13 days after his first triumph at Letzigrund Stadium, Kariem Hussein, 400m h European champion, returned to the arena to improve his personal best once again. He ran 48.70, placing fourth in a field featuring the world’s best hurdlers.
Switzerland’s pole vaulter Nicole Büchler wowed her home crowd by breaking her own national record even twice in one competition. She jumped 4.67m (improving the record by 6cm). Her result puts her in fourth place in the European top list, and in seventh in the world 2014 top list.
The much anticipated men’s 800m race was won by world leader Nijel Amos of Botswana, who beat Kenya’s Olympic champion and world record holder David Rudisha, as well as Ayanleh Souleiman of Djibouti. In a gripping 3000m SC, Tunisian Habiba Ghribi set a new meeting record in 9:15.23, taking everyone by surprise with her win.
Kariem Hussein takes a lot of risk – and is rewarded with a new personal best
The very first highlight of the evening was the men’s 400m h race, which featured Switzerland’s new European champion Kariem Hussein. A little less than two weeks after the Zürich 2014 final, he went out fast in his race against the 400m hurdling elite of the world. He was the first to enter the home straight and even though he did have to pay for the incredible speed, he came in fourth, improving his lifetime best to 48.70. Behind him were both world champion Jehue Gordon (TRI; 5th) and two-time Olympic champion Felix Sanchez (DOM; 7sth). Cornel Fredericks (RSA) won the race in a new season’s best of 48.25, ahead of Diamond Race leader Michael Tinsley (USA) who clocked 48.31 and snatched the diamond trophy from world championship silver medallist Javier Culson of Puerto Rico, who placed third beating Hussein by only 17 hundredths.
Nicole Büchler sets new national record
Swiss pole vaulter Nicole Büchler (31) improved her own national record even twice during her competition: She first cleared 4.62m, improving the mark by 1 centimetre, and then went on to jump 4.67m, adding another 5cm. The result earned her a fifth place in a world-class field of athletes. A powerful answer to her failed attempt at winning a spot in the final at the Europeans two weeks ago! Four of her opponents jumped 4.67m, and only one athlete flew higher at Weltklasse Zürich 2014: The 33-year-old former world champion Fabiana Murer (BRA), who won with 4.72m, beating Olympic champion Jennifer Suhr (USA, 4.67m) into second place and winning a diamond.
Nijel Amos defeats Olympic champion David Rudisha
Nijel Amos of Botswana is only 20 years old. But in Zurich, he not only prevailed in a star-studded 800m race, he also won the diamond trophy! World record holder and Olympic champion David Rudisha (KEN) had been leading the Diamond Race, but still was not quite back to his former self after a long injury. He placed third, 3 hundredths behind Ayanleh Souleiman of Djibouti. Ethiopian world champion Mohammad Aman had to settle for eighth place, European champion Adam Kszczot (POL) came in seventh. The best European was Pierre-Ambroise Bosse (FRA; 5th). Bosse had failed to confirm his status as a top favourite at the Europeans, placing last in the final.
Kemar Bailey-Cole beating illustrious opponents
Until the 2014 season, Kemar Bailey-Cole was hardly known in Europe. But, he put himself on the map with a double win at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. And at Weltklasse Zürich, he beat some rather illustrious opponents in the 100m. Running into a slight headwind, he won in 9.96 – the only athlete with a sub 10-second result. He defeated US champion Michael Rodgers by 9 hundredths. British European champion James Dasaolu placed third (10.06), ahead of former world record holder Asafa Powell (JAM). Nesta Carter (JAM, 6th) and Tyson Gay (USA, 9th) both did not manage to get into their stride.
Another 4x100m fail for Team Switzerland
The Swiss women’s 4x100m relay team was not able to make up for their failed bid in the final at the Europeans, where Mujinga Kambundji had lost the baton right at the beginning of the race. At Weltklasse Zürich, it was Ellen Sprunger who did not manage to pass the baton to anchor Lea Sprunger. Another disappointment! The British European champions won again, setting a new national record of 42.21 and surprising the teams of the two leading sprint nations Jamaica and USA.
