If you're searching for my usual negative critique of the DL system, look beyond Rome!!
This year's edition of the Golden Gala produced a strong and steady number of impressive marks!
And none were better than the Men's 200!!
Michael Norman was stepping down from his Mt 400 to duel with the entertaining Noah Lyles on his native turf--the half lap!!
Both stormed out with the gun around the bend,as even as could be!
Coming into the straight, Lyles used his muscle power to inch ahead.
But Norman was strongest at the end, his full lap endurance bringing him to the line inches ahead of Lyles--and with a better lean!
The numbers speak for themselves!
19.70 for Norman!!
19.72 for Lyles!!
For the USC Pro, it was a PR by 0.14, and gave him the Rome Meet Record!
It improved his Combined Events total for the 100-200-400 to 1:13.42!
He's 2nd on both the World and US C-E lists!
He moves from 15th A-T US to 8th!
And it makes him 12th A-T World!!
But it was the majesty of the race itself that spoke loudest!!
The Men's 5000 and the Women's 1500 were rock solid steamers!
There was still a pack of 7 or 8 runners with 2 laps to go in the 5K!
While Ben True was running a good race, the African contigent was dominant---again!!
When the tape was reached, it was Talkama Halle winning in 12:52.98!
Selemon Barega was right behind in 12:53.04!
Hagos Gebrhiwet was next in 12:54.02!
In 6th came Mo Ahmed, his 12:58.16 making him the Canada National Record holder, and the first to go under 13 minutes!!
True finished in 13:09.81!
Jenny Simpson ran her first race of the season, her 4:01.18 making her the US leader!
But she didn't win!
That accolade was left to the inimitable Genzebe Dibaba, who seemed as good as she was a few years ago, when she broke several World Records INdoors and OUTdoors!
She took the lead even before the rabbit left the track!!
Laura Muir went with her, but a bit late, and Genzebe sprinted to a W time of 3:56.28!
Muir sprinted hard, but her 3:56.73 fell short!!
Degefa Tsegay dipped under 4:00 to take 3rd!
Simpson was 4th, but looked good!
Canada's Gabby Stafford ended just behind Simpson in 4:01.28!1
Then came the 7th placer--and she shocked!!
Elinor Purrier, who began her starred Collegiate career as a Steeplechaser, ran a swift 4:02.34!!
She is suddenly 14th A-T American!!!
The Women's PV had all the usual suspects from across the globe!!
Including the sudden;y prolific and Record setting Swede--Angelica Bengtsson!!
Seems a long time ago now, but she was a star in her teens, but is now a seasoned Pro!!
And she Won!!1
Her 15-7.25 broke her own National Record!
But in back of her came FIVE Women who all cleared 15-3.50!!
They were Katie Nageotte, Ekaterina Stefanidi, Yaraslaey Silva, Robelys Peinado, and Sandi Morris!1
Jenn Suhr??
She was there, but No Heighted!!!
As for Bengtsson, it makes her 22nd A-T World, tied with 4 others!!
Another good sprint showdown saw Elaine Thompson return to form, her 10.89 beating Dina Asher-Smith's 10.96!!
Welcome home, ET!!
LOL
As you know, Rai Benjamin decided to compete for the United States earlier this year!1
So while his 47.02 from 2018 in the 400H doesn't count as a US mark, his 47.58 in Rome does!!
This makes him 10th A-T US!!
He won without breaking a sweat!
BTW, this also gets him onto my C-E list for the US in the 400-400H category!1
His times of 44.31 & 47.58 adds to 1:31.89, tying him with 1 other for 3rd place!!
Delilah Muhammed ran 53.63 in the 400H to turn back Shamier Little's 54.41.
The Women LJ'ers had a good time in the sand!
Malaika Mihambo emrged the winner with the first 7 meter jump of the year!
Her 23-2.50 leap prevailed over Caterine Ibarguen's 22-6.50!
Brittney Reese--who threw out a couple of windy 23 footers recently (See previous post!), could fly just 22-2.50 in 3rd!!
But it was legal!
Donavan Brazier's 1L43.63 win the race, and gave him the World lead!
He beat Nijel Amos's 1:43.65!!
Brandon McBride ran a good 1:43.90 in 3rd!
Omar Craddock beat PPPP (aka Pablo Pedro Pichardo) in the TJ, his 57-5 edging Pichardo's 57-2.75!
But in third came Donald Scott his PR of 57-2.50
This moves him from 16th A-T US, tied with 1 other, to 16th, but no ties!
Two familar names won their events--Bogdan Bondarenko HJ'ing 7-7, and Sergey Shubenkov doing the 110H in 13.26!!
Ben Kigen took the 3000SC in 8:06.13, with Andy Bayer of the US running 8:14.52!
But where is Evan Jager??
Finally (from Rome!), Konrad Bukowiecki threw the SP out 72-1 for an OUTdoor PR!!
But he misses the World list by 4.25 inches!!
Darrell Hill threw 71-2.50, and Darian Romani ended with 71-1.25!
In a Prague meet, Tobi Amusan's 12.71 beat newbie Professional Tia Jones's 12.86 in the 100H!!
In Road races, Mo Farah won a British 10K in 28:15!
At the NY 10K for Women, Sara Hall edged Stephanie Bruce in 32:27!!
Were you as impressed with the Rome results as I was??
Yes, the DL format is piss poor!
But they do occasionally rise above the stink!
And this year's Golden Gala proved to be the exception to the rule!!
One last thing!!
My NCAA reports (one for each sex) will follow soon, but I wanted to be one of the first to announce that Mondo Duplantis has decided to limit his Collegiate career to one season!!
He's turning Professional!
(Of course, the Sedish--and European!--system is different than the US, as athletes are essentially ALWAYS Pro's, whether in a European school of not!1
But for NCAA purposes, his turning Pro means he can't compete for LSU after the conclusion of the NCAA Championships!!
Good luck to you, Armand!!
See you soon with my NCAA detailed reports!!
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