by RBR Admin
LONDON (GBR, Jul 20): The London Athletics Meet not only season record crowd of 60,000 at the Olympic Stadium but also 5 World leads (including outdoor 3000 m) and 7 Meet records. British stars Hudson-Smith and Hodgkinson delivered historical marks, an unexpected 400 m level from Jamaican Pryce, and massive confirmation of pre-Olympic shape by superstars Lyles and Bol. Crouser lost to a European shot putter last time back in 2018. Kennedy appeared as the top Olympic gold favorite.
Short reviews
Women
200m: Thomas with an amazing acceleration in the final meters overtook Alfred and won in a new MR 21.82 (-0.9) over Alfred (21.86, new NR for Saint Lucia) and Asher-Smith (22.07 SB).
400m: Pryce led from the start and kept the lead in the straight to clock an excellent world lead of 48.57 in her pro debut, also MR, NR, and No.7 in the all-time lists (third since 2000), Kaczmarek finished second in a new Polish record (48.90) ahead of Klaver (49.58 PB), Anning (49.63) and Nielsen (49.87 PB).
800m: Hodgkinson smashed the British record with 1:54.61, also WL, MR, and No. 6 in all-time lists, and clearly won in a British sweep ahead of Reekie (1:55.61) and Bell (1:56.28), all in personal bests as well as four more runners of all ten finishers sub-1:59, including Nakaayi in 6th (1:57.26 NR for Uganda).
400m hurdles: Bol confirmed her shape and clocked the third fastest time ever and MR of 51.30 to win over Little (52.78 SB).
Pole vault: Kennedy cleared 485 on her second attempt, after 465 on the third, and tried at 495 and won the pre-Olympic test, Newman finished second (475) ahead of five jumpers with 465 (including Caudery), while Olympic champion Moon was only eighth with 450.
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July 2024 by Gtty Images for British Athletics
Long jump: Mihambo won with 687 (-0.1) from the opening round at the platform over de Sousa with 675 (1.1) in the final 3 rounds and Iapichino 670 (-0.2), KJT finished fifth with 654 (0.5).
July 2024, by Getty Images for British Athletics
Javelin: Little again produced a massive opening attempt and lifetime best 66.27 (season No. 2) and won ahead of Vilagoš with a new Serbian record of 65.58 (European No. 2), World champion Kitaguchi only fourth (62.69) and European champion Hudson only sixth (60.35).
4x100m (non-DL): The strongest possible first team of Great Britain (Asher-Smith, Lansiquot, Hunt, Neita) stormed to a new world lead 41.55, also MR and =NR, by winning over France (42.10), a new Oceanian record of 42.48 for Australia as fourth.
Men
100m: The final event of the meeting and a victory for Lyles in a third fastest time of the season and personal best 9.81 (-0.3) ahead of Simbine (9.86 SB), Tebogo (9.88 =NR) and Hinchliffe (9.97) in his first Diamond League appearance.
400m: Hudson-Smith stormed to a new European record and world lead of 43.74 (first European sub 44s.), also MR, and clearly won from Norwood (44.10), Richards (44.18) and Dobson (44.23), lifetime bests for all. Also fifth James 44.38 season best.
Emsley Carr Mile: Home favorites Gourley and Mills fell shortly after the start, victory went to Hoare in 3:49.03 ahead of Nordås (3:49.06), Mechaal (3:49.21) and Laros (3:49.45) who also fell right after the start, but managed to finish in a good time.
3000m: Fast final times after slowing down on the second km, Fisher accelerated with 450m to go, but Lobalu overtook him on the home straight and won in a new Swiss record and MR of 7:27.68, outdoor WL, from Fisher (7:27.99), clocking 54.93 in final lap and 2:26.49 in final km. Kurgat finished third (7:28.53 PB), with 13 athletes sub 7:40, including Foppen in 11th (7:37.12 NR for the Netherlands) and a total of 15 of the 19 finishers with PBs.
400m hurdles: Dos Santos in 47.18 over Clarke (47.63 SB) and Abakar (47.72 big PB).
High jump: Kerr cleared 230 as the only one and did not continue higher, Barshim should have started at 222 but did not jump as the run-up was too short for him.
Shot put: Fabbri exploded in the fifth series with 22.52 and defeated for the first time in his career Crouser (22.37) and the rest of a stellar field, Otterdahl (22.13), and Kovacs (22.03), former World champion Walsh only sixth (21.06 and retiring after third attempt).
4x100m (non-DL): Victory for Japan in 38.07 ahead of Australia (38.31) and second team of Great Britain (38.32), season bests for all, while the first home team (without Hughes) did not finish the race.