Thomas Röhler outshines javelin champions
At the Europeans, 22-year-old Thomas Röhler had placed 12th, but at Weltklasse Zürich, he managed to outshine all the javelin throw champions in the field. He threw a new personal best of 87.63m, won the competition, and a diamond! The list of those he defeated reads like the who’s who in javelin throw: Diamond Race leader Ihab Abdelrahman (EGY, 83.62m, 7th), European champion Antti Ruuskanen (FIN, 83.85m, 6th), world champion Vitezslav Vesely (CZE, 84.04m, 5th).
A win for Habiba Ghribi, a diamond for Hiwot Ayalew
30-year-old Habiba Ghribi (TUN), Olympic silver medallist in 2012 and world championship silver medallist in 2011, dominated the 3000m steeplechase race. She beat the two leaders in the Diamond Race, and her winning time of 9:15.23 represented a new meeting record and the fourth fastest time of the year. The diamond, however, went to runner-up Hiwot Ayalew (ETH, 24), who clocked 9:19.29 and beat Sofia Assefa (26) into third place. Assefa was not able to make up for her last race in Zurich, in which she had been disqualified on her way to a win.
A win and a diamond for Alonso Edward
It was a convincing performance: Running into a 0.9m/sec. headwind, the 24-year-old world championship silver medallist of 2009, Alonso Edward (PAN) won the men’s 200m in 19.95, taking the diamond trophy in the process. He beat Jamaican relay world champion Nickel Ashmeade by six hundredths in the race and by one single point in the overall ranking, which Ashmeade had lead by three points going into the final competition. Double silver medallist Christophe Lemaitre (FRA) came in fourth in 20.24.
Unstoppable LaShawn Merritt
LaShawn Merritt (USA, 28), 2008 Olympic champion, continued his winning streak in the 400m. He won the Zurich race in 44.36, ahead of his fellow countryman Gil Roberts (44.96). European champion Martyn Rooney (27) of Great Britain placed fourth in 45.10. After winning four IAAF Diamond League races and placing 2nd in a sixth, Merritt had already secured his diamond trophy going into the final in Zurich. His winning streak earned him an incredible 26 points in the overall ranking.
One win, one diamond
The opponents from overseas were too strong for Europe’s fastest sprinters. Double European champion Dafne Schippers (NED) ran 11.10, missing her lifetime best by only 7 hundredths, and also just missing the podium. Switzerland’s Mujinga Kambundji ran another strong race clocking 11.36. A single win in this season was enough for Veronica Campbell-Brown (JAM, 11.04) to collect a diamond. Olympic and world championship silver medallist Kerron Stewart (JAM) had been the top favourite for the overall win. She placed fifth, while 200m Olympic champion Allyson Felix came in seventh, just ahead of Kambundji.
Dawn Harper-Nelson wins, Queen Harrison falls
The duel between the two US hurdlers Queen Harrison and Dawn Harper-Nelson ended in favour of 30-year-old Harper-Nelson, 2008 Olympic champion and 2012 Olympic silver medallist. She won convincingly in 12.58 (running into a slight headwind), while Queen Harrison suffered a fall. Olympic champion Sally Pearson (AUS) came in second in 12.71. Young Swiss talent Noëmi Zbären (20) placed seventh in 13.12.
Leader Mariya Kuchina collects her diamond
European championship silver medallist Mariya Kuchina of Russia had lead the Diamond Race going into the final competition, and she secured her trophy with another win. She was the only athlete to clear 2m at Letzigrund Stadium. Six finalists of the Europeans were in the field, including champion Ruth Beitia (ESP). She jumped 1.93m, which earned her a third place behind Croatia’s Ana Simic.
