IAAF Continental Cup Ostrava 2018

World Athletics Continental Cup 

Sifan Hassan, Continental Cup 3000m champion

Sanya Richards en route to her 48.70 400m Area record at the 2006 World Athletics Final in Athens

Abderrahman Samba en route to victory at the 2018 IAAF Continental Cup

Noah Lyles ended his 100m breakout season on a high, battling Su Bingtian of China and Team Asia-Pacific to add the IAAF Continental Cup title to his growing collection of accolades.
Su, who has twice equalled the Asian record of 9.91 this season and more recently clocked 9.92 to take the Asian Games title, was out quickest, wrestling firm control of the race over the first forty metres. Powering through the midway point, Su&rsquo;s fierce determination was on full display as he maintained his lead until Lyles, at 21 eight years his junior, found another gear.
Propelled by his superior closing speed --Lyles won a second successive Diamond League 200m title in Zurich last weekend-- the US 100m champion caught and then passed Su over his final five strides, clocking 10.01 to Su&rsquo;s 10.03.
&ldquo;It was a great season,&rdquo; said Lyles, who improved his lifetime bests to 9.88 in the 100m and 19.65 over the half lap. &ldquo;Health has been the key. Last year I had to cope with an injury in the middle of the season and it brings happiness to my heart that I came all the way to the end here without breaking something.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m excited to get stronger and older as a person next year,&rdquo; he added, explaining that harder work in the weight room awaits. &ldquo;The stronger I get, the closer I&rsquo;ll get to the 9.8 and 9.7 barriers.&rdquo;
African champion Akani Simbine was third in 10.11 with Team Europe's Jak Ali Harvey fourth in 10.19. Arthur Cisse of Ivory Coast, fifth in 10.23, teamed with Simbine to push Africa into a tie for first in the event victory with Asia-Pacific.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF

Noah Lyles ended his 100m breakout season on a high, battling Su Bingtian of China and Team Asia-Pacific to add the IAAF Continental Cup title to his growing collection of accolades.

Report: men's 100m - IAAF Continental Cup Ostrava 2018

Had Team Americas not already played, and won, on their joker for the men&rsquo;s events on the second day, then Paul Chelimo and Mohammed Ahmed would have done them proud in the men&rsquo;s 3000m, where they took first and second place respectively in a race where the elimination element loomed huge.
But for Team Africa, who played their men&rsquo;s joker on this race, it was a disaster.
After an initial slow-bicycle style race had warmed up a little as the field approached the fateful four-laps-to-go marker where the first last man would be politely shown the red card, there was a veritable bundle as the line approached.
And the first man out was the fastest in the field on paper, Bahrain&rsquo;s Birhanu Balew, representing Asia-Pacific, whose 7:34.26 timing at the Rabat Diamond League put him second in this year&rsquo;s world lists.
As the field approached the second cut, it spread into a line of desperate men, with Getaneh Molla of Ethiopia, a sub-13 minutes man this season, being the next eliminated runner.
Another surge and scramble with two laps to go ended with Britain&rsquo;s Marc Scott taking an early bath, but in the melee Team Africa&rsquo;s second runner, Kenya&rsquo;s 16-year-old Edward Zakayo, appeared to sustain some damage.
The youngster has already amassed a formidable record on the track, having won 5000m bronze at this year&rsquo;s Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and then gold at the Africa Championships in Asaba and the IAAF World U20 title in Tampere.
However, he was a jogging figure by the back straight and meekly accepted his fate as he saw red with a lap to go, the main field already half a lap ahead of him.
Chelimo is the man for the big occasion &ndash; Rio 2016 5000m silver medallist, world 5000m bronze medallist last year, he had everything in hand and sprinted clear to take maximum points and the $30,000 first prize for the event in 7:57.13.
Ahmed followed him home in 7:57.99, with Henrik Ingebrigtsen matching the third place his kid brother Jakob had earned in the earlier men&rsquo;s 1500m as he finished in 7:58.85.
An unexpected fourth place went to Australia&rsquo;s Stewart McSweyn in 8:02.01.
&ldquo;It was a good race,&rdquo; said Chelimo. &ldquo;The most important thing was that Team Americas got the overall points win. Preparing for Ostrava I had to be ready to accelerate at every lap, because of the elimination rule. So I needed to be in good shape here &ndash; it was tough when there were only four competitors in the last lap!&rdquo;
Mike Rowbottom for the IAAF

