CHORZÓW, POLAND, August 25 — After blazing her 12.28 at the Jamaican Championships (a world leader for not quite 3 hours before Masai Russell hurdled 12.25 at the OT), Ackera Nugent aimed for the Paris podium. The Olympics, however, were only a disappointment for the former NCAA champ for both Baylor and Arkansas; she crashed in the final and failed to finish.
In her mission to redeem herself, she nailed this one, blasting a 12.30 in the heats to secure lane 5 in a race that included six more of the Paris finalists including gold winner Russell and silver medalist Cyrena Samba-Mayela. In the final, Nugent led from the start and held off the close of Olympic 5th-placer Grace Stark to claim her first Diamond League win in 12.29 into a faint 0.5 breeze.
Stark hit 12.37, just ahead of Jamaican Danielle Williams (12.38), with Russell (12.40), Alaysha Johnson (12.42) and Samba-Mayela (12.47) next. The results went deep, with best-ever marks for 7th (Nadine Visser 12.49) and 8th (Keni Harrison 12.52).
“I’m just getting used to running on the circuit,” said Nugent. “Coming here to compete against all the best in the world, on one hand I did not expect to win, on the other, I knew I just have to execute well and do everything that is under my control.”
Femke Bol is also trying to hurdle her way back from the race that disappointed her in Paris, the 400H final where she finished with a bronze. Here she faced silver medalist Anna Cockrell as well as a strong Jamaican trio led by Olympic 5th-placer Rushell Clayton.
After a well-paced first 300, Bol came off the final turn in the lead, with Cockrell in hot pursuit. But the American could draw no closer, and Bol sped to a 52.13, 0.02 faster than she ran in Paris. Cockrell held on for a 52.88, ahead of Clayton’s 53.11 and Shianna Salmon (53.15 in 4th).
“I would have liked to have run a 51 today,” Bol said, “but a win is a win.”
Marileidy Paulino won the seventh final of her undefeated 400 season, this one with a no-drama 48.66, the No. 2 time of her career. That more than held off Salwa Eid Naser’s 49.23. Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek closed well to pass fast-starting Rhasidat Adeleke for 3rd, 49.95–50.00, with Alexis Holmes 5th in 50.01.
“I worked really hard for the Olympic Games,” said Paulino, “but I still want to win every race until the end of the season.” She added, “I’m definitely looking forward to the end of the season so I can start eating a lot of food.”
Organizers set up an ambitious pace for the 1500, looking for a 2:02.5 at 800. The Ethiopians, however, weren’t too interested in playing along, and hung back until it was time to race. Freweyni Hailu led at 1200 but it was her countrywoman, Diribe Welteji, who kicked best, taking the win in 3:57.08 to Hailu’s 3:57.88, with Britain’s Georgia Bell 3rd in 3:58.11.
The last race of the day was meant to be a showcase for Ewa Swoboda, but a bad start doomed the local favorite. Instead, it was Tamari Davis who jetted out of the blocks, only to be nipped at the line by Tia Clayton and Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith, both at 10.83w as she ran 10.84w with a 2.9 aiding wind. Swoboda ended up 6th in 11.03w. Said Clayton, “I’m still in great shape.”
Just two field events were on the card. Shanieka Ricketts leaped 47-7 (14.50) on her first triple jump and that held up for the win, with Leyanis Pérez 2nd at 47-3¾ (14.42). Likewise, Serbia’s Adriana Vilagoš nailed her javelin winner with a first attempt PR of 215-3 (65.60), and South Africa’s Olympic silver medalist Jo-Ané van Dyk placed 2nd at 206-1 (62.81).
Nelly Chepchirchir, who failed to make the Paris 1500 final, ran to a world leader for 1000, hitting 2:31.24 after passing 800 in 2:00.99. That took care of Jemma Reekie (2:32.56), Mary Moraa (2:33.43 PR) and Halimah Nakaayi (2:33.44). “I had more strength in the end than the 800 specialists,” said the Kenyan.
Fans in the packed stadium also saw a notable non-Diamond League event as Brooke Andersen won the morning hammer throw with her 249-11 (76.19) over Hannah Skydan (235-7/71.82) and Janee’ Kassanavoid (231-4/70.52). “Missing the Olympics was hard,” said Andersen. “I wanted to end the season on a high and this gave me the chance to do it in my last competition of the year.”
