As has been the case for most of this season, the men’s high jump stole the show on a fantastic day of Diamond League action at the Sainsbury’s Birmingham Grand Prix.
After first time clearances at 2.35m, the men who lie first and second in the Diamond Race, Bogdan Bondarenko and Mutaz Essa Barshim went head to head at 2.38m. It looked like the competition was all over, however first Barshim and then Bondarenko went clear with their third and final attempts to break the meeting record and keep the competition alive. Despite a couple of good efforts neither man could go over 2.41m, meaning it was Qatari Barshim who took victory.
After another epic duel, the winner said:
“I’m happy – I got the win which is all that matters. It’s the battle they are all talking about – Barshim vs Bondarenko! I’ve got a lot of competitions coming up so there is a lot to still compete for.”
Bondarenko, who won the European Championships in Zurich last week added:
“To jump 2.38m was a good result and second place was ok. I wasn’t very tired after the European Championships so I should be ok for my next few events.”
At the start of play Ukrainian Bondarenko led Barshim 14 points to 8 in the Diamond Race, but after today’s competition his lead has been cut by two points, and it’s now 16 points to 12 going into the final in Brussels.
There was no sign of Valerie Adams’ four year unbeaten run coming to an end, as she notched up her 55th victory in a row to extend her Diamond Race lead to 18 points. Although it wasn’t textbook throwing by Adams, who has been hampered all season by a shoulder injury, her 19.96m effort in round one got the job done. After the competition the Kiwi said:
“The win was obviously great but I had a lot of fun out there today. My throws were very consistent which was good. The crowd was fantastic and the weather held off so I couldn’t have asked for more today.”
There was plenty for the Alexander Stadium to shout about on the track, with Mo Farah, Christine Ohuruogu and Lynsey Sharp proving popular British winners.
Sharp is in the midst of the best season of her young career, and produced another composed run, to kick away from her rivals down the home straight to win the women’s 800m in 1.59.18. After silver medals at the Commonwealth Games and the European Championships, the Scottish star won her first Diamond League race, much to her delight:
“I have very tired legs and it’s been hard to pick myself up after the Commonwealths and Europeans and carry on. It’s amazing to have a full crowd cheering you on – to come back and run in front of a home crowd at the end of the season is brilliant. I’m running in Brussels next for the final Diamond league event.”
Although not competing in a Diamond League event, Farah will still steal most of the headlines after a stunning solo run saw him break Steve Ovett’s British 2 mile record with an 8.07.85 time. That performance is also a European record and a world lead and after doing the 5,000 and 10,000m double in Zurich, Farah was pleased to return home with a victory:
“I was a bit tired going into it but I had to push myself to get that win but once I got into it, I got better and better. I was looking at the clock thinking ‘I can do it’. Last week has definitely given me a lot of confidence – I know I have a lot of speed on that last lap. It’s the first time I’ve competed in Britain since April at the London Marathon, so it was nice to give something back. The crowd kept pushing me along.”
After missing out on a medal at the European Championships this summer despite recording the same time as the bronze medal winner, British world champion Christine Ohuruogu stormed down the home straight for the first British victory of the day in the women’s 400m. Her winning time of 51.40 falls just outside of her season’s best, set in Zurich but she was happy post-race:
“I wasn’t expecting that. I was running down the home straight and saw that I was winning. It’s good for the crowd to see that. The time wasn’t all that great but it doesn’t really matter. I’ve not quite finished my season yet – I’m running a 500m soon. But it’s great to come and finish the Sainsbury’s Summer series off.”
Back with the Diamond League action, Kirani James showed exactly why he’s the Olympic champion, pulling away from the rest of the field in the men’s 400m to win in 44.59. He held off Isaac Makwala of Botswana and newly crowned European Champion Martyn Rooney before commenting:
“I’m very pleased with that – I’ve had a successful end to the season and it’s always good to finish on a high. The World Championships are obviously the aim next year as the other guys are looking good so I’ll have to take it seriously!”
