PARIS, FRANCE, June 28 — The women at the Meeting de Paris produced just as much heat as the men, if not more. The first running event of the day amply demonstrated that, thanks to Swiss phenom Audrey Werro.
The 22-year-old breakout star, who stunned with her 1:53.98 in Stockholm 3 weeks earlier, set out in an announced attempt at the World Record of 1:53.28 that has stood for 43 years. The race came just 5 days after she ran a European Record 1:22.85 for 600.
Werro followed pacer Myrte van der Schoot, who passed 200 in 26.8 and 400 in 55.35. That put her ahead of Jarmila Kratochvílová’s 56.1 split. Femke Broeders-Bol attempted to stay close, with Anaïs Bourgoin in 4th. On her own after 500, Werro pushed hard, passing 600 in 1:25.27. On the turn she maintained her form, while Bourgoin challenged Broeders-Bol.
On the final stretch, a grim-faced Werro kept chasing, but in the end, the wave lights won. She crossed in 1:53.80, a DL Record, Swiss Record and world leader, but still 0.52 off Kratochvílová’s mark. She tightened her hold on the No. 3 spot in history.
Bourgoin got ahead of Broeders-Bol on the stretch, but the Dutch star fought back before the line, 1:55.60–1:55.65.
“I was a little bit late at 600,” analyzed Werro. “I tried to catch up to the green lights, but it was hard. We cannot have a delay in such a race. Next time I have to stay with the lights.
“I was not expecting to run this fast this season,” she added. “These recent performances have really given me hope and built my confidence to what is coming next.”
Said Broeders-Bol, “It’s crazy now I am running a race in 1:55 and skipped the 1:56 straight away. It was an amazing race.”
Until the script changes, it looks like Marileidy Paulino owns the 400 in ’26. The Olympic champion, undefeated thus far in the season, was, as usual, content to let others do the early leading. This time it was Lieke Klaver of the Netherlands and Lurdes Gloria Manuel of Czechia.
Coming around the final turn, that’s where Paulino moves in for the kill. She quickly moved to the lead and ran away to a DL Record 48.48, the fastest time in the world this season. Klaver faded and Manuel grabbed 2nd in 49.37, with Jamaica’s Stacy Ann Williams (49.51) and Klaver (49.97) next.
“This is pivotal to being able to achieve my goal of running under 48 this season,” said Paulino. “I do not know when it will happen — whether tomorrow or by the end of the season — but it will happen.”
As with the men’s race, the women’s hurdle field was strong enough — and big enough — to require heats. WR holder Tobi Amusan took the first in 12.39 ahead of Nadine Visser (12.44). The second went to Alaysha Johnson (12.42) ahead of Grace Stark (12.51).
In the final, Amusan caught a poor start and had to dig herself out of a hole. At halfway, there were still 3 ahead of her, with Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska leading. The tables turned quickly, with the Pole imploding as Amusan charged into the lead and took the win in 12.28, tying her season best. Stark, who had held 2nd at mid-race, clawed her way back to that spot in the final steps to run 12.38 ahead of Johnson (12.39) and Visser (12.41).
“My approach to the hurdles varies,” explained Amusan. “Sometimes, you are thinking what has just happened. On other days, it is really sloppy and I still come out and run past a time. I try to take a shot at every race.”
In the 1500, the final women’s race of the evening, Jessica Hull placed herself behind the rabbit, with Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu and Britain’s Georgia Hunter Bell staking out spots in the lead pack that followed a torrid 61.88/2:05.33 pace. Hull took over when the rabbit dropped, leading at 1200 in 3:09.74.
Hailu and Hunter Bell flew past on the backstretch. On the final straight, it was the Briton who had the better sprint, taking the win in 3:55.63 to Hailu’s 3:55.92. Agathe Guillemot got past Hull for 3rd in a French Record 3:56.24, with Hull 4th at 3:57.22.
On the field, Canadian shot putter Sarah Mitton passed Yemisi Mabry of Germany in round 3 to take the win with her 65-7 (19.99). Mabry, who had started out at 64-10¾ (19.78), improved to 65-4¾ (19.93) in that stanza, with frustrated world leader Jessica Schilder getting her best of 65-3¼ (19.89).