CHORZÓW WOMEN’S RESULTS
100(2.9): 1. Tia Clayton (Jam) 10.83w; 2. Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith (CI) 10.83w; 3. Tamari Davis (US) 10.84w; 4. Daryll Neita (GB) 11.01w; 5. Patrizia van der Weken (Lux) 11.03w; 6. Ewa Swoboda (Pol) 11.03w; 7. Gina Bass (Gam) 11.05w; 8. Jenna Prandini (US) 11.07w.
400: 1. Marileidy Paulino (DR) 48.66; 2. Salwa Eid Naser (Bhr) 49.23; 3. Natalia Kaczmarek (Pol) 49.95; 4. Rhasidat Adeleke (Ire) 50.00; 5. Alexis Holmes (US) 50.01; 6. Henriette Jæger (Nor) 50.33; 7. Lieke Klaver (Neth) 50.46; 8. Sada Williams (Bar) 50.82.
1000: 1. Nelly Chepchirchir (Ken) 2:31.24 PR (WL) (2:00.99);
2. Jemma Reekie (GB) 2:32.56; 3. Mary Moraa (Ken) 2:33.43 PR; 4. Halimah Nakaayi (Uga) 2:33.44; 5. Natoya Goule-Toppin (Jam) 2:34.37 NR; 6. Noélie Yarigo (Ben) 2:36.33;… 10. Nia Akins (US) 2:38.30 PR.
1500: 1. Diribe Welteji (Eth) 3:57.08; 2. Freweyni Hailu (Eth) 3:57.88 (3:12.75); 3. Georgia Bell (GB) 3:58.11; 4. Melissa Courtney-Bryant (GB) 3:59.55; 5. Sarah Healy (Ire) 3:59.65; 6. Klaudia Kazimierska (Pol) 3:59.95 PR; 7. Susan Ejore (Ken) 3:59.97;… 13. Cory McGee (US) 4:02.79.
100H(-0.5): 1. Ackera Nugent (Jam) 12.29; 2. Grace Stark (US) 12.37; 3. Danielle Williams (Jam) 12.38; 4. Masai Russell (US) 12.40; 5. Alaysha Johnson (US) 12.42; 6. Cyrena Samba-Mayela (Fra) 12.47; 7. Nadine Visser (Neth) 12.49; 8. Keni Harrison (US) 12.52; 9. Tonea Marshall (US) 12.76.
400H: 1. Femke Bol (Neth) 52.13; 2. Anna Cockrell (US) 52.88; 3. Rushell Clayton (Jam) 53.11; 4. Shiann Salmon (Jam) 53.15; 5. Janieve Russell (Jam) 53.59; 6. Andrenette Knight (Jam) 53.68; 7. Nikoleta Jíchová (CzR) 54.92; 8. Anna Ryzhykova (Ukr) 55.44; 9. Dalilah Muhammad (US) 55.99.
Field Events
TJ: 1. Shanieka Ricketts (Jam) 47-7; 2. Leyanis Pérez (Cub) 47-3¾ (14.42); 3. Dariya Derkach (Ita) 46-0 (14.02); 4. Jasmine Moore (US) 45-5 (13.84); 5. Ackelia Smith (Jam) 45-2½ (13.78).
HT: 1. Brooke Andersen (US) 249-11 (76.19) 2. Hanna Skydan (Aze) 235-7 (71.82); 3. Janee’ Kassanavoid (US) 231-5 (70.55); 4. Annette Echikunwoke (US) 231-4 (70.52); 5. Sara Fantini (Ita) 230-11 (70.39).
JT: 1. Adriana Vilagoš (Ser) 215-3 (65.60) NR; 2. Jo-Ané Van Dyk (SA) 206-1 (62.81); 3. Nikola Ogrodníková (CzR) 202-11 (61.84); 4. Maggie Malone Hardin (US) 199-6 (60.81); 5. Marie-Therese Obst (Nor) 197-7 (60.22); 6. Flor Dennis Ruiz (Col) 194-4 (59.24).