Kaliese Spencer extended her unbeaten run to eight races in her first outing since taking gold at the Commonwealth Games to all but wrap up the Diamond League 400mH title. She once again held off her great rival Eilidh Child, who took the European title in Zurich last week. Spencer’s winning time was 53.80 and of that run she said:
“I’m very pleased to be victorious today. I always like to run here in Birmingham, I’m always happy to be in the UK competing. I’ve been winning most of my races so it’s definitely been a good season!”
Olympic triple jump champion Christian Taylor showed his versatility with an 8.09m season’s best to win the long jump. Now living and training in Loughborough, UK, American Taylor commented:
“This is my backyard now – I really took advantage of the field and I had a real blast. This is the furthest I’ve done in a long while; it was a good shakeout. This year’s about getting ready for the World’s next year and it’s great to compete in both the long jump and triple jump.”
Zarck Visser of South Africa was second just 1cm back, with Jinzhe Li third and local hero Greg Rutherford fourth.
After a tough qualification round, the women’s 100m runners took to the track for a second time, which was once too many for Diamond League leader Tori Bowie who pulled up shortly after the start. This paved the way for Jamaican Kerron Stewart to take victory in 11.22, with European silver medallist Myriam Soumare second and Sainsbury’s British champion Asha Philip third.
The Jamaican was rightfully pleased with her effort:
“It was a great race – to line up against a great field like this today and beat them, regardless of time is great. The win has been great – I just want to thank God, through everything, none of this would be possible. The world championships are the main aim but for me, I just want to give my all every time when I step onto the track.
Briton Philip added:
“The time wasn’t that great but to compete against the world’s best is great. I was disappointed to leave Zurich without an individual medal but to get a British record in the relay was great. I’m just enjoying what I’m doing at the moment.”
Piotr Malachowski already had the Diamond Race wrapped up in the men’s discus however it was Olympic champion Robert Harting’s day, as he took victory in 67.57m. Afterwards the German commented:
“It was good – it is usually difficult here because the wind conditions are very bad. I had to work hard to find my technique today but I was lucky enough to find a big throw in the end.”
In the men’s 3000m steeplechase, Jairus Birech broke the meeting record despite stopping to avoid hitting the final barrier. He was so far clear though that he was able to get over second time and still win by seven seconds in 8.07.80.
In the women’s 2 mile race, Mercy Cherono bagged maximum points and an African record of 9.11.49 to boot as she held of Viola Kibiwot and Irene Jelagat. Genzebe Dibaba could only manage fourth, which means she now trails Cherono by four points in the Diamond race. Post-race she said:
“I’m so happy as this was my second win in a row here. I love competing here. My season has gone well so far and I look forward to ending it well in my next races.”
Nickel Ashmeade won the men’s 200m by two hundredths of second, clocking 20.33 ahead of Alonso Edward, leaving the pair one-two in the Diamond race standings.
“I’m very happy with the result” said Ashmeade. “I ran ok out there. I’ve had a lot of injuries since April so it’s been a bit of a struggle but I’ll be back aiming for the World Championships next year.”
The women’s pole vault was a cagey affair, with Diamond Race leader Fabiana Murer no heighting. This left the door open for Katerina Stefanidi to take victory with a 4.57m vault. Caterine Ibarguen held a 10 point advantage in the Diamond Race heading into Birmingham, and she duly won the women’s triple jump with a 14.52m effort in the first round.
Liz Gleadle handed Barbora Spotakova a rare defeat as she took the women’s javelin with a 64.49m throw in round two. Spotakova, who hasn’t lost since returning from maternity leave could only manage 62.89m, but maintains her lead in the overall standings.
800m world record holder and Olympic champion David Rudisha took a commanding victory in the rarely run 600m, running the fourth fastest time in history as he crossed the line in 1.13.71. Newly crowned European 800m champion Adam Kszczot took second in 1.14.69, with youngster Kyle Langford breaking the British junior record with a 1.16.30 run in seventh.
Post-race Rudisha said:
“Today wasn’t so bad! This is my first 600m, so I guess it was difficult to judge the pace, but I think I tried my best. It has been a bit of a struggle coming back from the injury last year, but I’m happy, I’m still in good shape, so nothing to complain about. I am looking forward to next year’s World Championships and of course Rio 2016.”