Rabat, Morocco, July 13—Christian Coleman bounced back after taking 6 weeks off to rest a sore hammy and beat a top trio of fellow U.S. sprinters to the line in the 100 to emphasize that he’s still in good enough shape to chase some fast times outdoors this summer.
Ronnie Baker was into his running the quickest at the Mohammed VI meet and had a marginal lead at 30m, but Coleman gradually got on level terms before edging out the man who was the World Indoor 60 silver medalist behind him in Birmingham back in March. Both men were given 9.98s (Coleman 9.972, Baker 9.978), running into a slight 0.4 wind, with fast-closing USATF champion Noah Lyles 3rd in 9.99 and Mike Rodgers 4th in 10.01.
“It was a perfect night for me, good race and good time. I couldn’t be happier,” said the indoor 60 WR-holder, who skipped the Oslo and Stockholm DL meets in June after suffering losses to Baker in Eugene and Rome at the end of May.
He added, “I am not so surprised to win in my first race [back], even with such a great field, because I was very fast in practice the last few days. When I was injured, I managed to stay in good condition.” Having apparently rehabbed completely, next on Coleman’s agenda is getting closer to his 9.82 PR from last year.
He was one of 3 U.S. winners at the only DL meet in Africa and one whose future might be in jeopardy if, as has been rumored, the bloated DL circuit is slimmed down or rejigged in the next year or so.
Christina Manning was the quickest away in the women’s 100 hurdles but by the seventh barrier Brianna McNeal and Sharika Nelvis on her outside were alongside her and moving faster. Olympic champ McNeal came through to win her 3rd DL race of the year in an MR 12.51 with Nelvis 2nd in 12.58 and Manning completing a U.S. trifecta in 12.72.
Sam Kendricks made clearing 19-2¾ (5.86) look very easy in sailing over that height with plenty to spare before deciding to call it a day. “I beat the meet record, then I decided to retire. Sometimes victory is enough, and you do not need to jump higher,” said the reigning world champ. One of the reasons for Kendricks not attempting anything higher after getting win No. 9 in 13 outings this summer was that he was jumping in London 2 days later. “I will arrive to London only 12 hours before the competition. It’s tough, but it’s the life of an athlete and I still enjoy it.”
Three men got over 19-¼ (5.80) with Poland’s ’11 world champion Paweł Wojciechowski holding the advantage thanks to a first-time clearance while Kendricks and new Russian find Timur Morgunov went over with their second attempts. However, when the bar went up to the next height, Kendricks cleared on his second attempt and neither of his rivals could match him. Surprisingly, Renaud Lavillenie could do no better than his opening height of 17-10½ (5.45).
Jamaica’s 20-year-old NCAA 400 runner-up Akeem Bloomfield impressed in his first ever DL meeting, the Auburn student winning in a meet record of 44.33, the second-best time of his career after his sensational 43.94 in Eugene.
Shaunae Miller-Uibo is no slouch over one lap of the track either but in Rabat the ’16 OG 400 winner dropped down to 200. Dina Asher-Smith led into the home straight but the Georgia alum went through the gears in the final 50m and went past U.S. champion Jenna Prandini and then Britain’s ’16 European gold medalist over the distance. The victory, in a meet record 22.29, continued the Bahamian’s unbeaten streak over all distances this season while Asher-Smith was 2nd in 22.40 and Prandini 3rd in 22.60.
Hellen Obiri won an exciting women’s 5000 which saw 5 in contention at the bell before the Kenyan ’17 WC winner came home in a 14:21.75 WL, the 13th quickest ever. Behind her, Sifan Hassan hung onto Obiri for almost 300m when Obiri hit the front just after the bell and was rewarded with a 14:22.34, breaking her own Dutch NR by almost 20 seconds.
Another Kenyan to produce a world-leading mark in Rabat was 3000 steeplechaser Benjamin Kigen. Concentrating on 800 and 1500 until late in the ’17 season and only in his second year on the international circuit, the 25-year-old soldier had advertised that he was now a runner to pay attention to when he won in Eugene in a PR of 8:09.07 and he improved by almost 3 seconds on that time in Rabat winning in 8:06.19. By contrast, compatriot Conseslus Kipruto suffered back problems almost immediately after the gun and the reigning Olympic and world champion finished down in 12th in 8:27.36.
Another London ’17 gold medalist who will remember Rabat only for bad reasons was Mariya Lasitskene. The high jumper’s impressive 45-meet winning streak, which had stretched back more than 2 years, came to an end when she failed to go higher than 6-2¾ (1.90). “I had no problem, no injuries, it was just a bad day, these things happen,” reflected the Russian glumly. Bulgaria’s Mirela Demireva found a first-time clearance at 6-4¼ (1.94) sufficient for a surprise victory.
