ROME, ITALY, June 06 — No one planned on a 5000 World Record attempt at the Golden Gala, but with a “Why not?” Beatrice Chebet decided mid-race to give it a go. The Kenyan had followed the set pace for the first half; they had passed 2K in 5:41.4, a 14:12 clip. “I just said, ‘Let’s run my own race today.’” She led a breakaway pack through 3000 in 8:32.2, then started applying the pressure.
“I felt like my body was moving and I decided to go.” She covered the fourth K in 2:47.8 and the last in 2:44.7, crossing the line in history’s No. 2 time, 14:03.69. “I see that my body is in a good shape and I am capable of the World Record. Soon, I am going for a time under 14:00.”
Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu was a far-back runner-up in a PR 14:19.33. In 6th, a stride behind Gudaf Tsegay (14:24.86), came resurgent Josette Andrews, whose 14:25.27 slashed her PR and made her the No. 3 American ever. Shelby Houlihan’s 14:45.29 for 10th was her fastest since her then-AR 14:23.92 in July of ’20.
On the other side of the spectrum was the men’s 400, where the battle couldn’t have been closer. Olympic champion Quincy Hall lined up in lane 6, with Zakithi Nene in 7. Hall led for the first half (21.2), but the yearly list leader edged ahead coming off the turn. Hall, with his trademark grit, fought back on the stretch for a lead that could only be measured in inches. He leaned at the line, eking out a 44.22–44.23 win.
“I have been working hard,” he said. “We are coming there. By the end of the year, you are going to see something. I want to be the best. It is coming down.”
Quipped Nene, “Quincy had a good rabbit… me.”
Trayvon Bromell, with his fastest dash in 3 years, marked his return to a high level. “I have been away for a while now,” he said. “To be able to compete on a high level, I was definitely nervous, I did not know what to expect.”
With a lightning start he took command immediately, carrying a strong lead all the way to the line in a year-leading 9.84 with a 1.1 wind. Behind him, Emmanuel Eseme of Cameroon came back from a rough start to salvage 2nd in 9.99, with Ferdinand Omanyala 3rd in 10.01.
Concluded Bromell, “I just needed to be the person I am and I do not expect anything but fast times and execution.”
France’s Azeddine Habz came through with a kick in the 1500, hitting his last lap in 53.7 to run down Kenyan Timothy Cheruiyot in the final stretch, 3:29.72–3:29.75. Behind them, the fast times ran deep, as 16th and last place just ran 3:32.55. American Vincent Ciattei ran a PR 3:31.69, the fastest 12th ever.
The men’s hurdles featured another thrilling finish, as Cordell Tinch had what looked like a clear lead coming off the last hurdle. He carried that to the line but the camera took note of Jason Joseph’s fast finish and incredibly long-torsoed lean. With both given a 13.14, it was the Swiss hurdler who got the nod.
“Coming off that ninth hurdle,” said Joseph, “I was like: ‘Damn, I am right in that mix. If I do not clip anything, if I concentrate, I might even win it.’”
Said a disappointed Tinch, “I felt like I was first, but my tenth hurdle was not clean.”
In the 200, Anavia Battle continued her unlikely dominance of the DL circuit. The Ohio State alum, now 26, won her third straight half-lapper on the circuit in 22.53 over Amy Hunt of Britain (22.67) and Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith (22.75). “I had to stay calm in order to win,” she said. “The most important thing is mental: I have been doing a lot of mental work.”
Ireland’s Sarah Healy took the 1500 in 3:59.17, with 5 dipping under 4:00, among them Heather MacLean in 4th (3:59.71). The 400H went to Jamaica’s Andrenette Knight in 53.67, who analyzed, “Honestly, it was not a smooth race — there were some technical errors. So now, I need to go back to practice and work on that.”
In a loaded discus field, Valarie Allman started in a hole with her first round 206-8 (63.01) leaving her behind Jorinde van Klinken and Sandra Elkasević. The American finally took the lead in round 4 with a 218-8 (66.66), then put an exclamation mark on it with her fifth throw of 227-0 (69.21), a meet record. Behind her, Yaimé Pérez, still listed as Cuban but working on U.S. citizenship, landed one at 218-7 (66.63). Next came van Klinken at 215-9 (65.77) and Elkasević at 210-7 (64.19). Paris silver medalist Bin Feng was 6th (210-7/64.19) and defending world champ Lagi Tausaga 8th at 205-8 (62.68).
Said Allman, “I need to work on my technique in order to walk in the ring and execute well from the first attempt.”
Sandi Morris scored her first DL vault win since ’22, clearing 15-7 (4.75) when Roberta Bruni and Gabriela Leon couldn’t, and then making 15-9 (4.80) on her third attempt. “We are early in the season so I was like now or never if I am going to try those new things,” Morris said. “And I am not going to waste the opportunity on a fast runway and warm conditions with an awesome crowd, fantastic atmosphere.”
