With Dafne Schippers and Elaine Thompson going head-to-head in the women’s 200m at Thursday’s Oslo Diamond League, it was almost certain that the winning time was going to be a sub-22, and the ‘Flying Dutchwoman’ did not disappoint.
The reigning World Champion over the distance raced to a Meeting Record (MR), Diamond League Record (DLR) and World Lead (WL) of 21.93s, shattering Gwen Torrence’s 22-year old record of 21.94s in the process.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3ctWbJHUIY
The heptathlete-turned-sprinter was too fast for the rest of the field after shooting out of the blocks and maintaining her lead all through, making her Jamaican rival look almost ordinary as she followed a distant 2nd in 22.64s, with Ivet Lalova-Collio 3rd with an SB of 22.78s.
Schippers’ exquisite display at the ExxonMobil Bislett Games underlines her status as the favourite to clinch the GOLD medal in Rio, although Athletics fans will be salivating for an encounter with former World Leader Tori Bowie (21.99s) prior to the Olympics.
Another terrific performance in Oslo was put up by Faith Kipyegon in the women’s Dream Mile. The Kenyan was aiming to at least erase Sonia O’Sullivan’s MR of 4:17.25, but had to settle for a WL of 4:19.12, which is the sixth fastest time ever. She was followed by Great Britain’s Laura Muir in 4:19.12.
Asbel Kiprop may not have raced to an MR; nevertheless he was majestic in his race, blowing away the rest of the field to win the men’s event in 3:51.48. Elijah Manangoi was 2nd in 3:52.04 and Olympic 1500m Champion Taoufik Makhloufi 3rd in 3:52.24.
Ruth Jebet’s absence in the women’s 3000m Steeplechase may have cost Hyvin Kiyeng a chance at attacking the World Record (WR) and MR at the event. The World Champion went unchallenged and settled for a win in 9:09.57.
Beijing 2015 Bronze medallist Andre De Grasse consolidated on his victory in the men’s 200m in Birmingham with another win in Oslo, but this time in the men’s 100m where he raced to victory in 10.07s ahead of Mike Rodgers who was 2nd in 10.09s.
African double sprint Champion Hua Wilfried Koffi was 7th with a time of 10.35s. It wasn’t a good race for Masters WR holder Kim Collins who started strong but was unable to complete the race after pulling up in pain with about 10m to go.
The women’s 100m Hurdles wasn’t without some drama as Belarusian athlete Alina Talay was disqualified for beating the gun. The rest of the field settled in for the race which Brianna Rollins easily took in 12.56s, following the absence of World Leader Kendra Harrison.
Former Olympic Champion Dawn Harper-Nelson was 2nd in 12.75s and Jasmine Stowers 3rd in 12.79s. Tiffany Porter was 4th while reigning Olympic Champion Sally Pearson placed 7th once again but this time with an SB of 13.14s.
A new winner emerged in the men’s 400m Hurdles as Yasmani Copello upstaged Diamond Race leader Michael Tinsley to win the race in 48.79s as Javier Culson followed in 2nd (48.99s). Tinsley finished 3rd in 49.02s.
Joe Kovacs came close to erasing Werner Gunthor’s MR of 22.03m, ending the competition with a winning throw of 22.01m. Meanwhile Poland’s Konrad Bukowiecki set a World Junior Record (WJR) of 21.14m to finish 2nd in his debut outing at the Diamond League. Compatriot Tomasz Majewski was 3rd in 20.56m.
Germany’s Thomas Rohler extended his WL to an impressive mark of 89.30m to continue his Diamond League dominance. His teammate Johannes Vetter set a Personal Best (PB) of 87.11m to follow in 2nd place, while Keshorn Walcott set an SB of 86.35s in 3rd.
Egypt’s Ihab Abdelrahman was 5th with a distance of 81.94m. World Champion Julius Yego is still battling to regain the form that saw him dominate his event last year, finishing a distant 7th with 80.90m.
Ivana Spanovic was the woman to beat in the Long Jump with her leap of 6.94m, while Canada’s Christable Nettey (6.68m) and Shara Proctor (6.67m) followed. World Champion Tianna Bartoletta was 4th with 6.65m.
Ruth Beitia demonstrated that age is only a number, taking the victory in the women’s High Jump with a clearance of 1.90m. It was another win for Sandra Perkovic in the women’s Discus throw with a mark of 67.10m. Nadine Muller was 2nd with 63.09m as Denia Caballero placed 3rd with 62.65m.
WR holder Renaud Lavillenie maintained his winning streak in the men’s Pole vault with a clearance of 5.80m. He failed subsequent attempts at 5.87m but finished ahead of World Champion Shawn Barber (5.73m) and Pawel Wojciechowski (5.65m).
