With the Diamond League season now down to just single digit meets, the full picture of what to expect at next month’s world championships in Tokyo is almost clear.
Still, Saturday’s showcase in Silesia, Poland at the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial was packed with a host of new world leads, marquee names and some still hoping to be racing on the big stage in September.
Kipyegon shines in the women’s 3,000m
Faith Kipyegon reigns supreme as the women’s world record-holder in the mile and 1,500m and hoped to use Silesia as the site to break the mark in the 3,000m. With Jessica Hull and Sage Hurta-Klecker on pacing duties, Kipyegon came close, clocking a 8:07.04 in a commanding performance as the rest of the field took a backseat to what she was hoping to pull off in Silesia. Likina Amebaw took second in 8:34.53 and Aleshign Baweke was third in 8:35.51.
Jefferson-Wooden’s stellar season surges on
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden’s mission to dominate the year got another jolt as she won the women’s 100m in 10.66 in convincing fashion as Tia Clayton took in 10.82 while Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith finished third in 10.87.
Jefferson-Wooden tied the meet record in the process and nearly beat her world lead by 0.01 in yet another display of her leaving little wonder who is in the very short list of top competitors of the season.
Duplantis soars once again this week
Days after his 13th world record in the pole vault, Mondo Duplantis was back in action and needed nearly all of his attempts to stay ahead of the competition. Duplantis cleared 6.10m on his seventh try for the win, while Emmanouil Karalis was second in 6.00m from his sixth try. Kurtis Marschall took third on a 5.90m height on his fifth attempt.
Bol rolls in the women’s 400m hurdles
Femke Bol was in top form as she cruised to the win in the women’s 400m hurdles in 51.91 — the world lead and meet record. Emma Zapletalová was second in 53.58 and Jasmine Jones took third in 53.64.
Warholm grabs the men’s 400m hurdles world lead
Karsten Warholm found the extra gear to win the men’s 400m hurdles in world leading form in 46.28 on Saturday at Silesia Diamond League. Ezekiel Nathaniel finished second in 47.31 and Abderrahman Samba was third in 47.31.
Thompson stuns Noah Lyles in the men’s 100m
Kishane Thompson got the best of a loaded men’s 100m, taking the win in 9.87 over Noah Lyles, who finished second in 9.90 and Kenny Bednarek who was third in 9.96. Thompson’s win drained some of the hype around the reported feud between Lyles and Bednarek as Thompson faced off against Lyles in the 100m for the first time since the Paris Olympics.
Paulino grinds out a win in the women’s 400m
In a tight finish to the line Marileidy Paulino took the women’s 400m in 49.18, edging past Salwa Eid Naser who was second in 49.27 while Henriette Jæger was third in 49.83. Paulino surged late in the final 100m to reach the line first and sliding just past Eid Naser at the line.
Nuguse keeps his Tokyo hopes alive
In a must-win scenario, Yared Nuguse delivered in the men’s 1,500m, winning in 3:33.19 — and barely sliding past Timothy Cheruiyot who was second in 3:33.35. Narve Gilje Nordås was third in 3:33.41. Nuguse is on a mission to grab a fourth spot on Team USA’s men’s 1,500m world championships squad and his hopes stay alive with this critical win in Silesia.
Hodgkinson gets the women’s 800m world lead
Keely Hodgkinson bolted to the win in the women’s 800m in 1:54.74 — the world lead — and also set the meet record. Lilian Odira was second in 1:56.52 and Oratile Nowe took third in 1:56.52. For Hodgkinson, the win comes following months of dealing with a hamstring injury — and setbacks — that kept her out of competition for months.
Tsegay takes the women’s 1,500m
Gudaf Tsegay surged to the win in the women’s 1,500m in 3:50.62 — a meet record and season’s best — as she pulled away from Beatrice Chebet who took second in 3:54.73. Georgia Hunter Bell finished third in 3:56.00.
The Diamond League schedule shifts to Lausanne next wee, as Lyles, Thompson, Oblique Seville and Shericka Jackson will be among the names putting the finishing touches on their build ups to Tokyo. There are just three Diamond League meets remaining on the calandar: Lausanne (August 20), Brussels (August 22) and Zurich (August 27-28).
