With the Paris Olympics now becoming a distant memory, several of the continent’s newly crowned Olympic champions headed to the 11th Diamond League meet of the year in Lausanne, Switzerland.
We take a look at who continued to dominate in their respective events as the season starts to wind down…
WANYONYI CLOSES IN ON RUDISHA’S RECORD – MEN’S 800M
Emmanuel Wanyonyi, who earned 800m gold in the French capital, produced one of the performances of the night on Thursday. Still just 20, the classy Kenyan held off the challenge of Olympic silver medallist Marco Arop to win in a new personal best, Diamond League record and world-leading time of 1:41.11. That moves Wanyonyi up to joint second spot on the all-time list alongside former world record-holder Wilson Kipketer. Topping the list is compatriot David Rudisha’s world record of 1:40.91 set at London 2012, which seems all the more reachable as Wanyonyi progresses. Arop was second in 1:41.72.
MORAA BACK IN FRONT OVER TWO LAPS – WOMEN’S 800M
In the women’s 800m, Kenya’s Mary Moraa returned to winning ways after claiming a bronze medal over two laps in Paris. The 24-year-old cruised to victory in a time of 1:57.91 to get the better of the British duo of Georgia Bell and Jemma Reekie. Uganda’s Halimah Nakaayi was fourth in 1:58.90.
TEBOGO PICKS UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF IN PARIS – MEN’S 200M
The sprint sensation from Botswana who famously beat American Noah Lyles to 200m gold in Paris, Letsile Tebogo, picked up where he left off in France, storming to victory in 19.64 seconds to get the better of the American pair of Erriyon Knighton (19.78) and Fred Kerley (19.86). The 21-year-old superstar admitted afterwards that he hadn’t trained since claiming the Olympic title just over a week ago, but he was untroubled as he bagged the victory while slowing down over the finish line.
EAST AFRICAN PODIUM SWEEP – WOMEN’S 3000M
Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji was in a class of her own as she surged ahead on the last lap to take the victory in the 3000m in a new personal best and meet record time of 8:21.50. That time placed her third fastest in the world this season. Kenya’s Janeth Chepngetich was second in a season’s best time of 8:23.48 with Ethiopian Tsigie Gebreselama running a personal best of 8:24.40 to finish third.
SAMUKONGA SHINES IN SWITZERLAND – MEN’S 400M
Having secured Zambia’s first Olympic medal in 28 years in Paris by claiming 400m bronze in a national record time, Muzala Samukonga was back in action in the one-lap event in Lausanne. This time he finished second in a time of 44.06 seconds with Botswana’s Busang Collen Kebinatshipi third in a new personal best of 44.22. Olympic silver medallist Matthew Hudson-Smith of Britain took the victory in 43.96.