At least 10 Meeting Records (MRs) and four World Leads (WLs) were set at the historic IAAF Diamond League meeting, which held sway at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, Morocco on Sunday, May 22.
Nothing short of first class action was expected, going by the big names that headlined the meet, and fans were certainly not disappointed by the brilliant showing of a field that saw the likes of reigning women’s 5000m World Champion, Almaz Ayana gracing the tracks.
A world class act any day, Ayana got the crowd cheering and roaring as she made an attempt on Tirunesh Dibaba’s World Record (WR) of 14:11.15. All eyes were on the Ethiopian as she broke free from the rest of the field with nine laps to go, charging forward with nothing but the WR in sight.
However, Dibaba’s record survived the onslaught, but a massive MR and WL of 14:16.31 was set by the Ethiopian, which is the fifth fastest time in history. Kenya’s Viola Jelagat Kibiwot was a distant 2nd in 14:29.50 as former World Leader Senbere Teferi was relegated to 3rd place in 14:35.09.
Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson raced to an MR of 11.02s to win the women’s 100m ahead of African Record holder, Blessing Okagbare who powered home with a Season’s Best (SB) of 11.11s, while Kerron Stewart finished in 3rd place in 11.19s.
Excessive tail wind in the men’s 200m denied 2015 Diamond Race winner Alonso Edward the MR in the men’s 200m. Edward stormed to victory in 20.07s, as African 100m/200m champion Hua Wilfried Koffi dipped on the finishing line to finish 2nd in 20.35s, while Spain’s Bruno Hortelano was 3rd with a time of 20.36s.
True to prediction, and in spite of the threat posed by African champion Isaac Makwala, Beijing 2015 Silver medallist LaShawn Merritt maintained his composure to win the men’s 400m in an MR of 44.66s, with Kévin Borlee and Makwala finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively in 45.26s and 45.38s. Chris Brown was 4th in 45.75s.
Caster Semenya extended her victory at the Doha Diamond League to Rabat, snatching all 10 points once again as she stunned her rivals with an MR and WL of 1:56.64. World Indoor Champion Francine Niyonsaba was also impressive, posting a time of 1:57.74 to place 2nd. Renelle Lamote came in 3rd in 1:58.84.
Eunice Sum’s Diamond Race title defence stands on shaky ground as it is, as it will take a miracle to overtake the South African in the standings. The Kenyan could only manage 4th position after clocking 1:59.32, with Lynsey Sharp placing 5th in 1:59.51.
Frenchman Pierre-Ambroise Bosse upstaged the African charge led by Olympic Silver medallist, Nijel Amos, to win the men’s 800m with an SB of 1:44.51. Taoufik Makhloufi was 2nd in 1:44.91, as Amel Tuka clocked 1:45.41 to place 3rd. It was an off day for Amos who finished a distant 6th with an SB of 1:47.34.
Kenya’s Timothy Cheruiyot raced to a Personal Best (PB) of 3:33.61 to take the win in the men’s 1500m, while homeboy Abdalaati Iguider got the crowd in a frenzy as he outpaced the rest of the field to win the men’s 3000m in a WL of 7:36.85.
Conseslus Kipruto was the man to beat in the 3000m Steeplechase as he remained indomitable, finishing strong with a WL and MR of 8:02.77. Jairus Kipchoge Birech and Paul Kipsiele Koech followed in 8:03.90 and 8:12.33 respectively.
Moscow 2013 World Champion David Oliver secured a much-needed win in the 110 Hurdles, following the absence of World Leader Omar McLeod. The American pipped rival Orlando Ortega to win the race with an MR of 13.12s, as the latter followed in 13.13s. South Africa’s Antonio Alkana set a PB of 13.28s to place 3rd.
In-form Janieve Russell was outstanding in the women’s 400m Hurdles as she clocked a PB of 54.16s to finish ahead of USA’s Cassandra Tate (54.69s) and South Africa’s Wenda Nel (54.88s).
Olympic Champion Valerie Adams was 1cm shy of equaling her MR, but had to make do with her winning mark and SB of 19.68m, and was followed by Anita Marton (18.51m) and Brittany Smith (17.84m).
Caterine Ibarguen maintained her unbeaten streak in two years to top the field in the women’s Triple Jump with her leap of 14.51m, as Rojas settled for 4th in1 4.11m. Paraskevi Papachristou (14.28m) and Patricia Mamona (14.13m) were 2nd and 3rd.
Rushwahl Samaai of South Africa has fired warning shots ahead of the Olympic Games. The Commonwealth Games Bronze medallist came from behind to snatch the win in the men’s Long Jump with an MR of 8.38m. Fabrice Lapierre (8.36m) and World Leader Marquise Goodwin (8.11m) followed in the standings.
Bohdan Bondarenko bounced back to winning ways with an SB of 2.31m, upsetting World Indoors Bronze medallist Erik Kynard (2.28m) who was hoping to grab all 10 points. This will be a huge boost for the Ukrainian who has been battling to regain his standing as one of the world’s best in the men’s High Jump.
Piotr Malachowski set a massive MR of 67.45m to take the men’s Discus throw ahead of compatriot Robert Urbanek who followed with a distance of 65.04m.