She added, “I have been fighting with problems with my shoulder so I have to keep the volume of jumps lower.”
New Zealand’s Tom Walsh won a deep shot competition with his opening toss of 71-10 (21.89). Italy’s Zane Weir moved into 2nd on his final throw, 71-1¼ (21.67), leaving Jamaica’s Rajindra Campbell 3rd at 71-0 (21.64) and Joe Kovacs 4th at 70-10 (21.59).
Said Walsh, “There were six guys over 21.50 and we are slowly putting stuff together. I think in August, a bit closer to the World Championships, it is going to be interesting. There are going to be some big throws.”
ROME DL MEN’S RESULTS
100(1.1): 1. Trayvon Bromell (US) 9.84 (WL, AL);
2. Emmanuel Eseme (Cam) 9.99; 3. Ferdinand Omanyala (Ken) 10.01; 4. Brandon Hicklin (US) 10.04; 5. Fred Kerley (US) 10.06; 6. Courtney Lindsey (US) 10.18; 7. Filippo Tortu (Ita) 10.19; 8. Abdul Hakim Sani Brown (Jpn) 10.31.
400: 1. Quincy Hall (US) 44.22; 2. Zakithi Nene (SA) 44.23; 3. Collen Kebinatshipi (Bot) 44.51; 4. Charlie Dobson (GB) 44.64; 5. Vernon Norwood (US) 44.86; 6. Kirani James (Grn) 44.92; 7. Alexander Doom (Bel) 45.60.
1500: 1. Azeddine Habz (Fra) 3:29.72; 2. Timothy Cheruiyot (Ken) 3:29.75; 3. Anass Essayi (Mor) 3:30.74 PR; 4. Robert Farken (Ger) 3:30.80 NR; 5. Samuel Pihlström (Swe) 3:30.87 NR; 6. Reynold Kipkorir (Ken) 3:30.94; 7. Elliot Giles (GB) 3:31.13; 8. Brian Komen (Ken) 3:31.14; 9. Olli Hoare (Aus) 3:31.15; 10. Federico Riva (Ita) 3:31.42 PR; 11. Anas Lagtiy (Fra) 3:31.58 PR; 12. Vincent Ciattei (US) 3:31.69 PR;… rabbit—Zan Rudolf (Slo) (56.31, 56.34 [1:52.65]).
(best-ever mark-for-place: 12)
110H(0.9): 1. Jason Joseph (Swi) 13.14; 2. Cordell Tinch (US) 13.14; 3. Dylan Beard (US) 13.28; 4. Orlando Bennett (Jam) 13.29; 5. Daniel Roberts (US) 13.40; 6. Wilhem Belocian (Fra) 13.44; 7. Erwann Cinna (Fra) 13.56; 8. Omar McLeod (Jam) 13.58; 9. Asier Martínez (Spa) 13.68.
Field Events
HJ: 1. Sang-hyeok Woo (SK) 7-7¼ (2.32) (missed 7-8/2.34); 2. Oleh Doroshchuk (Ukr) 7-6½ (2.30); 3. Romaine Beckford (Jam) 7-5 (2.26); 4. JuVaughn Harrison (US) 7-5; 5. Matteo Sioli (Ita) 7-3¾ (2.23) =PR; 6. Hamish Kerr (NZ) 7-2½ (2.20); 7. Manuel Lando (Ita) 7-2½; 8. Jan Štefela (CzR) 7-2½; 9. Stefano Sottile (Ita) 7-2½; 10. Gianmarco Tamberi (Ita) 7-1 (2.16).
LJ: 1. Liam Adcock (Aus) 27-4½ (8.34) PR; 2. Mattia Furlani (Ita) 26-8¼ (8.13); 3. Miltiádis Tentóglou (Gre) 26-7 (8.10); 4. Lester Lescay (Spa) 26-5½ (8.06); 5. Carey McLeod (Jam) 26-3½ (8.01); 6. Simon Ehammer (Swi) 25-9¼ (7.85); 7. Simon Batz (Ger) 25-8¾ (7.84); 8. Thobias Montler (Swe) 25-6¾ (7.79); 9. Marquis Dendy (US) 25-4 (7.72).
SP: 1. Tom Walsh (NZ) 71-10 (21.89); 2. Zane Weir (Ita) 71-1¼ (21.67); 3. Rajindra Campbell (Jam) 71-0 (21.64); 4. Joe Kovacs (US) 70-10 (21.59); 5. Tripp Piperi (US) 70-9¾ (21.58); 6. Payton Otterdahl (US) 70-9 (21.56); 7. Leonardo Fabbri (Ita) 70-½ (21.35); 8. Chuk Enekwechi (Ngr) 69-11 (21.31); 9. Andrei Toader (Rom) 67-9¾ (20.67); 10. Roger Steen (US) 66-7¼ (20.30).