Mitton wasn’t entirely happy with her performance: “I am chasing a bit too much, just need to learn to relax and just let it happen. You always want it so much more and sometimes the more you want it the less you have it.”
Angelica Moser of Switzerland passed vault leader Eliza McCartney and clinched the win when she cleared 15-7¾ (4.77). McCartney ended up 2nd at 15-5 (4.70), the same height as Nina Kennedy. Emily Grove tied for 4th with Tina Šutej at 15-1 (4.60). Gabriela Leon in 6th also cleared that height.
It didn’t end well for Moser; a pole mishap on her last jump at 16-¾ (4.90) left her with an injured foot: “It was a good competition. It’s just sad it had to end like this.”
Another huge throw for Chinese teen Ziyi Yan locked up the javelin quickly. She threw her winning 221-3 (67.44) on her opening toss. Japan’s Olympic champion Haruka Kitaguchi managed a 206-8 (63.01). Yan took just two more throws, a foul and a 198-7 (60.52). Serbia’s Adriana Vilagoš moved to the runner-up spot with her 209-5 (63.83) in round 2.
PARIS DL WOMEN’S RESULTS
400: 1. Marileidy Paulino (DR) 48.48 (WL);
2. Lurdes Gloria Manuel (CzR) 49.37 PR; 3. Stacey-Ann Williams (Jam) 49.51; 4. Lieke Klaver (Neth) 49.97; 5. Sharlene Mawdsley (Ire) 50.06 PR; 6. Roxana Gómez (Cub) 50.07; 7. Natalia Bukowiecka (Pol) 50.81.
800: 1. Audrey Werro (Swi) 1:53.80 NR (WL) (3, 3 W);
2. Femke Bol-Broeders (Neth) 1:55.60 PR; 3. Anaïs Bourgoin (Fra) 1:55.65 NR; 4. Prudence Sekgodiso (SA) 1:56.83 PR; 5. Renelle Lamote (Fra) 1:56.93 PR; 6. Sarah Billings (Aus) 1:57.01 NR;… 9. Roisin Willis (US) 1:58.66.
1500: 1. Georgia Hunter Bell (GB) 3:55.63; 2. Freweyni Hailu (Eth) 3:55.92; 3. Agathe Guillemot (Fra) 3:56.24 NR; 4. Jessica Hull (Aus) 3:57.22 (3:09.74); 5. Abbey Caldwell (Aus) 3:57.59; 6. Nelly Jepkosgei (Bhr) 3:57.61 PR; 7. Patrícia Silva (Por) 3:58.74 PR.
100H(0.7): 1. Tobi Amusan (Ngr) 12.28; 2. Grace Stark (US) 12.38; 3. Alaysha Johnson (US) 12.39; 4. Nadine Visser (Neth) 12.41; 5. Pia Skrzyszowska (Pol) 12.46; 6. Rayniah Jones (US) 12.60; 7. Demisha Roswell (Jam) 12.78; 8. Megan Simmonds (Jam) 12.92.
Field Events
PV: 1. Angelica Moser (Swi) 15-7¾ (4.77); 2. Eliza McCartney (NZ) 15-5 (4.70); 3. Nina Kennedy (Aus) 15-5; 4. tie, Emily Grove (US) & Tina Šutej (Slo) 15-1 (4.60); 6. Gabriela Leon (US) 15-1 (4.60);… 10. Brynn King (US) 14-7¼ (4.45).
SP: 1. Sarah Mitton (Can) 65-7 (19.99); 2. Yemisi Mabry (Ger) 65-4¾ (19.93); 3. Jessica Schilder (Neth) 65-2¾ (19.88); 4. Axelina Johansson (Swe) 63-2 (19.25); 5. Fanny Roos (Swe) 62-10¾ (19.17); 6. Danniel Thomas-Dodd (Jam) 61-11½ (18.88).
JT: 1. Ziyi Yan (Chn) 221-3 (67.44); 2. Adriana Vilagoš (Ser) 209-5 (63.83); 3. Haruka Kitaguchi (Jpn) 206-8 (63.01); 4. Alizee Minard (Fra) 201-9 (61.51) PR; 5. Flor Denis Ruiz (Col) 200-10 (61.23).
