Despite rainy conditions at the beginning of the evening, last night’s meeting at a sold-out Letzigrund Stadium quickly evolved into a fantastic night of athletics and an exciting experience for 25,000 cheerful stadium visitors.
To Botswana’s Isaac Makwala, the Weltklasse Zürich 400m were particularly special: He had missed out on the world championships final in London due to a virus. Last night, he won in 43.95, with a convincing lead of 0.59, defeating Gil Roberts (USA). And just as after the 200m in London, he underlined his health and top form with some push-ups right behind the finishing line.
British running legend Mo Farah (34) successfully took revenge for his narrow defeat against Muktar Edris (ETH, 23) in London, beating both Edris and Paul Chelimo (USA, 27) by a tiny 0.04. The result of his final track race: 13:06.05. 0.09 seconds later, Edris’ fellow citizen Yomif Kejelcha already concluded his race, as well.
The Zurich 3000m SC proved too fast for the US American world champion Emma Coburn (26). Her African colleagues set out a dizzying pace, and in the end, Olympic champion Ruth Jebet (Bahrain) beat Coburn – who came in fourth – by nearly 20 seconds.
Best 2017 race for Kariem Hussein
Swiss star Kariem Hussein, a member of the local track club LC Zürich, ran his race of the year, after placing eighth in the London final. Clocking 48.45 – a new personal best – he came in third in the star-studded field of the 400m h. Kyron McMaster (IVB) and world champion Karsten Warholm were the only ones who could beat Hussein in his home arena. To the 2014 European champion, «home advantage» is not an empty term: «I get to relive the 2014 championships every year at Letzigrund Stadium,» he said, thanking the crowd for their support.
20-year-old Kyron McMaster (IVB) probably took the most impressive post-world championship revenge. He had been disqualified in the London heats, but last night, he claimed the title in the IAAF Diamond League, winning the race in 48.07. New world champion Karsten Warholm went out fast as always, improved his own national record – but still ended up coming in second. London silver and bronze medallists Kerron Clement (USA, 32) and Yasmani Copello (TUR, 30), had to settle for places four and five.
In the women’s race, the other Swiss 400m h star, Léa Sprunger (27), fifth in London, did not quite run the time she might have wanted. But she, too, placed third, behind former world champion and increasingly strong Zuzana Hejnova (CZE, 30, 54.13), and Olympic silver medallist Sara Peterson (DEN, 30). Clocking the same time as Léa Sprunger – 54.66 – Zurich’s Petra Fontanive (29) bowed out of her athletics career with a fourth place.
Seven world champions prevail
17 world champions competed in the post-championship showdown in Zurich, but only seven managed to win again. Five out of eight champions’ duels were won by the Olympic gold medallists. And another five out of nine 2016 Weltklasse Zürich winners repeated their triumph this year, including pole vaulter Sam Kendricks (USA), javelin thrower Jakub Vadlejch (CZE), Caster Semenya (RSA) in the 800m, Ruth Jebet in the 3000m SC, and the Jamaican 4x100m squad.
The Swiss national team placed fourth in the prestigious 4x100m Zurich Trophy.
British sprinter Chijindu Ujah (23) won the men’s 100m in 9.97, narrowly beating Youssef Meité (CIV). In the women’s 200m, 400m Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH, 23) came in first in 21.88. She defeated both 200m Olympic champion Elaine Thompson (22.00), and world champion Dafne Schippers (NED, 25), who had to make do with fourth place for once. Switzerland’s Mujinga Kambundji (25) came in sixth in 22.71, a quite convincing result.
High jump world champion Mutaz Essa Barshim (QAT, 26) continued his 2017 winning streak. He was the only athlete to clear 2.36m, defeating world championship silver medallist Majd Eddin Ghazal (SYR, 30) by 5cm.
Sam Kendricks (USA, 25) celebrated a similarly comfortable win in the men’s pole vault. There was no duel with fellow 2016 winner and Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie (31) unfortunately, as the French star failed to clear the opening height of 5.63m. Kendricks won the competition in 5.87m.
In the women’s javelin, the 2016 Olympic champion could not outdo the new world champion: Barbora Spotakova (CZE, 36) launched her javelin to 65.54m, defeating Sara Kolak (CRO, 22, 64.47m), who placed third at Letzigrund Stadium.
An extremely narrow win by world champion Sally Pearson (AUS, 31) was the outcome of an exciting 100m h race. With 12.55, she outfought Sharika Nelvis (USA, 27) by a millisecond.