Top marks in the field also came from Colombian tripler Caterine Ibargüen who bounded out to a world-leading 49-1 (14.96) while Magnus Kirt got his third Estonian NR in 6 weeks when he flung his javelin out to 294-5 (89.75).
Caster Semenya’s attempt on the long-standing 1000 WR—2:28.98 by Russia’s Svetlana Masterkova in ’96—unravelled between 500 & 700m but the South African still clocked 2:31.01 to go to No. 6 on the all-time list for the non-championship event.
RABAT DL MEN’S RESULTS
Meeting Mohammed VI; Rabat, Morocco, July 13—
100(-0.4): 1. Christian Coleman (US) 9.98 (9.972); 2. Ronnie Baker (US) 9.98 (9.978); 3. Noah Lyles (US) 9.99; 4. Mike Rodgers (US) 10.01; 5. Reece Prescod (GB) 10.09; 6. Chijindu Ujah (GB) 10.19; 7. Yoshihide Kiryu (Jpn) 10.20; 8. Arthur Gue Cissé (CI) 10.22; 9. Abdullah Abkar Mohammed (Sau) 10.30.
400: 1. Akeem Bloomfield (Jam) 44.33; 2. Abdalelah Haroun (Qat) 44.69; 3. Matthew Hudson-Smith (GB) 44.79;
4. Luguelín Santos (DR) 44.80; 5. Paul Dedewo (US) 44.82; 6. Michael Cherry (US) 45.40.
1500: 1. Brahim Kaazouzi (Mor) 3:33.22 PR; 2. Filip Ingebrigtsen (Nor) 3:33.40; 3. Ayanleh Souleiman (Dji) 3:33.42; 4. Jakub Holuša (CzR) 3:33.80; 5. Charles Da’Vall Grice (GB) 3:34.20; 6. Ryan Gregson (Aus) 3:34.38; 7. Aman Wote (Eth) 3:34.39 (2:51.85); 8. Charles Simotwo (Ken) 3:34.75; 9. Marcin Lewandowski (Pol) 3:35.06;
10. Matthew Centrowitz (US) 3:35.17 (AL);
11. Hicham Oueladha (Mor) 3:35.35 PR; 12. Youness Essalhi (Mor) 3:36.28; 13. Taresa Tolosa (Eth) 3:38.53;… dnf—Fouad El Kaam (Mor);… rabbit—Mounir Akbache (Fra) (55.36, 58.12 [1:53.48]).
3000: 1. Yomif Kejelcha (Eth) 7:32.93 (WL);
2. Birhanu Yemataw (Bhr) 7:34.26 PR; 3. Stewart McSweyn (Aus) 7:34.79 PR;
4. Paul Chelimo (US) 7:34.83 (AL) (5:07.90);
5. Muktar Edris (Eth) 7:36.13; 6. Hagos Gebrhiwet (Eth) 7:36.49; 7. Ryan Hill (US) 7:36.81; 8. Eric Jenkins (US) 7:38.19 PR; 9. Soufiyan Bouqantar (Mor) 7:39.42;
10. Cyrus Rutto (Ken) 7:42.53; 11. Bethwel Birgen (Ken) 7:42.72; 12. Abadi Hadis (Eth) 7:42.83; 13. Hicham Akankam (Mor) 7:51.09 PR; 14. Mouhcine Outalha (Mor) 7:51.55 PR; 15. Stephen Kissa (Uga) 7:54.32 PR; 16. Mohammed Abid (Mor) 8:07.67;… dnf—Abdelaati Iguider (Mor);… rabbit—Jesus Gomez (Spa) (2:30.51).
St: 1. Benjamin Kigen (Ken) 8:06.19 PR (WL);
2. Chala Beyo (Eth) 8:07.27 PR; 3. Soufiane El Bakkali (Mor) 8:09.58 (5:26.06); 4. Hillary Bor (US) 8:12.20; 5. Matt Hughes (Can) 8:13.13; 6. Abraham Kibiwot (Ken) 8:14.35; 7. Ibrahim Ezzaydouny (Mor) 8:14.62 PR; 8. Nicholas Bett (Ken) 8:17.83; 9. Fernando Carro (Spa) 8:19.30 PR; 10. Amos Kirui (Ken) 8:20.00; 11. Mohammed Tindoufti (Mor) 8:21.13; 12. Conseslus Kipruto (Ken) 8:27.36; 13. Cleophas Kandie (Ken) 8:27.57 PR;… rabbit—Mounaime Sassioui (Mor) (2:38.63).
