Faith Kipyegon at the 2016 IAAF Diamond League meeting in Eugene (© Kirby Lee)
Faith Kipyegon followed the rabbit in the early part of the women’s 1500m and then took control in the later stages to win in a world-leading time of 3:56.41 at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Eugene on Saturday (28).
The time broke her own Kenyan record that she set just two weeks ago when winning at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Shanghai.
Kipyegon moved clear of Dawit Seyaum and 19-year-old Gudaf Tsegay over the last lap, the Ethiopian pair being towed to personal bests of 3:58.10 and 4:00.18.
There were nine men in the lead pack with two laps remaining in the 5000m but Canada’s Mo Ahmed broke up the log jam with a bold push to the front.
Ethiopia’s Muktar Edris and Kenya’s Geoffrey Kamworor followed Ahmed as the list of contenders dwindled to three. Ahmed held his position until the final curve when Edris and Kamworor sped past.
On the homestretch, Edris moved to the lead and held on for the win in 12:59.43, his second consecutive IAAF Diamond League victory after winning in Shanghai two weeks ago.
Two-time world half marathon champion Kamworor finished second in 12:59.98 while Ahmed set a national record with 13:01.74 in third place.
There was a familiar pattern in the men’s 400m with Kirani James and LaShawn Merritt together at the top of the homestretch. But the duel in the non-Diamond Race discipline between the two former world champions over one lap of the track saw James hold Merritt at bay to win in 44.22, with the latter second in 44.39.
“Hopefully, going into the future I can execute a race as good as that, just keep the momentum going,” said James.
McLeod remains unbeaten in 2016
In the men’s 110m hurdles, Omar McLeod continued his winning ways of 2016.
The Jamaican got in front early and maintained a comfortable margin to win in 13.06. McLeod now has the four fastest times of the year and hasn’t lost a race in any event since the IAAF World Championships Beijing 2015, his 11-race winning streak including the world indoor 60m hurdles title in nearby Portland back in March.
“I never chase time. 13.0 is really consistent,” McLeod said. The rest of the field didn’t put up much of challenge with 2013 world champion David Oliver taking second place in 13.38.
English Gardner did what she normally does when she races at Hayward Field: win.
The US sprinter also came dangerously close to a personal best in the women’s 100m, running 10.81 – the second-fastest legal time in the world this year – to blow out a strong field.
“It was a very technical race I ran today. I’m not really race sharp,” rsaid Gardner. “I’m so happy, I couldn’t be more pleased.”
Tianna Bartoletta finished second in 10.94. In her first 100m race of 2016, Jamaica’s world and Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce finished a disappointing last in 11.18.
USA swept the top three places in the men’s 400m hurdles. Michael Tinsley held his lead over the final 100m to win in 48.74. He was followed home by Kerron Clement in 48.87 and another former world champion, Bershawn Jackson, was third in 49.04.
Kiprop wins Bowerman Mile
Asbel Kiprop once again looked effortless as he won the Bowerman Mile.
The Kenyan moved from fourth to second on the back straight of the final lap before settling in behind Morocco’s Abdalaati Iguider.
He then stayed on Iguider’s shoulder through the final turn before making a confident move to the front and then winning in 3:51.45, with Iguider second in 3:51.96.
Boris Berian used the same recipe that had served him well at the World Indoor Championships Portland 2016, run fast and aggressive to win the men’s 800m.
The newly minted gold medallist, running behind the pacemaker Harun Abda, passed the first 400m in 51.3.
Once Abda stepped off the track, Berian became the target for the rest of the field, but he was able to maintain his lead and win in 1:44.20 with Ferguson Rotich second in 1:44.56.
The women’s 400m didn’t produce a world lead, but it did develop into a great head-to-head matchup down the final stretch. Shaunae Miller ran 50.15 to defeat Francena McCorory, who was close behind in 50.23.
Kevin Sully for the IAAF
