:00.09 from 2013) and PBs for Kenyans S. Koech 7:59.44 and E. Serem 8:01.61.
Shot: Joe Kovacs ruled with 22.58 WL/MR and had 3 more throws enough to win. Crouser 21.59 edged Geist 21.56 and Steen 21.52.
Javelin: In the fourth round, Peters got 86.08 and was beaten by 11 cm by World leader Pathirage 85.97 and World champion Walcott 3rd 82.52.
Women
100 m: New Jamaican generation, Tina Clayton 10.85 (+1.3, missed Thompson´s MR by 0.02) ahead of L. Williams 10.95 PB.
200 m: Sturgis, a little unexpected winner, 22.21, followed by K. White, 22.28, with Miller-Uibo 4th, 22.42.
800 m: Werro was able to keep her lead in a fast 1:56.56 MR/outdoor WL. Africans closed out Duguma 1:57.24 and Odira 1:57.27; the top 11 went sub-1:59.
1500 m (non-DL): Favorite Hailu 3:58.25, taking young Kalayu (born 2009) to 3:59.28 PB, and Guillemot 3:59.60 outdoor EL. The top 15 went sub 4:05.
100mH (non-DL): Amusan confirming her top shape with 12.28 MR with Charlton 12.40 and Visser in season debut 12.47 EL.
400mH: Slovak Zapletalova started the season where she left off last season. With 52.82 WL/NR her first sub 53. In last 100 m beat Cockrell 53.18.
HJ: Mahuchikh won, but 197 was enough (tried twice 200 and once MR height 202), Patterson and Topic with 194 followed.
PV: Great DL return after surgery by Kennedy with 480 win (did not continue). Behind her with 470 Ayris, Moon, and Moser (outdoor EL).
DT: Sion as expected with 68.75 MR in the final round. 4 throws enough to win from her. Van Klinken 2nd 66.72.