Had Team Americas not already played, and won, on their joker for the men’s events on the second day, then Paul Chelimo and Mohammed Ahmed would have done them proud in the men’s 3000m, where they took first and second place respectively in a race where the elimination element loomed huge.

Report: men's 3000m - IAAF Continental Cup Ostrava 2018

Lyu Huihui closed out a great year with victory in the women&rsquo;s javelin in the final field event of the IAAF Continental Cup Ostrava 2018, the Asia-Pacific thrower getting the best of Europe&rsquo;s Christin Hussong in the head-to-head final.
Given only one athlete from each team was to advance to the fourth round, the pressure was heaped on Lyu from the outset, particularly when her Asia-Pacific teammate Kelsey-Lee Roberts opened with an impressive 59.32m.
Lyu&rsquo;s opener was a touch off that at 58.97m but she secured her place in the semi-final with a big 63.88m throw in the third round. In the semi-final, she took on Kara Winger of Team Americas, Christin Hussong of Europe and Africa&rsquo;s Jo-Ane van Dyk.
Van Dyk was swiftly eliminated after only managing 51.09m in the fourth round, while Winger went close but couldn&rsquo;t quite move on with her throw of 60.38m.
Hussong&rsquo;s 61.76m and Lyu&rsquo;s 61.69m ensured they would enjoy another attempt and when it came down to it, in the fifth round, it was Lyu who produced the best effort.
Hussong&rsquo;s 55.05m was well down on her best, handing a big advantage to her Asia-Pacific rival, who duly held her composure to manage a winning effort of 57.88m. Winger took third with her fourth-round effort of 60.38m, with Van Dyk fourth.
"This season was full of ups and downs: it started with an Asian record and I was hoping to keep on improving but then I got some complications with my health and my preparation changed. It wasn't good conditions for me but when you win in such situations, it makes your victory all the sweeter.
"The rules with the eliminations are very special. It pushes you to throw very far in each round and I'm happy I had such an experience in my career."
Cathal Dennehy for the IAAF

Lyu Huihui closed out a great year with victory in the women’s javelin in the final field event of the IAAF Continental Cup Ostrava 2018, the Asia-Pacific thrower getting the best of Europe’s Christin Hussong in the head-to-head final.

Report: women's javelin - IAAF Continental Cup Ostrava 2018

Gong Lijiao added a Continental Cup win to her World Championships title as she came through for victory in the shot put in Ostrava. Gong only had the third best mark of the day overall at 19.63m, but she delivered when it mattered, defeating the American Raven Saunders in the final round.
The Chinese athlete earned the victory in her third Continental Cup appearance, having previously finished second and third.
The top three favourites were tightly matched in the three preliminary rounds. Gong started the best with 19.17m and improved to 19.58m on her next attempt, but that was topped immediately afterward by the former world champion Christina Schwanitz from Germany who reached 19.73m. Then in round three, Saunders went even better with 19.74m, while Gong and Schwanitz also reached solid distances with 19.44m and 19.21m, respectively.
The European champion Paulina Guba was no match for Schwanitz this time, with a best of 18.94m insufficient to qualify her for the next round. Ischke Senekal of South Africa became the fourth semifinalist with 17.10m.
Saunders got round four to a good start with 19.27m, but Gong followed with her best attempt yet of 19.63m. Schwanitz, throwing last, knew exactly what she had to do to reach the final, but that knowledge did not do her much good as she could only reach 19.07m to finish in third place.
In the final, the American could not match her best as she sent the shot to 18.39m. Aware that she only needed a solid attempt, the Chinese responded with 19.25m.
&ldquo;I am highly satisfied with my place, but a bit upset with my result. I was ready to surpass 20 metres in Ostrava,&rdquo; the winner said.
Gong also praised the innovative field event format used in Ostrava. &ldquo;The new rules are absolutely great for such a competition as we had here. It's very spectacular and unpredictable for both athletes and fans.&rdquo;
Pawel Jackowski for the IAAF
&nbsp;

