Report27 Aug 2019


Kibet breaks meeting record while Tortu makes winning return in Rovereto

FacebookTwitterEmail

Michael Kibet on his way to winning the 5000m in Rovereto (© Marco Volcan)

Kenyan teenager Michael Kibet broke the meeting record in the 5000m at the Palio della Quercia in Rovereto on Tuesday (27), but the biggest cheers of the night were for Filippo Tortu, who returned to action following a mid-season injury to win the 100m.

Tortu, the Italian record-holder, won the 100m in 10.21 (-1.5m/s) on Rovereto’s newly-laid blue track, beating Japanese record-holder Hakim Sani Brown, who clocked 10.28 two days after running 10.05 in Madrid.

“It was one of my best ever races,” said Tortu. “I ran against very strong sprinters. It was a great feeling to receive the strong support from the crowd. The time didn’t matter too much. I felt very well and that was the most important thing.

“The injury I picked during the Stanford Diamond League race was more serious than I thought, but it made me more motivated. I am now looking forward to running against Marcell Jacobs for the European team in Minsk. After that, my goal is to reach the 100m final in Doha.”

In a close 5000m race, Kibet – who finished third at the Kenyan Championships just five days ago – took 14 seconds off his PB to win in 13:11.08, improving Hayle Ibrahimov’s meeting record of 13:11.34 from 2012. Compatriot Erick Kiptanui was second in 13:11.51.

Kenya’s Collins Kipruto launched a well-timed kick to win the 800m in a PB of 1:44.42, comfortably beating compatriot Jonathan Kitilit (1:45.38) and USA’s Isiah Harris (1:45.55). Norway’s Edda Hynne won the women’s event in a season’s best of 2:00.53.

Denmark’s Olympic silver medallist Sara Slott Petersen edged Commonwealth champion Janieve Russell in the 400m hurdles, clocking a season’s best of 54.89, her fastest time since 2017. Russell clocked 55.25 ahead of Canada’s Sage Watson (55.76).

Abubakar Abbas from Bahrain pulled away in the final straight to win the men’s 400m in 45.04 ahead of Jamaica’s Nathon Allen (45.43) and Akeem Bloomfield (45.74).

Two days after clocking a season’s best of 11.09 in Madrid, world 100m champion Tori Bowie had to contend with a slight headwind of -0.4m/s in Rovereto but nevertheless won the 100m in 11.42.

Belgium’s 2017 European U23 champion Ben Broeders cleared 5.72m to win the men’s pole vault on countback. Commonwealth silver medallist Henry Frayne won the long jump with a second-round leap of 8.11m.

Albania’s Luiza Gega won the women’s 3000m steeplechase in 9:26.73, narrowly missing the meeting record by 1.64 seconds, but finishing comfortably ahead of Fancy Cherono (9:31.60) and Geneviéve Lacaze-Gregson (9:37.67).

Lithuania’s Edis Matusevicius produced a last-round effort of 82.31m to win the men’s javelin from Hungary’s Norbert Rivasz Toth (81.90m).

Diego Sampaolo fo the IAAF

Loading...