STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, June 15 — Though she’d never competed overseas before this week, Bella Whittaker has been racing like a seasoned vet, first winning the 400 in Oslo, then coming back 3 days later to take a comfortable victory here. It’s still early in the season, but the Maryland native now sits atop the DL standings in the event.
She led wire-to-wire at Stockholm Stadium, finishing in 49.78, ahead of Henriette Jæger (50.07) and Amber Anning (50.17). “I felt a little sluggish today, it was hard to come back after just racing,” said Whittaker, who was part of the U.S. relay pool in Paris but didn’t end up getting the call. “My training is built around this, so we’re used to this. I feel like I can still pull something out even when I’m tired.”
Another repeat winner from Oslo was St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred, who dominated the 100 in 10.75 (wind: 0.9). “I am happy today with how the race went,” said the Olympic champion, who finished well ahead of British training partner Dina Asher-Smith (10.93). “The turnaround was short but it is nothing new to me, I have done it before.”
Femke Bol won her 26th straight Diamond League 400H in a brisk 52.11. “I was very focused on the middle section of the race today and that went well, as I pushed ahead at that stage,” said the Dutch star, pushed by Dalilah Muhammad through the first 9 hurdles. “A race is never the same as training and it is only my third race of the season, so I am still feeling some lactic. But I am starting to feel the hurdles better every race and getting into race shape.”
The 35-year-old Muhammad, in what she says will be her final season, clocked 52.91, improving on her 53.34 winning time at Oslo and recording her fastest time since she won silver at the ’21 Olympics.
Tara Davis-Woodhall, in only her second competition of the year, took the lead in the first round of the long jump at a U.S.-leading 23-1¾ (7.05). The Olympic gold medalist didn’t improve after that, but the mark held up for the win.
“I’ve been working on my speed and power in training,” said reigning world No. 1, who was undefeated last year. “I’m super excited to feel my approach and feel what it is like to go flying again.”
Italy’s Larissa Iapichino reached a wind-aided 22-7¾ (6.90w) in the third round for 2nd and Olympic bronze medalist Jasmine Moore of the U.S. was 3rd at 22-2¼ (6.76w).
In the 100H, Grace Stark started well and just missed her PR with a 12.33 to win over Ackera Nugent (12.37).
Great Britain’s Georgia Hunter Bell, moved up from 6th at the top of the stretch to take the 800 in 1:57.66 ahead of ’23 world champion Mary Moraa (1:57.83) and this year’s world indoor champ, Prudence Sekgodiso (1:58.00). American Addy Wiley (1:58.86) was leading with 100 to go but was pushed back to 7th.
“I was stuck at the back for a bit long and then ran on the outside longer than I should have, but I did feel really strong and very good,” said Hunter Bell, the Olympic bronze medalist in the 1500 last summer. “I tried to find space on the inside that wasn’t there and I ran wide. [The] 800 is all about positioning so I need to work from it.”
World indoor champ Nicola Olyslagers of Australia scaled 6-7 (2.01) to win the high jump over Olympic gold medalist Yaroslava Mahuchikh, who managed 6-6¼ (1.99).
In the 3000, Australia’s Linden Hall and Uganda’s Sarah Chelangat had a back-and-forth battle on the last lap, with Hall using a final burst to win, 8:30.01–8:31.27.
Sandi Morris continued her strong season with her second DL pole vault win of the year, going over an outdoor-leading 15-9¾ (4.82) at Täby Square the day before the main program.
STOCKHOLM DL WOMEN’S RESULTS
100(0.9): 1. Julien Alfred (StL) 10.75; 2. Dina Asher-Smith (GB) 10.93; 3. Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith (CI) 11.00; 4. Maia McCoy (Lbr) 11.12; 5. Daryll Neita (GB) 11.17; 6. Patrizia van der Weken (Lux) 11.18.
400: 1. Bella Whittaker (US) 49.78; 2. Henriette Jæger (Nor) 50.07; 3. Amber Anning (GB) 50.17; 4. Lieke Klaver (Neth) 50.35; 5. Martina Weil (Chl) 50.39 NR; 6. Rhasidat Adeleke (Ire) 50.48; 7. Sada Williams (Bar) 50.94.