Gong Lijiao added a Continental Cup win to her World Championships title as she came through for victory in the shot put in Ostrava. Gong only had the third best mark of the day overall at 19.63m, but she delivered when it mattered, defeating the American Raven Saunders in the final round.

Report: women's shot put - IAAF Continental Cup Ostrava 2018

Running with the composed confidence of a world champion, Elijah Manangoi dispatched his rivals from around the globe for the second straight year with a peerless performance to win the 1500m at the IAAF Continental Cup Ostrava 2018.
The Kenyan ran a relaxed opening half to the race, sitting in behind early leader Drew Hunter of Team Americas, who towed them through 400m in 60.74. Manangoi moved to the front on the next lap, hitting 800m in 2:03.56, but it was solely to secure prime position for the last lap burn-up.
He was soon joined by European duo Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Marcin Lewandowski, who clung to Manangoi&rsquo;s shoulder as the African hit 1200m in 3:01.19.
By then the pace had truly clicked into gear, Manangoi stretching the field out behind him in a line. Around the last turn Lewandowski came charging at him but Manangoi had plenty up his sleeve, changing gears once he turned for home and surging away to win in 3:40.00.
&ldquo;This means a lot to me because it wasn&rsquo;t only about my own ambitions but to bring as many points as possible to Team Africa,&rdquo; said Manangoi. &ldquo;I knew it would not be easy, but you have to be ready for a very tactical race. It&rsquo;s the finish to a really great year. I won Commonwealth Games, African Championships and after this win at the Continental Cup I&rsquo;m going to start preparations for Doha 2019.&rdquo;
Behind Manangoi, Lewandowski turned the tables on Ingebrigtsen from their European 1500m final by taking second in 3:40.42, with the young Norwegian closing out a superb season in third with 3:40.80.
Further back, Team Americas&rsquo; Charles Philibert-Thiboutot came through well to take fourth in 3:40.90, with Asia-Pacific&rsquo;s Ryan Gregson a flicker behind in fifth with 3:40.91.
Europe took the maximum eight points in the team event courtesy of Lewandowski and Ingebrigtsen&rsquo;s joint effort behind Manangoi.
Cathal Dennehy for the IAAF

Running with the composed confidence of a world champion, Elijah Manangoi dispatched his rivals from around the globe for the second straight year with a peerless performance to win the 1500m at the IAAF Continental Cup Ostrava 2018.

Report: men's 1500m - IAAF Continental Cup Ostrava 2018

Shamier Little, beaten to the Diamond League women&rsquo;s 400m hurdles title in Zurich last month by her US colleague Dalilah Muhammad, the Rio 2016 champion, suffered another narrow defeat here.
This time it was her Jamaican rival &ndash; and Team Americas colleague - Janieve Russell who took the honours, motoring into the finishing straight from lane one and coming home in 53.62.
The consolation for Little, who had entered the finishing straight with a narrow lead in lane five, was contributing to a resounding victory that kept Team Americas well in the hunt for the overall honours.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s my first Continental Cup and I&rsquo;m really happy to win here, and that we were the winning team,&rdquo; said Russell. &ldquo;I was blessed to achieve both of these goals, because I had some hamstring problems before Ostrava. This win gives me more confidence for next season, when I aim to stay injury-free.&rdquo;
Asia-Pacific runner Aminat Jamal of Bahrain, who has run 55.54 this season, looked good around the final bend before Little, and then Russell, surged past her, and she drifted back to fifth place in 55.65.
Third and fourth place went to Team Europe, with Ukraine&rsquo;s Anna Yaroshchuk-Ryzhykova clocking a season&rsquo;s best of 54.47 in lane eight, and Britain&rsquo;s European bronze medallist Meghan Beesley finishing strongly to record 55.58.
Mike Rowbottom for the IAAF

Shamier Little, beaten to the Diamond League women’s 400m hurdles title in Zurich last month by her US colleague Dalilah Muhammad, the Rio 2016 champion, suffered another narrow defeat here.

