ATHLETICS: Lyles sensational, Kipruto sublime in Zurich Diamond League final

Noah Lyles and Conseslus Kipruto both did some amazing things at the first of the two Diamond League final meets at Zurich’s Letzigrund Stadium.

Lyles left no doubt that he’s the top 200 m runner in the world this season by storming down the home straight to win in 19.67, just 0.02 off his world-leading 19.65. “I came here to go for the win,” he said afterwards. “I did it I am very happy.”

He should be. He ran five 200 m races this season, won all five and ran in the 19s each time, becoming only the sixth man in history to record five or more sub-20 races in a single season (see our Lane One story in Wednesday’s issue for more on this). Among the five others to do it are Usain Bolt and Michael Johnson.

Turkey’s Ramil Guliyev – World Champion in 2017 – was second in 19.98 and also joined the five sub-20s in a season club as no. 7. He’s not Lyles, but with a 19.76 win in the European Championships, he will be a challenger for some years to come.

Kipruto, already the Olympic and World Champion in the Steeplechase, put on a show of determination that will be long remembered by the track & field intelligensia, winning his fourth Diamond League title despite running the last 2,500 m or so without his left shoe!

He ran close to the front with world leader Sofiane El Bakkali (MAR) and American Evan Jager, with Jager taking the lead with less than a lap to go. But El Bakkali surged down the back straight, leaving Jager behind, but not Kipruto. With one shoe, Kipruto held close and then passed El Bakkali with about 40 to go and won, 8:10.15-8:10.19.

It was a stunning finish and testament to Kipturo’s competitive greatness and left El Bakkali in tears after the finish. Jager once again showed he does not have the speed to win this kind of race, but was a clear third in 8:13.22.

There were no world records and no world-leading marks in Zurich. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t thrilling. More highlights:

∙ Men’s 400 m: World leader Steven Gardiner was leading as expected into the home straight, but pulled up with about 80 m left and that opened the door for American Fred Kerley, who powered through the finish to win in a modest 44.80.

It hasn’t been the easiest year for Kerley, who ran 43.70 last season, but he not only won the $50,000 first prize, but scored a win over newly-crowned European Champion Matthew Hudson-Smith (GBR), third in 44.95.

“I have been running since June and I am quite exhausted now after this race because I had to take a break and this is my first race again.” he said afterwards. “I came back after an injury for this race. It is a blessing to come to Europe, to run and to win.

“I will invest the money in my future, in my little girl Mia. I do not want her to go through what I have gone through.”

∙ Men’s 1,500 m: Essentially the same as the rest of the season: a challenge from Kenya’s World Champion Elijah Manangoi could not derail countryman Timothy Cheruiyot from winning in a fast 3:30.27-3:31.16.

∙ Men’s Shot Put: New Zealand’s Tomas Walsh confirmed his status as the world’s best putter for 2018 with an impressive win at 22.60 m (74-1 3/4). But American Darrell Hill, 25, moved to no. 3 on the year list with his second-best effort ever: 22.40 (7-36), ahead of Olympic champ Ryan Crouser (22.18 m/72-9 1/4). It was Walsh’s second Diamond League win, previously in 2016.

∙ Women’s 100 m: After Blessing Okagbare (NGR) was disqualified for a false start, Michelle Ahoure (CIV) got out like a rocket and held on to beat countrywoman Marie-Josee Ta Lou in 11.01. Ta Lou looked like she would be second, but leaned too early and was passed at the line by Dina Asher-Smith for second, 11.08-11.10. It was Ta Lou’s first loss of the season at 100 m, but Ahoure – who lives in Houston – made history by becoming the first Diamond League winner in the event who was not American or Jamaican.

∙ Women’s 800 m: No need for a pacemaker, as South Africa’s Caster Semenya won her 28th final in a row with ease, never challenged, in 1:55.27. She now owns the top three times and four of the top five in the world for 2018. Behind her was a battle royal with American Ajee Wilson scoring an impressive second in 1:57.86, outlasting Jamaican Natoya Goule (1:58.49), among others.

