Less than a week after Divine Oduduru equaled his World Lead (WL) by clocking 9.86s to win the men’s 100m at the NCAA Championships, American sprinter, Christian Coleman came back with a bang, as he raced to a scorching new WL of 9.85s despite the cool temperatures to win the men’s 100m at the Oslo Diamond League (DL).
Coleman, the Diamond Trophy holder, was out quick, and looked so easy through his pick-up phase. Although he scrambled a little bit over the final 20m, his lead was so hefty that there was no chance of a repeat of Shanghai where he was pipped into second by Noah Lyles.
Zhenye Xie placed second with a time of 10.01, while Mike Rodgers was third in 10.04.
Another athlete who was in scintillating form was Norwegian, Karsten Warholm. The hurdler, in his usual style, hit the opening 200m hard. On his inside, Diamond Trophy holder Kyron McMaster was level with him. They were hurdling in perfect synchronisation until hurdle five; although McMaster took it well he stumbled as he took his second stride off it.
It remained either man’s race, though, until they came into the straight. While McMaster began to tie up, Warholm stood tall and navigated the final two barriers with ease, claiming victory in an Area Record (AR) of 47.33.
McMaster was still going well but looked astounded by what was going on in front of him. He faltered over the last barrier allowing Irishman Tommy Barr to sneak in for second in 49.11, 0.01 ahead of McMaster.
In the women’s 100m Hurdles, Brianna McNeal had a day to forget as she false started, leaving Christina Clemons to win in 12.69. Sharika Nelvis placed 2nd in 12.74s.
Another race which produced an upset was the women’s 400mH. Despite winning the last two DL races, world junior record holder, Sydney McLaughlin was on a mission to stop her US compatriot, Dalilah Muhammad.
Going into the home straight, McLaughlin crept up onto the shoulder of Muhammad, winning in 54.16 ahead of her compatriot who clocked 54.35.
Elsewhere, Dafne Schippers won a DL race for the first time this season, holding a lead off the bend and charging away to the line to clock 22.56 in the women’s 200m. Crystal Emmanuel came through for second on the outside lane, finishing in 22.89 ahead of the tiring Jenna Prandini.
Another surprise on the night saw world record holder in the steeplechase, Beatrice Chepkoech beaten in a home straight sprint by Norah Jeruto. Her Kenyan rival won in a WL and Meeting Record (MR) of 9:03.71.
In the male category, Selemon Barega also clocked a WL of 7:32.17 beating World Cross Country Champion Joshua Cheptegei in the process.
Field Events
World Champion, Mariya Lasitskene was unflappable in the women’s High Jump. The Russian won in a WL of 2.01m. Erika Kinsey was second courtesy of her clearance at 1.96m, which Demireva placed third.
There were relatively low marks in the men’s Javelin as Johannes Vetter’s 85.27m in round one was enough for him to claim the win despite only taking two throws. Magnus Kirt was second with 84.74m and Cheng Chao-Tsun was third with 84.30m.
After Keturah Orji had led the triple jump from round one, Caterina Ibarguen cames good in round five, tripling out to 14.79m to take the lead from the American debutant. The mark gave her the win, as Orji settled for second.
Sam Kendricks took the win in the men’s Pole Vault with 5.91m. Piotr Lisek was second with 5.81m, a height matched by PB-setting Cole Walsh for third. Armand Duplantis was fourth with a best jump pf 5.81m.
