The women’s One Mile provided an enthralling finish to the London Diamond League on Sunday, as the Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan outclassed her rivals to set a World Lead (WL) Personal Best (PB), National Record (NR), Meeting Record (MR) and Diamond League Record (DLR) of 4:14.71 on the day.
Apparently, the best was saved for last as Hassan was absolutely outstanding and in a class of her own. The London 2017 Bronze medallist in the 5000m distinguished herself from her rivals as the bell went off, racing to the third fastest time in history.
Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay followed in 4:16.14 as Kenya’s Hellen Obiri was inspired to an NR of 4:16.15, while Jenny Simpson clocked a PB of 4:17.30 in 4th.
Youngster Emmanuel Korir completely destroyed the men’s 800m field with his sublime performance at the Olympic Stadium.
The 23-year old was unstoppable, racing to a PB, WL and MR of 1:42.05 to become the sixth fastest man in history. So fast was the race that the first nine finishers either clocked a PB or SB in the process. Clayton Murphy was 2nd in a Season’s Best (SB) of 1:43.12 and Wyclife Kinyamal 3rd with the same time – a PB for the Kenyan. Nijel Amos finished 4th with an SB of 1:43.29.
USA’s pair of Kendra Harrison and Brianna McNeal rekindled their rivalry in the 100m Hurdles, but it was the World Record (WR) holder that took the day with her WL of 12.36s at the same stadium where she set the WR two years ago. McNeal came through in 2nd (12.47s) as Sharika Nelvis followed in 12.51s. Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan placed 7th with an SB of 12.68s.
Jamaica’s Ronald Levy raced to the 2nd fastest time in 2018 and an SB of 13.13s to win the 110m Hurdles – a non-Diamond League event. USA’s pair of Devon Allen (13.30s) and Freddie Crittenden (13.33s) finished ahead of homeboy Andrew Pozzi (13.36s) in 4th place.
Jamaica’s Akeem Bloomfield stole the show in the men’s 200m, dipping under 20s for the first time in his career to take the win in a PB of 19.81s, upstaging Alonso Edward (20.01s) as Alex Quinonez (20.13s) settled for 3rd.
It was a big win for USA’s Jenna Prandini in the women’s 200m as she defeated an A-list field comprising of London 2017 Silver medallist Marie Josee Ta Lou, World Champion Dafne Schippers, and Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson.
Prandini won the race with a PB of 22.16s to finish ahead of teammate Gabrielle Thomas (22.19s, PB) and Jackson (22.22s), as Dina Asher-Smith (22.25s) and Ta Lou (22.34s) also clocked SBs.
It was a Jamaican 1-2 in the women’s 400m race as Stephenie-Ann McPherson raced to an SB of 50.31s as Anastasia Le-Roy followed in 50.85s. Courtney Okolo was 3rd in 50.93s.
Ce’Aira Brown won the battle for supremacy in the women’s 800m with a PB of 1:58.57. Jamaica’s Natoya Goule was 2nd with 1:58.67s and Lynsey Sharp 3rd with an SB of 1:59.34.