∙ Women’s 5,000 m: This figured to come down to Kenya’s Hellen Obiri and Dutch star Sifan Hassan and it did. Hassan had the lead on the final backstraight, but Obiri shot into the lead and the two were never more than a meter apart for the last 200 m. Obiri had enough to win, 14:38.39-14:38.77.

Hassan, who will race in Brussels in the 1,500 m, was distraught at losing. “I could have won this race,” she said. “When Hellen started to sprint, I could have just gone with her, too. I do not know if I am satisfied with my second place.”

∙ Women’s 400 m Hurdles: American Shamier Little was the hottest entrant in the field, but Olympic champ Dalilah Muhammad went out hard and kept the pressure on, winning by 53.88-54.21. “It was a tough race but I enjoyed it,” said Muhammad. “In the end I had to put that extra bit into it. I am happy.” Muhammad should be as she defended her 2017 Diamond League title and got a big payday.

In the women’s field events, Marita Lasitskene (RUS) won the high jump at 1.97 m (6-5 1/2) and the now-healthy Katerina Stefanidi of Greece won the pole vault over Sandi Morris of the U.S., 4.87 m (15-11 3/4)-4.82 m (15-9 3/4). Summaries:

IAAF Diamond League Final/Weltklasse im Zurich
Zurich (SUI) ~ 30 August 2018
(Full results here)

Men

200 m (wind: -0.2 m/s): 1. Noah Lyles (USA), 19.67; 2. Ramil Guliyev (TUR), 19.98; 3. Jereem Richards (TTO), 20.04; 4. Aaron Brown (CAN), 20.14; 5. Alex Quinonez (ECU), 20.34.

400 m: 1. Fred Kerley (USA), 44.80; 2. Nathan Strother (USA), 44.93; 3. Matthew Hudson-Smith (GBR), 44.95; 4. Paul Dedewo (USA), 45.18; 5. Baboloki Thebe (BOT), 45.41.

1,500 m: 1. Timothy Cheruiyot (KEN), 3:30.27; 2. Elijah Manongoi (KEN), 3:31.16; 3. Ayanleh Souleiman (DJI), 3:31.24; 4. Abdelaati Iguider (MAR), 3:31.59; 5. Brahim Kaazouzi (MAR), 3:33.82.

3,000 m Steeple: 1. Conseslus Kipruto (KEN), 8:10.15; 2. Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR), 8:10.19; 3. Evan Jager (USA), 8:13.22; 4. Chala Beyo (ETH), 8:15.85; 5. Nicholas Bett (KEN), 8:19.74. Also: 7. Hillary Bor (USA), 8:26.04.

400 m Hurdles: 1. Kyron McMaster (IVB), 48.08; 2. Karsten Warholm (NOR), 48.10; 3. Yasmani Copello (TUR), 48.73; 4. Rasmus Magi (EST), 49.28; 5. Cornel Fredericks (RSA), 49.96. Also: 7. Bershawn Jackson (USA), 50.63; 8. T.J. Holmes (USA), 51.39.

Pole Vault (invitational; indoors): 1. Timur Morgunov (RUS), 5.91 m (19-4 3/4); 2. Shawn Barber (CAN), 5.86 m (19-2 3/4); 3. Kurtis Marshall (AUS), 5.86 m (19-2 3/4); 4. Pawel Wojciechowski (POL), 5.81 m (19-0 3/4); 5. Renaud Lavillenie (FRA), 5.81 m (19-0 3/4). Also: 7. Sam Kendricks (USA), 5.71 m (18-8 3/4).

Long Jump: 1. Luvo Manyonga (RSA), 8.36 m (27-5 1/4); 2. Ruswahl Saamai (RSA), 8.32 m (27-3 3/4); 3. Henry Frayne (AUS), 8.16 m (26-9 1/4); 4. Tajay Gayle (JAM), 8.15 m (26-9); 5. Jeff Henderson (USA), 8.11 m (26-7 1/4). Also: 6. Marquis Dendy (USA), 8.09 m (26-6 1/2).

