Several high profile athletes staged comebacks in the track events at the Eugene Diamond League (41st edition of the Prefontaine Classic), firing warning signals ahead of the 2015 World Championships slated to hold in Beijing in August.
Top on the list was 2005 double sprint world champion, Tyson Gay who returned to winning ways in the men’s 100m, storming to victory with a Season’s Best (SB) of 9.88s ahead of compatriot, Michael Rodgers who took 2nd in 9.90s while China’s Bingtian Su was more than excited with his 3rd place finish, which earned him a National Record (NR) of 9.99s, same time posted by the never-aging Kim Collins who finished 4th.
World and Olympic 100m women’s champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce put aside her 4th place finish in Shanghai, storming to the women’s 100m title in 10.81s, which was just 2000th of a second faster than Silver medallist, Murielle Ahoure who was also awarded the same time. 2014 World leader, Tori Bowie was 3rd in 10.82s while Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare clocked 10.87s to finish in 4th place.
One of the major highlights of the day was the men’s 200m and understandably so, seeing that world leader in the men’s 100m, Justin Gatlin was to compete in the event. Fans expecting another World Lead (WL) from the 2004 Olympic champion were not disappointed as Gatlin blew away the rest of the field, equalling his Personal Best (PB) of 19.68s.
South Africa’s Anaso Jobodwana followed hot on his heels, clocking 20.04s, as Nickel Ashmeade finished 3rd in 20.18s. Diamond League winner in Shanghai, Alonso Edward could only manage a distant 6th place in 10.63s. Gatlin’s feat in Eugene now ranks him as the world’s No.1 in both the 100m/200m, having coasted to victory in Doha with a scorching PB of 9.74s!
Olympic Champion in the men’s 400m, Kirani James continued his winning streak over fierce rival, LaShawn Merrit, dominating the race with a WL of 43.95. It will be recalled that the Grenadian won last year’s confrontation at the same meeting. Merritt settled for 2nd in 44.51s and the evergreen Chris Brown in 3rd with 44.54s. African champion, Isaac Makwala finished 7th with 45.33s.
An enthralling race in the women’s event saw 200m Olympic champion, Allyson Felix upstage team mate and 400m Olympic GOLD
medallist, Sanya Richards-Ross in her first 400m of the season, stunning the rest of the field with a time of 50.05s, while Richards-Ross followed in 2nd place in 50.29s. Commonwealth Games champion, Stephenie Ann McPherson was 3rd with 50.40s.
2014 Diamond Race winner, Pascal Martinot-Lagarde commenced his outdoor season on a winning note, taking the victory in the men’s 110 hurdles with a time of 13.06s! The race in Eugene is the Frenchman’s first in the outdoor season and he was pleased to have relegated the American duo of Aries Merritt and David Oliver to 2nd and 3rd positions respectively in 13.12s and 13.14s.
The men’s 400m hurdles was keenly competed by World Leader and winner of the event in Doha, Bershawn Jackson, reigning world and Olympic Silver medallist, Michael Tinsley, London 2012 Bronze medallist, Javier Culson and European champion, Kariem Hussein and Jamaican youngster, Jaheel Hyde.
However an unlikely suspect, Johnny Dutch stole the show, beating countryman and meeting favourite, Bershawn Jackson to 2nd place, in 48.20s as Jackson followed closely in 48.22s. It was a night to forget for Jamaica’s Hyde as the 2014 world junior champion stumbled over a hurdle, ending his Diamond League debut prematurely.
Two-time World Indoor champion, Genzebe Dibaba was one of the most impressive athletes of the night. The Ethiopian made an attempt at her sister, Tirunesh’s World record (WR) in the 5000m but had to settle for the 4th fastest time ever, winning the event in 14:19.76, the fastest time on American soil. The Kenyan pair of Faith Kipyegon and Vivian Cheruiyot placed 2nd and 3rd respectively in 14:31.95 and 14:46.69.
Double Olympic champion, Mo Farah won the men’s 10,000m in 26:50.97, while the Kenyan duo of Paul Tanui and Geoffrey Kamworor Tanui followed in 26:51.86 and 26:52.65.
Men’s 800m world champion, Mohammed Aman overcame a disappointing start in Doha to win the 800m ahead of Commonwealth champion, Botswana’s Nijel Amos who is competing in his first outdoor race of 2015. In the women’s event, African champion, Eunice Sum, overcame the threat posed by USA’s Ajee Wilson to win with a time of 1:57.82. The American clocked 1:57.87 ahead of country woman, Brenda Martinez who was 3rd in 1:59.06.
