The second day of the Muller Anniversary Games in London (GBR) produced more fireworks, including a sensational women’s 5,000 m where reigning World Champion Hellen Obiri (KEN) managed a last half-lap win over countrywoman Agnes Tirop and mile world-record holder Sifan Hassan (NED) in 14:20.36, the 11th fastest mark in history.
This was a preview of what should be a gripping race at the World Championships in Doha (QAT), with Hassan taking over at 3,600 m and leading until 200 m to go, when Obiri moved by. Tirop also passed Hassan and finished in 14:20.68, becoming the sixth-fastest ever, with Hassan third in 14:22.12, a European Record.
Obiri was delighted. “I am so happy because this is my favorite track and I have done my best and I ran the way I wanted to. In the last lap I was thinking, work hard and I said to myself when I went past Hassan: ‘let me go and see if you can catch me.’”
Hassan wasn’t disappointed. “I went out fast, but I’m still very tired from the mile in Monaco last week, both physically and emotionally. But I still ran a PB, so I’m happy.”
Counting the first day’s events, the meet produced five world leaders:
● Men/Mile: 3:49.45, Samuel Tefera (ETH)
● Men/400 m hurdles: 47.12, Karsten Warholm, (NOR)
● Men/4×100 m: 37.60, Great Britain
● Women/5,000 m: 14:20.36, Hellen Obiri (KEN)
● Women/100 m hurdles: 12.32, Danielle Williams (JAM)
Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce confirmed her position as the favorite in the women’s 100 m for Doha with another dominating win, in 10.78. She was well clear of Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith (10.92) and Marie-Josee Ta Lou (CIV: 10.98).
“I am definitely happy,” said Fraser-Pryce afterwards. “It’s a long season and I’ve been training and training. To come out here and run 10.78 is a fabulous time.
“I feel good. The aim is to make sure when I get to Doha that I’m on point. Right now the females are so close in terms of time so you definitely just have to come out and make sure that you’re ready to run.”
There was other good sprinting in London, including the British men leading off the elite program with a world-leading 37.60 in the 4×100 m. The Brits beat the U.S. in 2017 and with good passing, are going to be hard to beat in Doha.
Further, China’s Zhenye Xie ran an Asian record of 19.88 in the 200 m; pencil him into the chase pack for the 200 m in Doha behind American Noah Lyles.
Although inferior to the world-leading 1,500 m (3:28.77) by Kenya’s Tim Cheruiyot, Ethiopia’s Samuel Tefera had to overcome a national-record run by Norway’s Filip Ingebrigtsen to win the Emsley Carr Mile in 3:49.45-3:49.60 for the fifth world leader of the meet.
Germany’s Malaika Mihambo scored a significant win over four-time World Champion Brittney Reese of the U.S. in the women’s long jump, 7.02 m (23-0 1/2) to 6.82 m (22-4 1/2). Mihambo is the only one to surpass 7 m this season and now has three meets past that mark.
Said Reese afterwards, “I’m satisfied. It’s early season and I didn’t get to do any indoor season this year so I’m just jumping myself into shape, getting into form. I’m really pleased with what I did today considering I came overseas and now I get ready for U.S. Championships.
She said of jumping against the German, “It’s going to be good! We already know seven meters is going to be the mark to beat, so I just need to be in seven meter shape and hopefully retain my title.”
Summaries of both days:
IAAF Diamond League/Muller Anniversary Games
London (GBR) ~ 20-21 July 2019
(Full results here)
Men
100 m (wind: +0.5 m/s): 1. Akani Simbine (RSA), 9.93; 2. Zharnel Hughes (GBR), 9.95; 3. Yohan Blake (JAM), 9.97.
200 m (non-Diamond League; +0.9): 1. Zhenye Xie (CHN), 19.88; 2. Miguel Francis (GBR), 19.97; 3. Aldemir Junior (BRA), 20.17.
400 m: 1. Akeem Bloomfield (JAM), 44.40; 2. Jonathan Jones (BAR), 44.63; 3. Nathon Allen (JAM), 44.85. Also: 4. Obi Igbokwe (USA), 45.06; … 9. Marcus Chambers (USA), 46.26.
800 m: 1. Ferguson Rotich (KEN), 1:43.14; 2. Wyclife Kinyamal (KEN), 1:43.48; 3. Marcin Lewandowski (POL), 1:43.74.
Emsley Carr Mile (non-Diamond League): 1. Samuel Tefera (ETH), 3:49.45; 2. Filip Ingebrigtsen (NOR), 3:49.60; 3. Jake Wightman (GBR), 3:52.02.