Field Events
PV: 1. Sam Kendricks (US) 19-2¾ (5.86) (17-10½, 18-4½, 18-8¼, 19-¼ [2], 19-2¾ [2]) (5.45, 5.60, 5.70, 5.80 [2], 5.86 [2]); 2. Paweł Wojciechowski (Pol) 19-¼ (5.80) (18-4½ [2], 18-8¼ [3], 19-¼, 19-2¾ [xx], 19-5 [x]) (5.60 [2], 5.70 [3], 5.80, 5.86 [xx], 5.92 [x]);
3. Timur Morgunov (Rus) 19-¼ (5.80); 4. Shawnacy Barber (Can) 18-4½ (5.60); 5. Thiago Braz (Bra) 18-4½; 6. tie, Konstadínos Filippídis (Gre) & Bokai Huang (Chn) 18-4½; 8. tie, Scott Houston (US), Renaud Lavillenie (Fra) & Kurtis Marschall (Aus) 17-10½ (5.45).
Non-DL LJ: 1. Tajay Gayle (Jam) 26-6½ (8.09) (26-3½, 26-5, 26-2¾, 25-8¼, 26-1¾, 26-6½) (8.01, 8.05, 7.99, 7.83, 7.97, 8.09); 2. Marquis Dendy (US) 26-5 (8.05) (24-3¾, 25-2, f, 24-7¼, f, 26-5) (7.41, 7.67, f, 7.50, f, 8.05); 3. Jarrion Lawson (US) 26-4¼ (8.03) (25-8, 25-6¼, 26-3, f, 26-¼, 26-4¼) (7.82, 7.78, 8.00, f, 7.93, 8.03);
4. Thobias Nilsson Montler (Swe) 25-9¼ (7.85); 5. Ignisious Gaisah (Hol) 25-7½ (7.81); 6. Zarck Visser (SA) 25-6¾ (7.79); 7. Yahya Berrabah (Mor) 25-6¼ (7.78).
JT: 1. Magnus Kirt (Est) 294-5 (89.75) NR (19, x W) (278-2, 273-11, 273-10, 277-1, f, 294-5) (84.80, 83.50, 83.47, 84.46, f, 89.75); 2. Andreas Hofmann (Ger) 290-7 (88.58) (285-9, 290-7, f, f, 259-9, f) (87.11, 88.58, f, f, 79.17, f);
3. Jakub Vadlejch (CzR) 279-10 (85.31); 4. Thomas Röhler (Ger) 279-6 (85.19); 5. Neeraj Chopra (Ind) 273-4 (83.32); 6. Ahmed Bader Magour (Qat) 273-3 (83.30); 7. Keshorn Walcott (Tri) 273-2 (83.26); 8. Andrian Mardare (Mol) 266-8 (81.28); 9. Rolands Štrobinders (Lat) 259-1 (78.96).
RABAT DL WOMEN WOMEN’S RESULTS
200(-0.5): 1. Shaunae Miller-Uibo (Bah) 22.29; 2. Dina Asher-Smith (GB) 22.40; 3. Jenna Prandini (US) 22.60;
4. Gabby Thomas (US) 22.70; 5. Murielle Ahouré (CI) 22.70; 6. Jodie Williams (GB) 23.26; 7. Blessing Okagbare (Ngr) 23.42; 8. Shashalee Forbes (Jam) 23.51.
800: 1. Francine Niyonsaba (Bur) 1:57.90 (1:27.89); 2. Natoya Goule (Jam) 1:58.33; 3. Rabab Arrafi (Mor) 1:58.84; 4. Margaret Wambui (Ken) 1:59.09; 5. Emily Jerotich (Ken) 1:59.19; 6. Malika Akkaoui (Mor) 1:59.27; 7. Lynsey Sharp (GB) 1:59.86; 8. Laura Roesler (US) 2:00.56; 9. Eunice Sum (Ken) 2:03.51;… rabbit—Bianka Kéri (Hun) (56.88).
Non-DL 1000: 1. Caster Semenya (SA) 2:31.01 PR (WL) (6, 10 W) (2:01.84);
2. Ce’aira Brown (US) 2:35.85 PR (AL) (8, x A); 3. Kaela Edwards (US) 2:36.13 PR (9, x A);
4. Winnie Nanyondo (Uga) 2:36.13 PR; 5. Nelly Jepkosgei (Ken) 2:37.41; 6. Sanne Wolters-Verstegen (Hol) 2:37.49 PR; 7. Winny Chebet (Ken) 2:37.82; 8. Esther Guerrero (Spa) 2:37.85 PR; 9. Siham Hilali (Mor) 2:41.17 PR; 10. Eglay Nalyanya (Ken) 2:41.19 PR;… rabbit—Chrishuna Williams (US) (59.55).