800: 1. Georgia Hunter Bell (GB) 1:57.66; 2. Mary Moraa (Ken) 1:57.83; 3. Prudence Sekgodiso (SA) 1:58.00; 4. Audrey Werro (Swi) 1:58.35; 5. Jemma Reekie (GB) 1:58.66; 6. Oratile Nowe (Bot) 1:58.78; 7. Addy Wiley (US) 1:58.86.
3000: 1. Linden Hall (Aus) 8:30.01 PR; 2. Sarah Chelangat (Uga) 8:31.27 NR; 3. Innes FitzGerald (GB) 8:32.90 PR; 4. Hannah Nuttall (GB) 8:33.82 PR; 5. Caroline Nyaga (Ken) 8:34.79; 6. Helen Lobun (Ken) 8:36.85 PR.
100H(1.4): 1. Grace Stark (US) 12.33; 2. Ackera Nugent (Jam) 12.37; 3. Nadine Visser (Neth) 12.49; 4. Devynne Charlton (Bah) 12.59; 5. Kendra Harrison (US) 12.69; 6. Giada Carmassi (Ita) 12.69 NR; 7. Pia Skrzyszowska (Pol) 12.79; 8. Alaysha Johnson (US) 12.84.
400H: 1. Femke Bol (Neth) 52.11; 2. Dalilah Muhammad (US) 52.91; 3. Gianna Woodruff (Pan) 53.99; 4. Elena Kelety (Ger) 54.79 PR; 5. Amalie Hammild Iuel (Nor) 54.84; 6. Moa Granat (Swe) 55.37 PR.
Field Events
HJ: 1. Nicola Olyslagers (Aus) 6-7 (2.01) (missed 6-8/2.03); 2. Yaroslava Mahuchikh (Ukr) 6-6¼ (1.99); 3. Maria Żodzik (Pol) 6-4 (1.93); 4. tie, Vashti Cunningham (US), Yuliya Levchenko (Ukr), Engla Nilsson (Swe) & Eleanor Patterson (Aus) 6-3¼; 8. Angelina Topić (Ser) 6-3¼.
PV: 1. Sandi Morris (US) 15-9¾ (4.82) (outdoor WL, AL) (14-10¼ [2], 15-2¼ [3], 15-6¼, 15-9¾ [2], 15-11¾ [xxx]) (4.53 [2], 4.63 [3], 4.73, 4.82 [2], 4.87 [xxx]);
2. Angelica Moser (Swi) 15-2¼ (4.63); 3. Roberta Bruni (Ita) 14-10¼ (4.53); 4. Gabriela Leon (US) 14-10¼; 5. Tina Šutej (Slo) 14-4½ (4.38); 6. Emily Grove (US) 13-10½ (4.23).
LJ: 1. Tara Davis-Woodhall (US) 23-1¾ (7.05) (AL) (23-1¾, 21-7¼, 22-4½, 22-¾, f, 21-10) (7.05, 6.58, 6.82, 6.72, f, 6.65);
2. Larissa Iapichino (Ita) 22-7¾w (6.90); 3. Jasmine Moore (US) 22-2¼w (6.76); 4. Malaika Mihambo (Ger) 22-1¾ (6.75); 5. Claire Bryant (US) 22-1½ (6.74); 6. Annik Kälin (Swi) 21-10¾ (6.67); 7. Maja Åskag (Swe) 21-10¼ (6.66); 8. Monae’ Nichols (US) 21-6w (6.55) (21-4¼/6.51); 9. Ackelia Smith (Jam) 21-6 (6.55); 10. Ivana Španović (Ser) 21-4¼ (6.51).
DT: 1. Kristin Pudenz (Ger) 212-9 (64.85); 2. Jorinde van Klinken (Neth) 211-0 (64.33); 3. Denia Caballero (Cub) 207-9 (63.32); 4. Marike Steinacker (Ger) 207-0 (63.10); 5. Claudine Vita (Ger) 203-10 (62.13); 6. Liliana Cá (Por) 203-3 (61.97); 7. Vanessa Kamga (Swe) 197-10 (60.31); 8. Lagi Tausaga (US) 196-2 (59.79).