A US one-two instead of a European duel
Two American runners took matters in their hands in a 1500m race which everyone had expected to end in another duel between Sifan Hassan (NED) and Abeba Aregawi (SWE). Former steeple runner Jennifer Simpson (27) won the race, one hundredth of a second ahead of her fellow countrywoman Shannon Rowbury. Simpson and Rowbury both broke the 4-minute barrier. Aregawi (8th) and Hassan (4th) were not able to collect the necessary points in the overall ranking, which Simpson won with 17 points.
Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku wards off Galen Rupp
As expected, Galen Rupp tried to challenge the runners of East Africa in the 5000m. Only towards the end of the race did 22-year-old Calep Mwangangi Ndiku of Kenya manage to secure the win in 12:07.01 and the diamond with 22 points. Rupp ended up placing third, behind world leader Muktar Edris (ETH, 20). Yenew Alamirew (ETH), who had led the Diamond Race going into the Diamond League final, placed twelfth.
Tianna Bartoletta defends her lead
By securing a second place in her second to last attempt (6.76m), world leader Tianna Bartoletta (USA, 29) defended her lead in the Diamond Race, just ahead of Ivana Spanovic who had scored as many points as her in the overall ranking. The Serbian won the competition with 6.80m. Swiss jumper Irene Pusterla treated her home crowd to a great performance, after she had missed the final at the Europeans. In her last attempt, Pusterla confirmed her season’s best of 6.65m and placed fourth. European champion Eloyse Lesueur (FRA) had to settle for 6.54m and an eighth place.
A diamond for Reese Hoffa, David Storl places second
The line-up in the men’s shot put was impressive. This time around, European champion David Storl had no answer for his challengers. US star Reese Hoffa threw the shot to a new season’s best of 21.88m and took the lead in the Diamond Race. Storl (24) threw 21.47m, 6cm farther than at the Europeans. But he still had to make do with the role of a runner-up. World leader Joe Kovacs (USA, 21.43m) placed third, Olympic champion Tomasz Majewski (POL, 20.47) seventh.
Christian Taylor defeats fellow countryman Will Claye
Former world champion Christian Tayler (USA, 24) won the men’s triple jump in his final attempt. His 17.51m also earned him a diamond, defeating his fellow countryman Will Claye (17.39, 3rd). 27-year-old European champion Benjamin Campaoré placed second, jumping 17.45m and missing his personal best by 1 centimetre. Local Alexander Hochuli was not able to excel this time: He placed ninth with 15.82m.
Unbeatable Sandra Perkovic
Sandra Perkovic (21), the first Croatian Olympic champion in athletics and 2014 European champion, could not be robbed of her trophy by anyone. And still, she gave her all in the IAAF Diamond League discus throw final, winning the competition ahead of 35-year-old Gia Lewis-Smallwood (USA) by more than a metre (68.36m). Lewis-Smallwood has been the only athlete to defeat Perkovic in this season so far.
Many Swiss talents in the Young Diamond's Challenge
Petra Fontanive (SUI) won the women’s 400m h race of the Young Diamond’s Challenge in 57.64. Fellow countrywoman Robine Schürman placed third in 59.14. Switzerland’s 800m talent Selina Büchel, however, was not able to confirm her form: She came in sixth in 2:03.70. The race was won by Sanne Verstegen of the Netherlands. European championship semi-finalist Lisa Urech was disqualified after a false start in the 100m h; Nadine Visser (NED) won the race in 13.11. In the men’s 200m, Bastien Mouthon provided the best Swiss result with 21.10 and a fifth place. Pierre Vincent of France won comfortably in 20.54.
American Barbara Pierre won the 100m warm-up race in 11.15, while Lea Sprunger, member of the Swiss 4x100m, clocked 11.56. The men’s 100m B-race featured an impressive line-up, which included 20-year-old Chijindu Ujah (GBR) who won in 10.16, and Churandy Martina (NED, 10.18), ten years Ujah’s senior, who came in second.
31 August, 2014