Report: women's 400m hurdles - IAAF Continental Cup Ostrava 2018

Caterine Ibarguen emulated her feat from the recent IAAF Diamond League final, adding a win in the long jump to the victory she achieved in the triple jump a day earlier. Second in the preliminary round, the Colombian kept her composure brilliantly to achieve the best distance of the day with a 6.93m national record leap with her final attempt, overcoming Brooke Stratton from Australia.
Ibarguen started the competition solidly with 6.68m and 6.76m in the first two rounds. That proved easily good enough to qualify her for further jumps, although it was not the best in that phase of the competition, as the European champion Malaika Mihambo of Germany reached 6.86m in the second round
The Nigerian Ese Brume also made the top four with her 6.61m, just one centimetre ahead of her African teammate Marthe Koala from Burkina Faso. The last qualifier was Stratton with 6.58m.
Going second in the fourth round, the Australian had a much better attempt of 6.71m. Mihambo, next in the order, was unable to match her earlier attempts with 6.58m. The German's hopes of a win were dashed when Ibarguen followed with 6.85m. The German was assured the third place after Brume could only reach 5.90m.
In an interview before the start of the Continental Cup, Ibarguen stated she was nervous about the new rules in field events, requiring a great deal of mental strength. But she proved she had plenty of it today. In the final round she followed Stratton's 6.52m with a perfectly executed jump of 6.93m. That mark added six centimetres to the national record she had set earlier in the season.
&ldquo;I'm full of ambition and it makes no difference in which event I compete. The key is to win each and every competition,&rdquo; Ibarguen said after her victory. &ldquo;It was even more important to win here, because our team only had a slight advantage in the team standings.&rdquo;
Pawel Jackowski for the IAAF

Caterine Ibarguen emulated her feat from the recent IAAF Diamond League final, adding a win in the long jump to the victory she achieved in the triple jump a day earlier. Second in the preliminary round, the Colombian kept her composure brilliantly to achieve the best distance of the day with a 6.93m national record leap with her final attempt, overcoming Brooke Stratton from Australia.

Report: women's long jump - IAAF Continental Cup Ostrava 2018

World record holder Beatrice Chepkoech of Kenya was the runaway victor in the women's 3000m steeplechase with a new Cup record of 9:07.92. The athlete from Team Africa took the lead from the gun and was never in any danger of being caught.
By the time the runners reached the 400m point, Chepkoech had built a lead of some 10 metres. The gap only kept on growing as she reached 1000 metres in a very fast 2:57.91.&nbsp;
The Kenyan appeared to be running well within her limits over the remainder of the distance, with her pace slowing down somewhat, but still much too fast for her rivals.
&ldquo;I thought I had to run in the front in order not to be in the elimination,&rdquo; the winner explained afterwards. &ldquo;I was tired after the season, but I did not want to set a slow pace and to have to speed up every 400 metres to escape elimination.&rdquo;
Courtney Frerichs of the US and Winfred Mutile Yavi of Bahrain were running together in second and third in the closing stages of the race before the American sprinted well clear over the final lap to take second in 9:15.22, with the Asian Games champion third with 9:17.86.
Well back in fourth was Anna Emilie Moller, the 20-year old Dane, who had to work hard to avoid elimination on earlier laps and struggled over the final 400 metres to finish in 9:42.57.
The Ethiopian Weynshet Ansa was eliminated three laps from the finish, but continued on the track for another lap, resulting in a disqualification. With that, it was the Americas who earned top team points.
Pawel Jackowski for the IAAF

World record holder Beatrice Chepkoech of Kenya was the runaway victor in the women's 3000m steeplechase with a new Cup record of 9:07.92. The athlete from Team Africa took the lead from the gun and was never in any danger of being caught.

