by Alfonz Juck
Tomas Walsh, photo by PhotoRun.net
Walsh 22.20 Oceanian record
ZURICH (SUI, Sep 1): In the summary of superb athletics evening one Diamond League record, two meet records and one continental record. Full house, great weather, excellent TV production made this a remarkable Weltklasse. Top mark 22.20 in shot put, top duel Thompson vs Schippers in 200 m. For first time since 2011 two shot putters in one competition went over 22 meters.
Event by event
Men
100 m: Asafa Powell notches up his first win in Zurich in a decade in 9.96 (his 97th sub 10) to seal the Diamond race just ahead of Ben Youssef Meite in third in 9.99.
400 m: LaShawn Merritt 44.64 ahead of fast-finishing Bralon Taplin in 44.70 and confirms DR win.
5000 m: Hagos Gebrhiwet 13:14.82 and seal the Diamond Trophy. Evan Jager followed the pacemakers but was run down on the last lap in third in 13:16.86. Bernard Lagat sixth in 13:19.76 in his last Diamond League race.
400 mH: Kerron Clement with his trademark late finish to claim victory in 48.72.
Triple jump: Christian Taylor 17.80m to beat Jonathan Edwards’ 20-year-old meeting record by one centimetre.
Pole vault: Renaud Lavillenie and Sam Kendricks shared the win at 5.90m. They did not continue with jump-off. Thiago Braz retired after clearing 5.84m.
Javelin: Jakub Vadlejch satisfaction after Rio as he won the Diamond Race with his third win in succession with 87.28m ahead of Olympic champion Thomas Rohler (86.56m).
Shot put: Tom Walsh improves Ocenanian record to 22.20m to defeat Olympic champion Ryan Crouser (22.00m) for the second time since Rio and winning the Trophy. World champion Joe Kovacs third with 21.20m.
Women
200 m: Brilliant head-to-head with Elaine Thompson pipping a faltering Dafne Schippers, 21.85 to 21.86. Allyson Felix third in 22.02.
800 m: Caster Semenya 1:56.44 to continue her unbeaten streak ahead of Francine Niyonsaba (1:56.76) and Margaret Wambui (1:57.04) in a repeat of the Rio order.
1500 m: Close between Shannon Rowbury and Laura Muir with the American finishing strongly to win in 3:57.78 to Muir’s 3:57.85. Top six broke the sub-four minute mark. Muir gets the trophy as Kipyegon only 7th.
3000 SC: Meet record of 9:07.00 for world record-holder Ruth Jebet ahead of world champion Hyvin Kiyeng (9:10.15).
100 mH: Not a super-fast time but Kendra Harrison closes her season with her tenth win of the season in 12.63.
400 mH (non-DL): Shamier Little returns to form with 53.97 to win ahead of Sara Petersen (54.22) and Eilidh Doyle (54.55).
4×100 m (non-DL): Jamaica 41.65 to round off with programme and Zurich trophy (just 0.05 behind MR) with the US DQ’d after a late exchange between Felix and Tarmoh.
Long jump: Brittney Reese won with 6.95m but Ivana Spanovic sealed the Diamond Race already before in second with 6.93m.
High jump: Ruth Beitia 1.96 was enough and wins the Diamond Race.
Discus: Sandra Perkovic finished the Diamond League season unbeaten with 68.44m to claim her fifth Diamond Race win. All four valid throws would have won tonight. She as only one has full DR points from all events.
