by Alfonz Juck
Almaz Ayana, photo by PhotoRun.net
Ayana until 4 km on WR pace
RABAT (MAR, May 22): African IAAF Diamond League debut with four World leads and meet records in 10 events. Ayana was well on pace for WR until 4km and Semenya showed what she can in fast race. Long jump drama and Iguider can now think whether to do 1500 or 5000 m in Rio.
Event by event
Men
200 m: No problem for Edward 20.07 (+3.8).
400 m: Merritt went over Makwala in last 60 m with 44.66 to 45.38. The latter beaten also by K. Borlee 45.26.
800 m: They did not follow pacemaker, Bosse won in 1:44.51 ahead of Makhloufi 1:44.91 and Tuka 1:45.41.
1500 m (non-DL): T. Cheruiyot 3:33.61 PB over S. Kiplagat 3:33.68 and fast finishing Gregson 3:34.43. Comeback of German Tesfaye 3:35.05 as 5th.
3000 m (non-DL): A home win for Iguider 7:36.85 also WL and MR. Sub 7:40 for European runners Ibrahimov 7:37.76 and Mechaal 7:39.51 PB.
Steeple: C. Kipruto has the shape 8:02.77 WL and MR, pity he did too much celebration, could run a PB. Birech 8:03.90.
110mH: Oliver in close finish beat Ortega 13.12 MR to 13.13 (+1.4). Alkana PB 13.28 third.
HJ: It looke for Kynard (228) but Bondarenko cleared 231 and won. Tamberi only 225 as 6th.
LJ: Drama here as Samaai equaled MR and PB 838 (+0.8) with Lapierre just 2 cm behind 836 (+5.2, legal 831 -0.4).
DT: Malachowski is the king, in last round 67.45 MR.
Women
100 m: Thompson was clear 11.02 against -1.3 was still a MR.
800 m: Semenya ruled with WR, ML and third best time of her career 1:56.64. Niyonsaba 1:57.74 and PB for Lamote 1:58.84 still ahead of Sum 1:59.32. World champ Arzamasava 8th.
5000 m: Very fast 14:16.31 by Ayana, fifth best all-time and MR. She was ahead of Tirunesh WR at 2 km (5:40.5 to 5:43.6) and 3 km (8:32.4 to 8:38.8) and 4 km (11:26 to 11:28).
Steeple (non-DL): Diro clocked 9:16.87, 3rd fastest in 2016.
400mH: Russell is the name to watch, she won in 54.16 PB.
PV: Stefanidi 475 outdoor PB and MR over Buchler 470, Silva only 3rd.
TJ: Ibarguen again, 14.51 (-0.4) was enough.
SP: Adams 19.68 but she missed her MR by 1 cm.
JT: Palameika got MR 64.76 ahead of Laasma Estonian record 63.65.
