Newly crowned World Champion, Dafne Schippers ended her spectacular season on a high, coming from behind in her usual fashion to win the highly anticipated showdown in the women’s 200m race, thus bringing an electrifying end to the 2015 Diamond League series, which had a final stop in Brussels.
The Dutch sprinter, who is just fresh from a record-breaking outing at the World Championships in Beijing, was too powerful for the rest of the field, sailing past Olympic champion Allyson Felix (22.22s) and Elaine Thompson (22.26s) to take the victory in 22.12s. USA’s Candyce McGrone was 4th in 22.52s.
The race was Schippers’ fifth encounter with Felix, as both athletes came to the meeting with a 2-2 score in their head-to-head record. However with the victory at the AG Memorial Van Damme, Schippers would hold the bragging rights, at least until next season, having added one more victory to her tally. Nevertheless, it was the American who won the Diamond Race, having topped the standings enroute the Brussels Diamond League.
Nigerian-born Qatari athlete Femi Ogunode emerged the surprise winner in the men’s 200m, which was a non-Diamond League event. The sprinter was impressive in the race where he powered through to take the lead with a Personal Best (PB) of 19.97s, with Miguel Francis and Rasheed Dwyer following in 20.22s and 20.27s respectively. 400m World Champion Wayde Van Niekerk was 4th in 20.37s.
This was a remarkable performance by Ogunode who finished 2nd behind World Leader Justin Gatlin in the 100m on the same night. Both athletes clocked a time of 9.98s in the close race, but the Beijing 2015 double Silver medallist was awarded the win. Frenchman Jimmy Vicaut was 3rd in 9.99s. Jamaica’s Asafa Powell (10.04s) and Akani Simbine (10.18s)of South Africa placed 5th and 7th respectively.
Former world leader Francena McCorory went strong in the women’s 400m, leading the race for more than 300m before Beijing 2015 Silver medallist Shaunae Miller sped past her to win the event. The Bahamian clocked 50.48s, while the American posted 50.59s, which was good enough for the star prize. Commonwealth champion Stephenie Ann McPherson took 3rd in 51.00s.
Nijel Amos (1:45.25) finished 2nd in the men’s 800m but secured the trophy nevertheless. It was World Championships Silver medallist, Adam Kszczot (1:45.12) who produced a strong finish to take victory for the second time in a space of eight days, with Bronze medallist Amel Tuka (1:45.45) edging Mohammed Aman to take 3rd in 1:45.49.
Habiba Ghribi recorded one of the best performances of the night in the women’s 3000m Steeplechase. The Tunisian powered to victory in a World Lead (WL), Meeting Record (MR), Diamond League Record (DLR) and African Record of 9:05.36 to take the day, finishing ahead of reigning world champion, Hyvin Jepkemoi who came 2nd in 9:10.15.
Diamond Race leader Virginia Nyambura finished 6th but still took the trophy due to her unassailable lead in the series. Faith Kipyegon was outstanding in the women’s Mile, taking the glory ahead of European champion Sifan Hassan with a scorching 4:16.71 – an African Record and the fastest time in the world in 19 years. USA’s duo of Shannon Rowbury (4:22.10) and Jenny Simpson (4:22.18) placed 3rd and 4th respectively.
Jasmin Stowers, Dawn Harper-Nelson and Sharika Nelvis were the major contenders for the Diamond Race in the 100m Hurdles. However Stowers was left behind as the race became a battle for superiority between Nelvis and Harper-Nelson, who eventually retained the Diamond after winning with a time of 12.63s. Nelvis and Stowers placed 2nd and 3rd while European champion Tiffany Porter settled for 4th in 12.81s.
The men’s 400m Hurdles was a race for redemption for Bershawn Jackson who had a championship to forget in Beijing, after being eliminated in the heats. The former World Champion played second fiddle to Jeffery Gibson who took the Bronze medal at the worlds. The Bahamian returned a time of 48.72s while Jackson finished in 2nd to win the Diamond.
In a surprising twist, newly crowned world champion, Kenya’s Nicholas Bett finished a distant 7th as compatriot Boniface Mucheru Tumuti placed 8th, posting 49.90s and 50.75s respectively. Daegu 2011 Bronze medallist LJ Van Zyl was 6th in 49.86s.
Lavillenie, Perkovic return to winning ways!
After an unpleasant experience in Beijing 2015 where World Record holder in the men’s Pole Vault, Renaud Lavillenie failed to make it to the podium, securing a vital win at the Brussels Diamond League would definitely serve as a confidence booster for the Frenchman. The Olympic champion displayed great form at the meeting where he was the only one to clear the vault with a mark of 5.95m. He retained the Diamond Trophy as world champion Shawn barber settled for 2nd with a clearance of 5.85m.
Olympic and European Championships GOLD medallist Sandra Perkovic gained revenge over the woman who stopped her from retaining her title in Beijing. The Croatian’s throw of 67.50m was good enough for the title and Diamond trophy. World champion Denia Caballero followed with 65.77m. Nadine Muller of Germany was 3rd (62.64m).
Catherine Ibarguen maintained her unbeaten streak in the series, overcoming the threat posed by rival Hanna Knyazheva who made a leap of 14.42m. The Colombian World Champion left it till late, before securing the title with her very last leap of 14.60m. Beijing 2015 GOLD medallist Mariya Kuchina equaled her PB of 2.01m to win the event ahead of her more experienced team mate, Anna Chicherova (1.97m). Ruth Beitia followed in 3rd (1.93m), which was good enough for the trophy.
Christian Taylor took the lead once again as he kindled his rivalry with Pedro Pablo Pichardo. It was a case of ‘winner takes all’, so the Olympic champion won the event with 17.59m as his Cuban counterpart retired at 17.06m. Nigeria’s Tosin Oke placed 6th with a leap of 16.66m.
Joe Kovacs added the Diamond Race to his World Championships GOLD medal, despite finishing 3rd in the men’s Shot put at the Brussels Diamond League. Former World Champion Tero Pitkamaki took the men’s Javelin event with 84.27m, finishing ahead of Germany’s Thomas Rohler and Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott. World leader Julius Yego was 4 th in the event while fellow African Ihab Abdelrahman placed 8th.
