The sixth leg of the Diamond League Series in Olso lived up to all pre-event hype with three meet records being broken, five world leads being set, and numerous national records broken.
We take a look at some of the African athletes who were in the mix and continue to impress in the build-up to next month’s Paris Olympics.
GEBRHIWET FLIRTS WITH WORLD RECORD – MEN’S 5000M
A formidable field lined up for the men’s 5000m which included the likes of Uganda’s Olympic champion and world record-holder Joshua Cheptegei, Commonwealth Games champion Jacob Kiplimo and Ethiopia’s former world indoor champion Yomif Kejelcha. But it was 30-year-old Hagos Gebrhiwet who produced the performance of the night, taking the lead on the final lap and storming to the finish in a world-leading time and new Ethiopian record of 12:36.73, the second fastest time in history. He was two seconds clear of Kajelcha who was second in a personal best of 12:38.95 with Kiplimo third in 12:40.96 – also a PB.
A total of six national records were set in the speedy race – including by South Africa’s Adriaan Wildschutt who finished in 13th spot, dipping under 13 minutes outdoors for the first time in a time of 12:56.67
SIMBINE STORMS TO ANOTHER WIN – MEN’S 100M
South Africa’s Akani Simbine ensured his name remains very much in the Olympic medal mix with another impressive victory. The Pretoria sprinter is unbeaten over 100m so far this season and put that record on the line against Olympic champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs and the second fastest man of all time, Yohan Blake, in Oslo. But Simbine was up to the task, putting in his signature burst of speed in the latter part of the race to take the win in an official season’s best of 9.94. Japan’s Abdul Hakim Sani Brown finished second in 9.99 with Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme third in a season’s best 10.01. Simbine has run a 9.90 this season, but that time was deemed unofficial as it was run on a makeshift track at the Atlanta City Games.
SEKGODISO THE RISING STAR – WOMEN’S 800M
South Africa’s Prudence Sekgodiso is also making her presence felt on the international stage, being dubbed the rising star of the 800m. On Thursday the 22-year-old made it back-to-back Diamond League victories after taking victory in Marrakech, then skipping the Eugene meet, but winning again in Oslo. Sekgodiso remained comfortably out in front on the second lap, and while she slowed somewhat down the home straight, she had done enough to claim the win in another solid sub-2 minute time of 1:58.66. Jamaica’s Natoya Goule-Toppin was second in 1:59.10 with Australian Catriona Bisset third in 1:59.29.
ZANGO HOLD ON FOR VICTORY – MEN’S TRIPLE JUMP
There were just 2cm between the first and second spots in the men’s triple jump in Oslo. Burkina Faso’s Hugues Fabrice Zango’s fourth-round leap of 17.27m looked to have secured him the win. But Algerian Yasser Mohammed Triki came mightily close to taking top spot with his final jump. In the end, he was just 2cm short of the world champion’s mark, taking second spot with 17.25m – the same positions the duo finished at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow earlier this year.
TA LOU-SMITH STILL IN THE MIX – 200M WOMEN
Ivorian Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith lined up against a powerful field in the women’s 200m that included Jamaican world champion Shericka Jackson and Olympic medallist Daryll Neita. The 35-year-old ran a great bend and looked like she was on her way to an impressive win before Brittany Brown stormed through on her outside in lane eight to sneak in front. Just four hundredths of a second separated the two, with Brown taking the win in 22.32 and Ta Lou second in 22.36.
DESPERATE DIVE FOR THE LINE – MEN’S 1500M
The final race of the evening featured one of the athletes the locals had come to see, Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen. But Kenya’s 2019 world champion Timothy Cheruiyot very nearly spoiled the Norwegian party. A mighty battle unfolded down the home straight with Ingebrigtsen diving horizontally across the finish line to ensure the home fans got what they came for. In the end, just three hundredths separated the two, Ingebrigtsen taking the win in a world-leading time of 3:29.74 with Cheruiyot second in 3:29.77.
AMEBAW SECURES SECOND PLACE – 3000M WOMEN
Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw was one of the few African athletes to line up for the women’s 3000m. She made a brave charge down the finishing straight but was just pipped by Australian Georgia Griffith who set an Oceania and meeting record by winning in 8:24.20. Amebaw was second in a personal best time of 8:24.29.