Report: women's 3000m steeplechase - IAAF Continental Cup Ostrava 2018

The reigning Olympic and European champion Thomas Rohler did not disappoint in the men's javelin throw. Despite having to battle hard throughout the three phases of the competition, the German came through with a best of 87.07m to beat Cheng Chao-Tsun of Chinese Taipei in the final round.
The competition got off to an inauspicious start, with the Indian Neeraj Chopra's 80.24m the only 80-metre effort in the first round. Things heated up afterwards, however, as Rohler moved to the lead with 84.30m on his second throw and Anderson Peters of Grenada followed immediately with 80.86m.
In round three, Chopra sent the spear beyond 85 metres, but with a landing just outside the sector. Then, to tumultous applause from the Czech audience, the home country athlete Jakub Vadlejch overtook Rohler, reaching 84.76m.
The German, now facing elimination, had to surpass Vadlejch's distance to qualify for further throws, and he responded tremendously with an 86.39m. Also showing grace under pressure was Cheng, whose third-round 82.06m pushed the Asian champion Chopra out of a qualifying position.&nbsp;
The thrower from Chinese Taipei went even farther in the fourth round with 83.28m, the best effort of the semifinal phase. Rohler's 80.61m was also sufficient to make the two-man final. Peters' 78.42m earned him third place, a single centimetre ahead of Kenya's former world champion Julius Yego.
Cheng, going first in the final round, had another solid effort of 81.81m, but that was not nearly enough to phase Rohler. Already upon release, it was clear the javelin was going to fly far, and the savvy Ostrava audience started its roar long before it landed at 87.07m, the longest throw of the day.
Pawel Jackowski for the IAAF

The reigning Olympic and European champion Thomas Rohler did not disappoint in the men's javelin throw. Despite having to battle hard throughout the three phases of the competition, the German came through with a best of 87.07m to beat Cheng Chao-Tsun of Chinese Taipei in the final round.

Report: men's javelin - IAAF Continental Cup Ostrava 2018

Abdalelah Haroun finished powerfully to take the men&rsquo;s 400m title here in 44.73.
Despite this being one of the most open of the Continental Cup events, Team Asia-Pacific put their men&rsquo;s joker for the day on the race, and their judgement was rewarded thanks to victory for Qatar&rsquo;s 21-year-old adopted Sudanese runner, and his team-mate Muhammed Anas Yahiya of India, who earned four points after finishing fifth in 45.72.
Haroun held off a final straight challenge from Team Africa&rsquo;s continental champion Baboloki Thebe of Botswana, who has a best of 44.54 this season.
But any team hopes harboured by Africa disappeared halfway through the race when their second runner, Thapelo Phora, subsided to the track on the back straight clutching his leg.
Nathan Strother of the United States came through to earn third place in 45.28, but his Team Americas colleague Luguelin Santos of the Dominican Republic, who won London 2012 silver as a 19-year-old, could only manage sixth place in 45.81.
Britain&rsquo;s European champion Matthew Hudson-Smith was his team&rsquo;s top performer, finishing fourth in 45.72.
&ldquo;It wasn&rsquo;t my fastest time, but that didn&rsquo;t matter here,&rdquo; said Haroun. &ldquo;I just wanted to win my last race of the season. I will rest now for three weeks, and then I must train again because a big year is ahead &ndash; I will be competing at home in the IAAF World Championships.&rdquo;
Haroun also revealed an extra motivation for victory &ndash; &ldquo;My mother said to me &lsquo;this is your last race of the season, so don&rsquo;t come home without winning.&rsquo;&rdquo;
Mike Rowbottom for the IAAF

Abdalelah Haroun finished powerfully to take the men’s 400m title here in 44.73.

