RABAT, MOROCCO, June 05 — A teenager vs. the Olympic champion made for exciting 2-lap viewing at the Rabat Diamond League. Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi, still just 17, and just 5 days after his Ostrava CT win, took on countryman Emmanuel Korir and emerged the victor with a strong finish in 1:45.47.
The first half of the race stuck to the formchart, with the rabbit leading through 400 in 50.83, Collins Kipruto and Korir following, and Wanyonyi moving into 4th. On the backstretch, the World Junior champion — coached by ’07 women’s world champ Janeth Jepkosgei — moved past Korir and went after Kipruto. He finally made his way to the lead on the final stretch, holding off the fast finishes of Nigel Amos (1:45.66) and Gabriel Tual (1:45.71) for the win in his first-ever DL outing.
The highlight for the enthusiastic stadium crowd — so loud that some competitors in both the women’s 100 and the men’s 1500 couldn’t hear the gun — was undoubtedly the brilliant steeple win of Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali.
In the meet’s final event, the tall Moroccan followed a fast pacemaker though 1K in 2:38.69 and 2K in 5:25.69. That’s when Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma, the Tokyo silver medalist, tried to get away from El Bakkali’s fast finishing speed. To no avail: the Moroccan took the lead on the final backstretch and continued to pull away through the final 100. He crossed in the second-fastest time of his life, a world-leading 7:58.28 that missed his PR by just 0.13.
Girma managed a 7:59.24, far ahead of 3rd-placer Hailemariyam Amare (8:06.29). Rio Olympic champ Conseslus Kipruto was 4th in 8:12.47, not far ahead of Hilary Bor’s U.S. leader 8:13.12 in 6th.
The first ’22 race for 400H WR holder Karsten Warholm delivered a surprise, as the Olympic gold medalist made it over just one hurdle. Starting in lane 7, the Norwegian’s takeoff seemed a bit lackluster. He hit the first hurdle and showed discomfort immediately, grabbing his right hamstring and stopping shortly afterwards. That left American Khallifah Rosser in the lead, and the Cal State LA alum maintained his edge to the finish, crossing in 48.25 to take the win ahead of Estonia’s Ramus Mägi (48.73).
Admitted Rosser, “I have to admit that this victory was a bit unexpected. But it feels good. I felt great on the track, happy to be healthy. I am very close to my PB, only 0.15. It shows that I am a better athlete this season, more consistent.”
Although Warholm originally characterized his injury as a cramp, he subsequently said, “I think it’s a tear. I’ll focus on treating it and coming back stronger.”
Despite the night before saying that she wasn’t “in the best shape,” Elaine Thompson-Herah dominated the 100, shifting to a top gear her competitors lacked halfway through the race. With a 0.3 wind, she crossed in a meet record 10.83 to Marie-Josée Ta Lou’s 11.04.
A fast 1500 saw Ethiopia sweep the top three spots. Hirut Meshasha held the lead after the rabbit dropped, and had no problem holding off the finish of Olympic 4th-placer Freweyni Hailu, 3:57.30-3:58.18, with Axumawit Embaye next in 3:58.80, as Australia’s Georgia Griffith ran 4th in 4:00.16.
On the field, Olympic vault champion Katie Nageotte ran into problems and couldn’t clear a height. Training partner Sandi Morris took the win over Australia’s Nina Kennedy, both clearing 15-3 (4.65). Katerína Stefanídi and Holly Bradshaw taking the next two spots at 14-11 (4.55).
Kristjan Čeh again showed that he is the man to beat in the discus this season. After Sweden’s OG/WC champion Daniel Ståhl staked out the lead with a second-round 220-4 (67.16), the Slovenian popped a big 227-9 (69.42) before closing with a 228-7 (69.68).
Kenny Bednarek took the 200 in 20.21 over South Africa’s Luxolo Adams (20.35). “I’m happy with today’s victory and my season best though I wanted to do better,” said the winner. “Now I’ll go home and train harder to prepare for Worlds.”
RABAT DL MEN’S RESULTS
200(2.0): 1. Kenny Bednarek (US) 20.21; 2. Luxolo Adams (SA) 20.35; 3. Eseosa Desalu (Ita) 20.54; 4. Yancarlos Martinez (DR) 20.69; 5. Jerome Blake (Can) 20.74; 6. Isaac Makwala (Bot) 20.87.