ROME DL WOMEN’S RESULTS
200(0.8): 1. Anavia Battle (US) 22.53; 2. Amy Hunt (GB) 22.67; 3. Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith (CI) 22.75; 4. McKenzie Long (US) 22.81; 5. Maia McCoy (Lbr) 22.91; 6. Jessika Gbai (CI) 22.95.
1500: 1. Sarah Healy (Ire) 3:59.17; 2. Sarah Billings (Aus) 3:59.24 PR; 3. Abbey Caldwell (Aus) 3:59.32 PR; 4. Heather MacLean (US) 3:59.71; 5. Susan Ejore-Sanders (Ken) 3:59.73 (3:13.78); 6. Agueda Marques (Spa) 4:00.57; 7. Agathe Guillemot (Fra) 4:01.49; 8. Marta Zenoni (Ita) 4:01.52 PR; 9. Weronika Lizakowska (Pol) 4:01.70; 10. Saron Berhe (Eth) 4:01.78; 11. Katie Snowden (GB) 4:02.02; 12. Revee Walcott-Nolan (GB) 4:02.28; 13. Hirut Meshesha (Eth) 4:03.60 (2:07.45);… rabbit—Purity Chepkirui (Ken) (62.07).
5000: 1. Beatrice Chebet (Ken) 14:03.69 NR (WL) (2, 2 W) (8:32.20, 11:19.01);
2. Freweyni Hailu (Eth) 14:19.33 PR;
3. Nadia Battocletti (Ita) 14:23.15 NR;
4. Birke Haylom (Eth) 14:24.20 (x, 4 WJ);
5. Gudaf Tsegay (Eth) 14:24.86;
6. Josette Andrews (US) 14:25.37 PR (AL) (3, 3 A);
7. Chalt Dida (Eth) 14:27.11 PR;
8. Aleshign Baweke (Eth) 14:27.33 PR (3, 5 WJ);
9. Asayech Ayichew (Eth) 14:38.78; 10. Shelby Houlihan (US) 14:45.29 (fastest since 7/20); 11. Marta García (Spa) 14:47.18; 12. Maureen Koster (Neth) 14:47.31; 13. Sarah Madeleine (Fra) 14:48.79 PR; 14. Francine Niyomukunzi (Bur) 14:49.89; 15. Margaret Akidor (Ken) 14:52.00 (5:41.45); 16. Karissa Schweizer (US) 14:56.38;… rabbit—Winnie Nanyondo (Uga) (2:50.06).
400H: 1. Andrenette Knight (Jam) 53.67; 2. Ayomide Folorunso (Ita) 54.21; 3. Rushell Clayton (Jam) 54.31; 4. Lina Nielsen (GB) 54.66; 5. Louise Maraval (Fra) 54.86; 6. Zeney Geldenhuys (SA) 55.29; 7. Shiann Salmon (Jam) 55.47; 8. Linda Olivieri (Ita) 56.06; 9. Cassandra Tate (US) 56.15.
Field Events
PV: 1. Sandi Morris (US) 15-9 (4.80) (out WL, AL) (14-9, 15-3, 15-7 [3], 15-9 [3]) (4.50, 4.65, 4.75 [3], 4.80 [3]);
2. tie, Gabriela Leon (US) & Roberta Bruni (Ita) 15-3 (4.65); 4. tie, Marie-Julie Bonnin (Fra), Amálie Švábíková (CzR), Tina Šutej (Slo) & Angelica Moser (Swi) 14-9 (4.50).
TJ: 1. Shanieka Ricketts (Jam) 48-½ (14.64) (out WL) (48-½, f, 47-3, p, f, 45-8) (14.64, f, 14.40, p, f, 13.92);
2. Leyanis Pérez (Cub) 47-5¼ (14.46); 3. Thea LaFond (Dom) 46-11 (14.30); 4. Liadagmis Povea (Cub) 46-6 (14.17); 5. Jasmine Moore (US) 46-5¼ (14.15); 6. Neja Filipič (Slo) 45-5 (13.84).
DT: 1. Valarie Allman (US) 227-0 (69.21); 2. Yaimé Pérez (Cub) 218-7 (66.63); 3. Jorinde van Klinken (Neth) 215-9 (65.77); 4. Sandra Elkasević (Cro) 212-11 (64.91); 5. Marike Steinacker (Ger) 212-6 (64.78); 6. Bin Feng (Chn) 210-7 (64.19); 7. Kristin Pudenz (Ger) 210-4 (64.12); 8. Lagi Tausaga-Collins (US) 205-8 (62.68).