Report: men's 400m - IAAF Continental Cup Ostrava 2018

Running down Dafne Schippers over the final 40 metres, Shaunae Miller-Uibo extended her unbeaten streak to 10 races this season with her convincing victory in the 200m.
Running just to the inside of the tall Bahamian in lane four, Schippers, the two-time defending world champion in the event, started strong, leading the Commonwealth champion as the field came off the bend with Marie-Josee Ta Lou of Ivory Coast, the winner of yesterday's 100m, battling to maintain contact with the leading pair.
But with about 70 metres remaining, Miller-Uibo's long strides started making up ground on the Dutchwoman before going past midway through the final straight. She clocked 22.16 to take the win for Team Americas, well clear of Schippers, who clocked 22.28.&nbsp;
"This last race of the season was a tough one," Miller-Uibo said. "We were exhausted at the finish line and long after. I must say I felt the pressure competing for the team but the joy this victory brings is significant."
It took a careful read of the photo to map out the next three runners who were separated by just 0.01. Ta Lou got the nod for third in 22.61 ahead of Shericka Jackson of Jamaica and Team Americas and Edidiong Ofonime Odiong of Bahrain and Asia-Pacific, who were each credited with 22.62. Just 0.006 separated the pair. For the Bahraini, it was a national record.
Miller-Uibo and Jackson combined for the team win in the event, doubling their points when it was revealed they were playing the joker in the event.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF

Running down Dafne Schippers over the final 40 metres, Shaunae Miller-Uibo extended her unbeaten streak to 10 races this season with her convincing victory in the 200m.

Report: women's 200m - IAAF Continental Cup Ostrava 2018

Rising 21-year-old pole vault talent Timur Morgunov may have won European silver in a personal best of 6.00m and overall IAAF Diamond League victory in the space of the last month, but on this occasion the authorised neutral athlete had to give best to the older hands.
Sam Kendricks and Renaud Lavillenie took first and second position respectively with clearances of 5.85m and 5.80m.
The 31-year-old French world record holder boxed clever here as he so often has in the past, not entering the competition until the bar stood at 5.65m, by which time there were only three others in contention &ndash; Kendricks, who won the world title for the United States last year, Canada&rsquo;s 2015 world champion Shawnacy Barber and Morgunov.
By that stage, the latter two had already incurred a foul each, and while both cleared, they were to go no higher.
So then there were two. Lavillenie gambled again by passing on 5.75m which Kendricks cleared at the second attempt. When both men cleared 5.80m, it was advantage France.
But Lavillenie could do no more, even though his competitiveness meant he passed from 5.85m to 5.90m after a first failure had been followed by Kendricks&rsquo;s first time success.
The Frenchman was going down fighting &ndash; but he couldn&rsquo;t make either of his two remaining attempts at 5.90m tell.
Barber finished third with 5.65m, giving team victory to the Americas, with Morgunov fourth on countback.
&ldquo;I loved representing the Americas here because the weight is not only on my shoulders,&rdquo; said Kendricks. &ldquo;From 2017 when I became world champion I always have to defend something and every time I end second, people take it as a fail.
&ldquo;I finally won myself today. It is really hard to travel across the world and be a world champion everywhere.&rdquo;
Team Asia-Pacific&rsquo;s chances of success in this event had disappeared when their Commonwealth champion, 21-year-old Kurtis Marschall, injured his leg while contesting the IAAF Diamond League final in Brussels.
Their only representative, Stephen Clough, finished fifth out of the field of seven with 5.10m.
Mike Rowbottom for the IAAF

Rising 21-year-old pole vault talent Timur Morgunov may have won European silver in a personal best of 6.00m and overall IAAF Diamond League victory in the space of the last month, but on this occasion the authorised neutral athlete had to give best to the older hands.

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Report: mixed 4x400m - IAAF Continental Cup Ostrava 2018

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