800: 1. Emmanuel Wanyonyi (Ken) 1:45.47; 2. Nijel Amos (Bot) 1:45.66; 3. Gabriel Tual (Fra) 1:45.71; 4. Collins Kipruto (Ken) 1:46.29; 5. Amel Tuka (Bos) 1:46.53; 6. Abdellatif El Guesse (Mor) 1:46.79; 7. Mostafa Smaili (Mor) 1:46.86; 8. Emmanuel Korir (Ken) 1:46.93; 9. Michael Saruni (Ken) 1:47.60; 10. Ferguson Rotich (Ken) 1:47.72; 11. Mariano Garcia (Spa) 1:48.48;… rabbit—Patryk Sieradzki (Pol) (50.83).
1500: 1. Jake Wightman (GB) 3:32.62; 2. Jake Heyward (GB) 3:33.54; 3. Abdelatif Sadiki (Mor) 3:33.93; 4. Charles Grethen (Lux) 3:34.33; 5. Ismael Debjani (Bel) 3:34.39; 6. Samuel Zeleke (Eth) 3:34.80; 7. Mohamed Katir (Spa) 3:34.95; 8. Hicham Oueladha (Mor) 3:35.48; 9. El Hassane Moujahid (Mor) 3:35.97 PR; 10. Baptiste Mischler (Fra) 3:36.11; 11. William Paulson (Can) 3:38.23; 12. Jimmy Gressier (Fra) 3:39.47.
St: 1. Soufiane El Bakkali (Mor) 7:58.28 (WL);
2. Lamecha Girma (Eth) 7:59.24; 3. Hailemariyam Amare (Eth) 8:06.29 PR; 4. Conseslus Kipruto (Ken) 8:12.47; 5. Avinash Sable (Ind) 8:12.48 NR;
6. Hillary Bor (US) 8:13.12 (AL);
7. Mehdi Belhadj (Fra) 8:16.35; 8. Benjamin Kigen (Ken) 8:17.32; 9. Abraham Kibiwot (Ken) 8:18.78; 10. Salaheddine Ben Yazide (Mor) 8:19.63 PR.
400H: 1. Khallifah Rosser (US) 48.25; 2. Rasmus Mägi (Est) 48.73; 3. Wilfried Happio (Fra) 49.27; 4. Yasmani Copello (Tur) 49.29; 5. Jaheel Hyde (Jam) 49.35; 6. Ludvy Vaillant (Fra) 49.74;… dnf—Karsten Warholm (Nor).
Field Events
LJ: 1. Miltiádis Tentóglou (Gre) 27-1¾ (8.27); 2. Simon Ehammer (Swi) 26-8¼ (8.13); 3. Maykel D. Massó (Cub) 26-6¼ (8.08); 4. Thobias Montler (Swe) 26-4½ (8.04); 5. Emiliano Lasa (Uru) 25-10¾w (7.89) (25-7½/7.81); 6. Ruswahl Samaai (SA) 25-4½ (7.73); 7. JuVaughn Harrison (US) 25-¾ (7.64).
DT: 1. Kristjan Čeh (Slo) 228-7 (69.68) (203-3, 215-4, 227-9, 210-7, 212-11, 228-7) (61.96, 65.65, 69.42, 64.18, 64.90, 69.68); 2. Daniel Ståhl (Swe) 220-4 (67.16); 3. Matt Denny (Aus) 220-0 (67.07) PR; 4. Andrius Gudžius (Lit) 218-3 (66.53); 5. Lukas Weißhaidinger (Aut) 215-4 (65.64); 6. Sam Mattis (US) 210-6 (64.17); 7. Lawrence Okoye (GB) 208-1 (63.42); 8. Alex Rose (AmS) 207-6 (63.25); 9. Simon Pettersson (Swe) 204-6 (62.34); 10. Fedrick Dacres (Jam) 201-3 (61.34).
RABAT DL WOMEN’S RESULTS
100(0.3): 1. Elaine Thompson-Herah (Jam) 10.83; 2. Marie-Josée Ta Lou (CI) 11.04; 3. Natasha Morrison (Jam) 11.22; 4. Lorène Dorcas Bazolo (Por) 11.42; 5. Ajla Del Ponte (Swi) 11.42;… dnf—Anthonique Strachan (Bah).