Shot Put: 1. Tomas Walsh (NZL), 22.60 m (74-1 3/4); 2. Darrell Hill (USA), 22.40 m (73-6); 3. Ryan Crouser (USA), 22.18 m (72-9 1/4); 4. Darlan Romani (BRA), 21.94 m (71-11 3/4); 5. Tomas Stanek (CZE), 21.87 m (71-9). Also: 8. Ryan Whiting (USA), 20.56 m (67-5 1/2).

Javelin: 1. Andreas Hoffmann (GER), 91.44 m (300-0); 2. Magnus Kirt (EST), 87.57 m (287-3); 3. Thomas Rohler (GER), 85.76 m (281-4); 4. Neeraj Chopra (IND), 85.73 m (281-3); 5. Marcin Krukowski (POL), 85.32 m (279-11).

Women

100 m (-0.5): 1. Michelle Ahoure (CIV), 11.01; 2. Dina Asher-Smith (GBR), 11.08; 3. Marie-Josee Ta Lou (CIV), 11.10; 4. Mujinga Kambundji (SUI), 11.14; 5. Dafne Schippers (NED), 11.15.

800 m: 1. Caster Semenya (RSA), 1:55.27; 2. Ajee Wilson (USA), 1:57.86; 3. Natoya Goule (JAM), 1:58.49; 4. Habitam Alemu (ETH), 1:58.63; 5. Raevyn Rogers (USA), 1:59.05. Also: 9. Charlene Lipsey (USA), 2:04.77.

5,000 m: 1. Hellen Obiri (KEN), 14:38.39; 2. Sifan Hassan (NED), 14:38.77; 3. Senbere Teferi (ETH), 14:40.97; 4. Caroline Kipkurui (KEN), 14:43.96; 5. Agnes Tirop (KEN), 14:44.24.

400 m Hurdles: 1. Dalilah Muhammad (USA), 53.88; 2. Shamier Little (USA), 54.21; 3. Janieve Russell (JAM), 54.38; 4. Georganne Moline (USA), 55.00; 5. Eilidh Doyle (GBR), 55.05.

High Jump: 1. Mariya Lasitskene (RUS), 1.97 m (6-5 1/2); 2. Yuliya Levchenko (UKR), 1.94 m (6-4 1/4); 3. Marie-Laurence Jungfleisch (GER), 1.90 (6-2 3/4); 4. Erika Kinsey (SWE), 1.90 m (6-2 3/4); 5. tie, Oksana Okuneva (UKR), Sofie Skoog (SWE), Levern Spencer (LCA), Kateryna Tabashnyk (UKR) and Elena Vallortigara (ITA), 1.85 m (6-0 3/4)

Pole Vault: 1. Katerina Stefanidi (GRE), 4.87 m (15-11 3/4); 2. Sandi Morris (USA), 4.82 m (15-9 3/4); 3. Anzhelika Sidorova (RUS), 15-9 3/4; 4. tie, Holly Bradshaw (GBR) and Katie Nageotte (USA), 4.57 m (15-0).

Triple Jump: 1. Caterine Ibarguen (COL), 14.56 m (47-9 1/4); 2. Shanieka Ricketts (JAM), 14.55 m (47-9); 3. Kimberly Williams (JAM), 14.47 m (47-5 3/4); 4. Tori Franklin (USA), 14.41 m (47-3 1/2); 5. Rouguy Diallo (FRA), 14.15 m (46-5 1/4).

Javelin: 1. Tatsiana Khaladovich (BLR), 66.99 (219-9); 2. Shiying Liu (CHN), 66.00 m (216-6); 3. Kara Winger (USA), 64.75 m (212-5); 4. Huihui Lyu (CHN), 63.53 m (208-5); 5. Nikola Ogrodnikova (CZE), 62.99 m (206-8).