ATHLETICS Panorama: De Grasse beats Coleman 19.91-19.97; Mayer and Thiam in Decastar Talence

Shaunae Miller-Uibo on her way to a world best in the 300 m in Ostrava (Photo: Golden Spike Meeting/Ostrava)

A terrific 58th edition of the Golden Spike meet in Ostrava (CZE), despite a late rainstorm that dampened the later events on the program:

Sprints: Michael Rodgers of the U.S. out-lasted Canada’s Andre De Grasse, 10.04-10.05 in the final into a -1.1 m/s headwind, just ahead of Zhenye Xie (CHN: 10.06) and South Africa’s Akani Simbine (10.08).

But De Grasse looked like his old self in the 200 m, winning in 19.91 – no. 6 in the world for 2019 – just ahead of Christian Coleman (19.97) into 0.3 m/s headwind. That’s De Grasse’s third-fastest time ever and best since 2017!

Coleman was hardly disappointed:

300/400/800 m: Big day for The Bahamas!

Shaunae Miller-Uibo ran a world best for the 300 m, finishing with a huge lead in 34.41, erasing the prior mark of 35.30 by Mexico’s Ana Guevara in 2003.

In the men’s 400 m, Steven Gardiner of The Bahamas won the 400 m in 44.95 with no one else close. Amel Tuka (BIH) continued his outstanding outdoor season with his fifth win in a row in the 800 m, this time in 1:4495, ahead of master tactician Adam Kszczot (POL: 1:45.63).

Field: Russia’s Mariya Lasitskene is on a roll, jumping her second world-leading performance in five says. She cleared 2.02 m (6-7 1/2) at the Kusocinski Memorial in Chorzow (POL) , five days after 2012 Olympic champ Anna Chicherova (RUS) – who is not allowed to compete outside of Russia – became the first this season to clear 2.00 m (6-6 3/4). But Lasitskene took over in Ostrava, equaling her lifetime best of 2.06 m (6-9) and strengthening her grip at no. 5 on the all-time list.

Sam Kendricks of the U.S. won the vault at 5.93 m (19-5 1/2), his best this season and no. 3 on the world list. Cuba’s inconsistent Juan Miguel Echevarria was on in Ostrava, winning the long jump at 8.32 m (27-3 3/4).

New Zealand’s Tom Walsh won a sensational shot put at 22.27 m (73-0 1/4) ahead of Poland’s Michal Haratyk (21.77 m/71-5 1/4). And Estonia’s Magnus Kirt joined the 90 m club with a fabulous win in the javelin at 90.34 m (296-5), a national record and a new world leader! He’s the 19th man to throw over 90 m with the “new” javelin (introduced in 1986).

The annual Decastar multi-event meet in Talence (FRA) comes this weekend and it could be a blockbuster with both of the 2017 World Champions – Kevin Mayer and Nafi Thiam – on the field! The top expected entries:

Men:
● 9,126 ‘18 Kevin Mayer (FRA) ~ World-record holder; 2017 World Champion
● 8,601 ‘17 Ilya Shkurenov (RUS) ~ Fourth at 2015 World Championships
● 8,413 ‘16 Zach Ziemek (USA) ~ Seventh at 2016 Olympic Games
● 8,290 ‘18 Vitaly Zhuk (BLR) ~ 2018 European Champs bronze medalist
● 8,171 ‘18 Pierce LePage (CAN) ~ 2018 Commonwealth Games silver medalist

Women:
● 7,013 ‘17 Nafi Thiam (BEL) ~ 2016 Olympic & 2017 World Champ; no. 3 all-time
● 6,815 ‘17 Laura Ikauniece (LAT) ~ Fourth at 2016 Olympic Games
● 6,742 ‘18 Yorgelis Rodriguez (CUB) ~ Fourth at 2017 World Championships
● 6,469 ‘19 Xenia Krizsan (HUN) ~ 11-time national champion
● 6,636 ‘17 Anouk Vetter (NED) ~ 2017 World Champs bronze medalists
● 6,400 ‘18 Katerina Cachova (CZE) ~ 10-time national champion

Mayer set his world record at this meet last year, his first win in Talence. Vetter won the women’s hep in 2017; this will be Thiam’s first appearance at Decastar. She’s working on a streak of five hep wins in a row.

Look for results here.

The USA Track & Field U-20 (formerly Junior) Championships are this weekend in Miramar, Florida. The top attraction is sprinter Matthew Boling, who ran 10.13 for the 100 m (9.98w), 20.58 for the 200 and long-jumped 8.01 m (26-3 1/2) at Houston’s Strake Jesuit High School.

Look for results here.