400: 1. Marileidy Paulino (DR) 50.10; 2. Sada Williams (Bar) 50.74; 3. Stephenie Ann McPherson (Jam) 51.37; 4. Sophie Becker (Ire) 51.84; 5. Lada Vondrová (CzR) 52.07; 6. Cátia Azevedo (Por) 52.23; 7. Phil Healy (Ire) 52.28.
800: 1. Mary Moraa (Ken) 1:58.93 PR; 2. Prudence Sekgodisa (SA) 1:59.23; 3. Renelle Lamote (Fra) 1:59.83; 4. Elena Bellò (Ita) 2:00.76; 5. Noélie Yarigo (Ben) 2:01.01; 6. Alexandra Bell (GB) 2:01.50; 7. Soukaina Hajji (Mor) 2:01.59 PR; 8. Majtie Kolberg (Ger) 2:01.63; 9. Naomi Korir (Ken) 2:02.14; 10. Assia Raziki (Mor) 2:03.16; 11. Tigist Girma (Eth) 2:03.42.
1500: 1. Hirut Meshesha (Eth) 3:57.30 PR; 2. Freweyni Hailu (Eth) 3:58.18; 3. Axumawit Embaye (Eth) 3:58.80 PR; 4. Georgia Griffith (Aus) 4:00.16 PR; 5. Claudia Bobocea (Rom) 4:02.07; 6. Habitam Alemu (Eth) 4:02.50; 7. Winnie Nanyondo (Uga) 4:02.74; 8. Edina Jebitok (Ken) 4:02.96; 9. Linden Hall (Aus) 4:03.29; 10. Melissa Courtney-Bryant (GB) 4:04.40; 11. Aurore Fleury (Fra) 4:04.78; 12. Elise Vanderelst (Bel) 4:05.16; 13. Kristiina Mäki (CzR) 4:05.30.
3000: 1. Mercy Cherono (Ken) 8:40.29; 2. Amy-Eloise Markovc (GB) 8:40.32 PR; 3. Medina Eisa (Eth) 8:41.42 PR; 4. Gloria Kite (Ken) 8:41.81; 5. Maureen Koster (Neth) 8:42.28 PR; 6. Tsiyon Abebe (Eth) 8:44.82 PR; 7. Rose Davies (Aus) 8:49.86 PR; 8. Marta García (Spa) 8:51.04 PR.
Field Events
HJ: 1. Yaroslava Mahuchikh (Ukr) 6-5 (1.96); 2. Iryna Herashchenko (Ukr) 6-4 (1.93); 3. Nicola Olyslagers (neé McDermott) (Aus) 6-4; 4. Nadezhda Dubovitskaya (Kaz) 6-4; 5. Morgan Lake (GB) 6-2¾ (1.90); 6. Elena Vallortigara (Ita) 6-2¾; 7. tie, Maja Nilsson (Swe) & Yuliya Levchenko (Ukr) 6-¾ (1.85); 9. Marija Vuković (Mont) 5-10¾ (1.80).
PV: 1. Sandi Morris (US) 15-3 (4.65) (14-11 [2], 15-3, 15-9 [xxx]) (4.55 [2], 4.65, 4.80 [xxx]); 2. Nina Kennedy (Aus) 15-3 (14-7¼, 14-11 [3], 15-3, ppp) (4.45, 4.55 [3], 4.65, ppp); 3. Katerína Stefanídi (Gre) 14-11 (4.55); 4. Holly Bradshaw (GB) 14-11; 5. tie, Tina Šutej (Slo) & Maryna Kylypko (Ukr) 14-7¼ (4.45); 7. Nikoléta Kiriakopoúlou (Gre) 14-1¼ (4.30);… nh—Katie Nageotte (US).
TJ: 1. Thea LaFond (Dom) 47-5¼ (14.46); 2. Shanieka Ricketts (Jam) 47-4¼ (14.43); 3. Neja Filipič (Slo) 47-3¾ (14.42) PR; 4. Patrícia Mamona (Por) 47-1 (14.35); 5. Liadagmis Povea (Cub) 46-10 (14.27); 6. Leyanis Pérez (Cub) 46-7¼ (14.20); 7. Ana José Tima (DR) 45-6¼ (13.87); 8. Hanna Minenko (Isr) 45-3¾ (13.81).
