There was a flurry of Meet Records (MR) at the Rabat Diamond League, with the track events witnessing not less than six in what was a thrilling showpiece in Morocco.
Making a comeback after missing up to a month through an injury, Christian Coleman was back to winning ways in the men’s 100m, crossing the line in 9.98s and equaling Chijindu Ujah’s MR.
Coleman looked like he had the race in the bag, but he started caving in under pressure to open up a chance for Ronnie Baker and Noah Lyles who were closing in on him. However he dipped in first to get the win, while Baker was 2nd with an identical time and Lyles 3rd in 9.99s.
In the women’s 200m, Shaunae Miller-Uibo ate up the ground in pursuit of Dina Asher-Smith whom she caught up with in the home straight to win with an MR of 22.29s. The latter finished 2nd in 22.40s and Jenna Prandini 3rd in 22.60s.
The women’s 100m Hurdles produced an American sweep, in fact it was an American 1-2-3-4 with Brianna McNeal recovering from a stutter through the barriers to win with a new MR of 12.51s. Sharika Nelvis finished 2nd in 12.58s and Christina Manning 3rd in 12.72s.
The other track event to produce an MR was the men’s 400m where Jamaica’s Akeem Bloomfield defeated Abdalleleh Haroun to win with a time of 44.33s. Haroun was 2nd in 44.69s and Matthew Hudson-Smith 3rd in 44.79s.
In the men’s 1500m, Morocco’s Brahim Kaazouzi sent the home crowd in a frenzy after clocking a new PB to win the men’s 1500m with a time of 3:33.22. Filip Ingebrigtsen was 2nd in 3:33.40 and Ayanleh Souleiman 3rd in 3:33.42.
While in the men’s 3000m, there was to be no drama nor pulling of shorts as Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha won with a World Lead (WL) and MR of 7:32.93. Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew ran a new PB of 7:34.26 and also Australia’s Stewart McSweyn with a PB of 7:34.79 to finish 3rd.
Genzebe Dibaba looked to be off shape in the women’s 5000m, not challenging for a podium placement as Hellen Obiri held sway, going past Sifan Hassan to win with a WL of 14:21.75. Hassan ran an Area Record & PB of 14:22.34 to finish 2nd & Letesenbet Gidey was 3rd with a PB of 14:23.14.
Although it was not a Diamond League event, Caster Semenya was untouchable in the women’s 1000m, producing a dominant display in the race. The South African ran a World Lead, Diamond League Record, National Record and Personal Best of 2:31.01 to comfortably win the race.
Click here to read a review of all the field events