5000: 1. Hellen Obiri (Ken) 14:21.75 (WL) (11:37.71); 2. Sifan Hassan (Hol) 14:22.34 NR (7, x W); 3. Letesenbet Gidey (Eth) 14:23.14 PR (8, x W); 4. Senbere Teferi (Eth) 14:23.33 PR (9, x W) (8:41.15);
5. Agnes Tirop (Ken) 14:24.24 PR; 6. Genzebe Dibaba (Eth) 14:42.98; 7. Eilish McColgan (GB) 14:52.83; 8. Caroline Kipkirui (Ken) 14:55.63; 9. Dominique Scott Efurd (SA) 15:11.65; 10. Molly Huddle (US) 15:21.24; 11. Rina Nabeshima (Jpn) 15:27.54; 12. Steph Twell (GB) 15:36.45; … dnf—Meraf Bahta (Swe);… rabbit—Eva Cherono (Ken) (2:51.58, 5:49.39).
(best-ever mark-for-place: 3–5)
100H(0.1): 1. Brianna McNeal (US) 12.51; 2. Sharika Nelvis (US) 12.58; 3. Christina Manning (US) 12.72; 4. Dawn Harper Nelson (US) 12.86; 5. Tobi Amusan (Ngr) 12.87; 6. Cindy Roleder (Ger) 12.87; 7. Pamela Dutkiewicz (Ger) 12.89; 8. Yanique Thompson (Jam) 12.93; 9. Eefje Boons (Hol) 13.32.
Field Events
HJ: 1. Mirela Demireva (Bul) 6-4¼ (1.94) (6-¾, 6-2¾, 6-4¼, 6-7½ [xxx]) (1.85, 1.90, 1.94, 2.02 [xxx]); 2. Yuliya Levchenko (Ukr) 6-4¼ (5-10¾, 6-¾, 6-2¾, 6-4¼ [2], 6-5½ [xxx]) (1.80, 1.85, 1.90, 1.94 [2], 1.97 [xxx]);
3. tie, Mariya Lasitskene (Rus) & Kateryna Tabashnyk (Ukr) 6-2¾ (1.90) (Lasitskene win streak ends at 45); 5. Morgan Lake (GB) 6-2¾ (1.90); 6. Sofie Skoog (Swe) 6-2¾; 7. tie, Marie-Laurence Jungfleisch (Ger) & Oksana Okuneva (Ukr) 6-2¾; 9. Levern Spencer (StL) 6-2¾.
TJ: 1. Caterine Ibargüen (Col) 49-1 (14.96) (WL) (48-2¾, 48-3¼, 47-8, 47-3, 49-1, 48-11) (14.70, 14.71, 14.53, 14.40, 14.96, 14.91);
2. Kim Williams (Jam) 47-5¾ (14.47) (47-5¼, f, f, f, 47-5¾, 47-¼) (14.46, f, f, f, 14.47, 14.33); 3. Tori Franklin (US) 47-3¾ (14.42) (46-1¼, 47-3¾, 46-8¼, 46-10, 46-6¾, f) (14.05, 14.42, 14.23, 14.27, 14.19, f); 4. Gabriela Petrova (Bul) 47-3 (14.40); 5. Nubia Soares (Bra) 46-11 (14.30); 6. Ana Peleteiro (Spa) 46-10¾ (14.29); 7. Elena Andreea Panţuroiu (Rom) 46-5¼ (14.15); 8. Olga Rypakova (Kaz) 45-4½ (13.83); 9. Rouguy Diallo (Fra) 44-9¾ (13.66).
SP: 1. Christina Schwanitz (Ger) 63-7¾ (19.40) (63-7¾, 62-8½, 63-2¾, 63-3½, f, f) (19.40, 19.11, 19.27, 19.29, f, f); 2. Aliona Dubitskaya (Blr) 63-¼ (19.21) PR (60-11¼, 63-¼, 60-11¼, f, 60-4½, f) (18.57, 19.21, 18.57, f, 18.40, f);
3. Valerie Adams (NZ) 62-1¼ (18.93) (60-6½, 60-3¾, 61-8¼, f, 62-1¼, f) (18.45, 18.38, 18.80, f, 18.93, f); 4. Raven Saunders (US) 60-8¾ (18.51) (57-9½, f, 60-8¾, f, f, 60-1¾) (17.61, f, 18.51, f, f, 18.33);
5. Brittany Crew (Can) 59-10½ (18.25); 6. Jessica Ramsey (US) 59-7½ (18.17); 7. Fanny Roos (Swe) 59-3 (18.06); 8. Danniel Thomas-Dodd (Jam) 59-2¼ (18.04). □
