One of the best meets held in Rome since antiquity – ok, maybe since the 1987 IAAF World Championships – had eight world-leading marks, headlined by the showdown between reigning Diamond League 200 m champ Noah Lyles of the U.S. and countryman Michael Norman, the world leader in the 400 m with his stunning 43.45 earlier in the year.
The race came near the end of the program and Norman, ever disciplined, got out hard around the turn and had a lead coming into the straightaway. But the lead increased substantially in the straight, but Lyles turned on the afterburners and cut a nearly one-meter deficit to almost nothing at the tape.
But Norman got there first in 19.70, moving him to no. 12 on the all-time list. “I’m really happy with the time,” said Norman. “There was a good flow, it was amazing. I didn’t have any expectations coming into this race. I just want to improve myself and not chase a time.
“I changed a few things race-pattern-wise. I was a lot stronger today and I tried to hold the composure. I am just happy now if I am progressing like this.”
Lyles, who lost to Norman for the first time after three wins in their previous meetings, was still enthusiastic. “This race didn’t really go as expected,” he noted. “Winning is what is always expected, but I ran faster than in the last race so I can feel great things will happen.”
How impressive is Norman? Consider this: at age 21, he now ranks third on the all-time combined 200/400 m list:
1. 62.50 ~ Michael Johnson (USA: 19.32 + 43.18)
2. 62.87 ~ Wayde van Niekerk (RSA: 19.84 + 43.03) = active
3. 63.15 ~ Michael Norman (USA: 19.70 + 43.45) = active
4. 63.39 ~ LaShawn Merritt (USA: 19.74 + 43.65) = active
5. 63.49 ~ Isaac Makwala (BOT: 19.77 + 43.72) = active
6. 63.62 ~ Steven Gardiner (BAH: 19.75 + 43.87) = active
7. 63.64 ~ Jeremy Wariner (USA: 20.19 + 43.45)
8. 63.75 ~ Butch Reynolds (USA: 20.46 + 43.29)
8. 63.75 ~ Akeem Bloomfield (JAM: 19.81 + 43.94) = active
10. 63.89 ~ Danny Everett (USA: 20.08 + 43.81)
11. 63.94 ~ Fred Kerley (USA : 20.24 + 43.70) = active
12. 64.00 ~ Quincy Watts (USA: 20.50 + 43.50)
That wasn’t all! The meet had eight world-leading marks:
● Men/200 m: 19.70, Michael Norman (USA)
● Men/800 m: 1:43.63, Donavan Brazier (USA)
● Men/3,000 m Steeple: 8:06.13, Benjamin Kigen (KEN)
● Men/5,000 m: 12:52.98, Telahun Haile Bekele (ETH)
● Men/High Jump: 2.31 m (7-7), Bohdan Bondarenko (UKR), equals world leader
● Women/100 m: 10.89, Elaine Thompson (JAM)
● Women/1,500 m: 3:56.28, Genzebe Dibaba (ETH)
● Women/Long Jump: 7.07 m (23-2 1/2), Malaika Mihambo (GER)
Some of the event highlights:
● Brazier’s win in the 800 m was a come-from-behind effort, as he needed to overtake Botswana’s front-running Nijel Amos right at the line, but he was rewarded with his second-fastest time ever, in 1:43.63.
● The men’s 5,000 came down to a last-lap sprint and it looked like reigning Diamond League champ Selemon Barega (ETH) would win it, but he was passed in the final meters by unheralded Telahun Haile Bekele (ETH) for a 12:52.98-12:53.04 as six men broke 13 minutes.
● Jamaica’s Thompson showed speed she hadn’t seen since 2017 by winning the women’s 100 m in 10.89, beating Britain’s red-hot Dina Asher-Smith by 0.05.
● The women’s 1,500 m was decided when Ethiopia’s Dibaba ran to the lead after 1,000 m and Britain’s Laura Muir couldn’t catch her on the final straight. Dibaba’s 3:56.28 was good enough to win by 0.45.
● Germany’s Malaika Mihambo finally for the 7 m long jump she was looking for and reached 7.07 m (23-2 1/2) for the win, the longest jump in the world in two years!
The U.S. went 1-2 in both 400 m hurdle races impressively, with Dalilah Muhammad out fast as usual and finishing well clear of an excellent field, winning in 53.65 over fellow American Shamier Little (54.40). Rai Benjamin won the men’s race over David Kendziera, 47.58-48.99.