5,000 m (non-Diamond League): 1. Hagos Gebrhiwet (ETH), 13:01.86; 2. Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR), 13:02.03; 3. Nicholas Kimeli (KEN), 13:05.48.
110 m hurdles (non-Diamond League; +0.4): 1. Wenjun Xie (CHN), 13.28; 2. Wil Belocian (FRA), 13.28; 3. Omar McLeod (JAM), 13.32.
400 m hurdles: 1. Karsten Warholm (NOR), 47.12; 2. Yasmani Copello (TUR), 48.93; 3. Amere Lattin (USA), 49.18. Also: 4. Byron Robinson (USA), 49.29.
4×100 m (non-Diamond Leage): 1. Great Britain (Ujah, Hughes, Kilty, Mitchell-Blake), 37.60; 2. Japan, 37.78; 3. Netherlands, 37.99.
High Jump: 1. Majd Eddin Ghazal (SYR), 2.30 m (7-6 1/2); 2. Mutaz Essa Barshim (QAT), 2.27 m (7-5 1/4); 3. Tihomir Ivanov (BUL), 2.24 m (7-4 1/4).
Long Jump (non-Diamond League): 1. Luvo Manyonga (RSA), 8.37 m (27-5 1/2); 2. Tajay Gayle (JAM), 8.32 m (27-3 3/4); 3. Ruswahl Samaai (RSA), 8.11 m (26-7 1/4). Also: 5. Trumaine Jefferson (USA), 7.89 m (25-10 3/4).
Triple Jump: 1. Pedro Pablo Pichardo (POR), 17.53 m (57-6 1/4); 2. Christian Taylor (USA), 17.19 m (56-4 3/4); 3. Hugues Zango (BUR), 16.88 m (55-4 3/4).
Discus: 1. Daniel Stahl (SWE), 68.56 m (224-11); 2. Fedrick Dacres (JAM), 67.09 m (220-1); 3. Andrius Gudzius (LTU), 65.40 m (214-7).
Women
100 m (+0.7): 1. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM), 10.78; 2. Dina Asher-Smith (GBR), 10.92; 3. Marie-Josee Ta Lou (CIV), 10.98.
200 m (+1.1): 1. Elaine Thompson (JAM), 22.13; 2. Marie-Josee Ta Lou (CIV), 22.36; 3. Beth Dobbin (GBR), 22.50.
400 m: 1. Shericka Jackson (JAM), 50.69; 2. Stephenie Ann McPherson (JAM), 50.74; 3. Laviai Nielsen (GBR), 50.83.
800 m (non-Diamond League): 1. Lynsey Sharp (GBR), 1:58.61; 2. Catriona Bisset (AUS), 1:58.78; 3. Alexandra Bell (GBR), 1:59.82.
1,500 m: 1. Laura Muir (GBR), 3:58.25; 2. Winny Chebet (KEN), 3:59.93; 3. Gabriela Debues-Stafford (CAN), 4:00.26.
5,000 m: 1. Hellen Obiri (KEN), 14:20.36; 2. Agnes Tirop (KEN), 14:20.68; 3. Sifan Hassan (NED), 14:22.12.
100 m hurdles (+0.8): 1. Danielle Williams (JAM), 12.32; 2. Nia Ali (USA), 12.57; 3. Queen Claye (USA), 12.64. Also: 8. Evonne Britton (USA), 13.15.
400 m hurdles: 1. Rushell Clayton (JAM), 54.16; 2. Zuzana Hejnova (CZE), 54.33; 3. Tia-Adana Belle (BAR), 54.54.
4×100 m: 1. Jamaica (Morrison, Thompson, Smith, Fraser-Pryce), 42.29; 2. Great Britain, 42.30; 3. China, 42.71.
Pole Vault: 1. Anzhelika Sidorova (RUS), 4.75 m (15-7); 2. Katerina Stefanidi (GRE), 4.75 m (15-7); 3. Holly Bradshaw (GBR), 4.65 m (15-3).
Long Jump: 1. Malaika Mihambo (GER), 7.02 m (23-0 1/2); 2. Brittney Reese (USA), 6.82 m (22-4 1/2); 3. Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk (UKR), 6.78 m (22-3).
Javelin: 1. Tatsiana Khaladovich (BLR), 66.10m (216-10): 2. Kelsey-Lee Barber (AUS), 65.85 m (216-0); 3. Christin Hussong (GER), 65.73 m (215-7). Also: 9. Kara Winger (USA), 60.08 m (197-1).