by Larry Eder
World leads in running events and women high jump, Gatlin meet record in the 100 m
ROME (ITA, Jun 4): There were three meet records and 5 world leads at the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea, IAAF Diamond League. There was drama in the women’s 100mH in which three favourites didn’t make the finish. Gatlin continued his winning streak in the sprints, Beitia beat a world class high jump field and Kiyeng upset the favourites in the steeple. Two meet records of legends were improved (Gatlin from Bolt and Pichardo from Edwards) and one closely not (Lavillenie from Bubka). In excellent summer evening with some 40 000 spectators Olympic Stadium the spectators also remembered walker Ana Rita Sidoti who died recently and also gave farewell to high jumper Antonietta Di Martino.
Event by event
Men
100m: Gatlin had no competition. His 9.75 (0.9) beat Bolt’s MR. Vicaut ran a EL of 9.98 for 2nd.
200m (non-DL): Greece’s Lykourgos Stefanos Tsakonas led into the home straight and then held his advantage, winning in 20.09 (0.8) big PB and EL. Lemaitre followed in 20.28.
800m: As in Eugene. Aman beats Amos. His winning time of 1:43.56 is a world lead. Adam Kszczot ran a EL of 1:43.94 in 4th.
5000m: Nobody could match Yomif Kejelcha’s kick on the last lap, he passed Gebrhiwet on the back stretch to win in a world leading 12:58.39, the first sub 13 of the year. Ali Kaya ran a Turkish NR, European U23 record and EL of 13:00.31 for 7th.
110mH (non-DL): Shubenkov came through to win in 13.23 (0.7), just out-dipping Darien, who was given the same time.
400mH: Johnny Dutch won his second DL in a row, clocking 48.13 to beat Tinsley (48.34) and Culson (48.65). Thomas Barr ran an Irish record and EL of 48.65 in fourth.
TJ: Pichardo couldn’t manage another 18+ jump, but his 17.96 (-0.4) was a big MR and only 6 people, including him, have ever jumped further.
PV: Renaud Lavillenie won with 591 and had 3 unsuccessful attempts at 601. Braz cleared a South American record of 586 in second.
SP: David Storl made it 7 competitions out of 7 going over 21 metres this year. He putted 21.46 in the third round to win. Jordan Clarke recorded 21.28 in his first ever Diamond League to place 2nd. Stanek (20.64) pushed Whiting (20.60) to 4th.
JT: Vesely is no longer the third ranked in his training group. He threw 88.14 in the second round to win and move to 2nd on the world list. He was followed by national record throws for Kenya (Yego, 87.71) and Trinidad and Tobago (Walcott, 86.20).
Women
200m: SAFP’s withdrawal due to minor injury left it open. Tarmoh led down the home straight to win in 22.77 (-0.1) holding off a closing Kerron Stewart (22.88).
400m: The win never looked in doubt for McCo
rory, she won in 50.36.
1500m: Jenny Simpson kicked passed Seyaum and Hassan to win in a world leading 3:59.31, the first sub 4 of the year. Hassan (3:59.68 EL) and Seyaum (3:59.76) also dipped under the mark.
Steeple: Hyvin Kiyeng upset the favourites to win in a world leading and MR of 9:08.15, making her the 7th fastest of all-time. Her previous best was 9:22.05. Now part of the main pack, Nyambura placed 2nd in a PB of 9:15.75.
100mH: There was carnage as the favourites fell. Pearson went at the 5th flight and then Rollins and Stowers ran into difficulty. Nelvis ran cleanly to take her first DL win in a PB of 12.52 (1.0). Harper Nelson also survived to post 12.59.
400mH (non-DL): Moline pulled away in the final straight to post 54.47 for the win, over Russell 54.83 and Child 54.84, whose time was a EL.
LJ: Klishina jumped 689 (2.0) for her first Diamond League win since 2010. Shara Proctor (685, 1.8) and Sosthene Moguenara (680, 0.1) were close.
HJ: Beitia topped the stacked high jump field with a world lead of 200 on her third attempt, the first 2 metre jump of 2015. Vlasic finished 2nd after clearing 197 first attempt, with Licwinko clearing the same height on her third attempt.
DT: Perkovic wins again, this time with 67.92. Her possible rival Denia Caballero ended up 9th.