Much more to digest in the coming days; summaries:
IAAF Diamond League/Golden Gala Pietro Mennea
Rome (ITA) ~ 6 June 2019
(Full results here)
Men
200 m (wind +0.7 m/s): 1. Michael Norman (USA), 19.70; 2. Noah Lyles (USA), 19.72; 3. Alex Quinonez (ECU), 20.17.
800 m: 1. Donavan Brazier (USA), 1:43.63; 2. Nijel Amos (BOT), 1:43.65; 3. Brandon McBride (CAN), 1:43.90. Also: 5. Clayton Murphy (USA), 1:44.59.
3,000 m Steeple (non-Diamond League): 1. Benjamin Kigen (KEN), 8:06.13; 2. Getnet Wale (ETH), 8:06.83; 3. Chala Beyo (RTH), 8:09.95. Also: 6. Andrew Bayer (USA), 8:16.52.
5,000 m: 1. Telahun Haile Bekele (ETH), 12:52.98; 2. Selemon Barega (ETH), 12:53.04; 3. Hagos Gebrhiwet (ETH), 12:54.92. Also: 11. Ben True (USA), 13:09.13:09.81.
110 m hurdles (+0.4): 1. Sergey Shubenkov (RUS), 13.26; 2. Andrew Pozzi (GBR), 13.29; 3. Antonio Alkana (RSA), 13.30.
400 m hurdles (non-Diamond League): 1. Rai Benjamin (USA), 47.58; 2. David Kendziera (USA), 48.99; 3. Takatoshi Abe (JPN), 49.57. Also: 5. Ken Selmon (USA), 49.83.
High Jump: 1. Bohdan Bondarenko (UKR), 2.31 m (7-7); 2. Majd Eddin Ghazal (SYR), 2.28 m (7-5 3/4); 3. Maksim Nedsekau (BLR), 2.28 (7-5 3/4).
Triple Jump: 1. Omar Craddock (USA), 17.50 m (57-5); 2. Pedro Pablo Pichardo (POR), 17.47 m (57-3 3/4); 3. Donald Scott (USA), 17.43 m (57-2 1/4). Also: 7. Chris Benard (USA), 16.88 m (55-4 3/4).
Shot Put: 1. Konrad Bukowiecki (POL), 21.97 m (72-1); 2. Darrell Hill (USA), 21.71 m (71-2 3/4); 3. Darlan Romani (BRA), 21.68 m (71-1 1/2). Also: 4. Joe Kovacs (USA), 21.46 m (70-5); … 9. Curtis Jensen (USA), 19.84 m (65-1 1/4).
Women
100 m (+0.6): 1. Elaine Thompson (JAM), 10.89; 2. Dina Asher-Smith (GBR), 10.94; 3. Aleia Hobbs (USA), 11.12. Also: 5. Jenna Prandini (USA), 11.17; … 9. English Gardner (USA), 11.42.
400 m: 1. Salwa Eid Naser (BRN), 50.26; 2. Shericka Jackson (JAM), 51.05; 3. Stephenie Ann McPherson (JAM), 51.39. Also: 4. Jessica Beard (USA), 51.55; … 6. Kendall Ellis (USA), 52.09; … 8. Courtney Okolo (USA), 52.17.
1,500 m: 1. Genzebe Dibaba (ETH), 3:56.28; 2. Laura Muir (GBR), 3:56.73; 3. Gudaf Tsegay (ETH), 3:59.96. Also: 4. Jenny Simpson (USA), 4:01.18; … 7. Elinor Purrier (USA), 4:02.34.
400 m hurdles: 1. Dalilah Muhammad (USA), 53.67; 2. Shamier Little (USA), 54.40; 3. Zuzana Hejnova (CZE), 54.82. Also: 4. Kori Carter (USA), 55.09.
Pole Vault: 1. Angelica Bengtsson (SWE), 4.76 m (15-7 1/4); 2. Sandi Morris (USA), 4.66 m (15-3 1/2); 3. Robeilys Peinado (VEN), 4.66 m (15-3 1/2). Also: 5. Katie Nageotte (USA), 4.66 m (15-3 1/2).
Long Jump: 1. Malaika Mihambo (GER), 7.07 m (23-2 1/2); 2. Caterine Ibarguen (COL), 6.87 m (22-6 1.2); 3. Brittney Reese (USA), 6.76 m (22-2 1/4).
Javelin: 1. Huihiui Liu (CHN), 66.47 m (218-1); 2. Eda Tugsuz (TUR), 64.51 m (211-7); 3. Lina Muze (LAT), 63.72 m (209-1). Also: 4. Kara Winger (USA), 63.11 m (207-0).
