In the Diamond League season opener, which was highlighted by another world record from Swedish pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis, there were also several outstanding performances from African athletes.
SuperSport.com takes a look at who shone at the meet in Xiamen, China and elsewhere on Saturday with several world leads and meet records being set…
TSEGAY DOMINATES IN SEASON DEBUT – XIAMEN DIAMOND LEAGUE
There was no sign Gudaf Tsegay was competing in her first outdoor race this season as she stormed to victory in the 1500m in a meet record and world-leading time. In fact, her time of 3 minutes 50.30 to lead home an Ethiopian top-five was the third-fastest 1500m in history. Tsegay’s teenage training partner Birke Haylom also ran a personal best, finishing second in 3:53.22.
GIRMA CONQUERS EXTRA LAPS TO SET MEET RECORD – XIAMEN DIAMOND LEAGUE
Ethiopia’s world record holder in the 3000m steeplechase Lamecha Girma took on the longer 5000m in China. He pulled clear of the field with 300m to go to win in a meet-record time of 12:58.96 with Kenya’s Nicholas Kipkorir coming in second in 12:59.78.
CHEPKOECH SETS THE PACE IN THE STEEPLECHASE – XIAMEN DIAMOND LEAGUE
Another steeplechase world record holder in action on Saturday was Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech. The 32-year-old finished well clear of compatriot Faith Cherotich, in a world lead and meet-record time of 8:55.40. Cherotich was second in 9:05.49 with Uganda’s Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai finishing a distant third in 9:12.99.
SIZZLING SPRINT SHOWDOWN IN MEN’S 800M – XIAMEN DIAMOND LEAGUE
The men’s 800m produced a thrilling three-way battle over the two laps. In the end, it was Canadian world champion Marco Arop who prevailed in the sprint down the home straight, winning in a world-leading time of 1:43.61 with Kenya’s Wyclife Kinyamal just five-hundredths of a second back in second. Botswana’s Tshepiso Masalela took third spot in a new personal best of 1:43.88.
OLYMPIC CHAMP OUTGUNS WORLD CHAMP IN TRIPLE JUMP – XIAMEN DIAMOND LEAGUE
In a showdown between the Olympic and world champions in the triple jump, it was Portugal’s Pedro Pichardo who outleapt his rival from Burkina Faso, Hugues Fabrice Zango. Pichardo’s first-round jump of 17.38m would have been enough to secure the victory but he bettered that with a final-round effort of 17.51m, with Zango the next best with a last-round jump of 17.12m.
DANCING QUEEN MORAA HAILED BY HOME FANS – KIP KEINO CLASSIC
World champion Mary Moraa gave the Kenyan crowd plenty to cheer about in her first 800m race of the season. Her victory was never in doubt as she took to the front after the pacemaker left the track and cruised to victory in a world-leading time of 1:57.96.
BOTSWANA LEAD THE WAY OVER ONE LAP – KIP KEINO CLASSIC
There was more success for Botswana as Bayapo Ndori sped to the fastest time in the world this year on his way to victory in the 400m. His winning time of 44.10 seconds saw him slicing half a second off his previous personal best. Ndori’s compatriot Leungo Scotch also went the fastest he’s ever been, finishing third in a new PB of 44.54.
PHOTO FINISH DETERMINES 200M TITLE – KIP KEINO CLASSIC
Another rising star from Botswana, Letsile Tebogo, was just beaten to the 200m title by American Courtney Lindsey. The 20-year-old looked to have just edged it on the line, but a photo finish revealed Lindsey’s dip had clinched him the victory. Both runners were credited with a time of 19.71 seconds.
WANYONYI ECLIPSES AROP’S WORLD LEAD – KIP KEINO CLASSIC
It didn’t take long for Marco Arop’s world lead in the 800m set at the first Diamond League meet of the season in China to be eclipsed. Just hours, in fact, as Kenyan Emmanuel Wanyoni went four-hundredths of a second quicker to secure a home victory in 1:43.57.