GATESHEAD, ENGLAND, July 13 — Kate Grace left the Olympic Trials with an abundance of frustration and, as she again demonstrated at her latest Diamond League stop, also still with an abundance of fitness.
The Müller Anniversary Games was originally slated for London, but when that stadium became unavailable it had to be switched to this city in the northeast even though it had already hosted the first Wanda DL meet of the year back in May.
Since Grace’s fade to 7th in the Eugene 800 after being formcharted for a podium spot, she had run three straight 800 PRs, topped by a 1:57.20. Here she used a stunning kick in the final stretch to take the mile, her second DL win in the last two weeks.
With the rabbits instructed to take the pace out in an ambitious 64 — and 2:40 at 1000 — nothing that followed went to script. The first rabbit, Aneta Lemiesz, led through 400 in a lax 66.79, with hare No. 2, Chanelle Price, looking over her shoulder wondering where everybody was. At 800, Price passed in 2:17.07 with the field still more than 2 seconds back. Grace ran in mid-pack, keeping close tabs on Ugandan Winnie Nanyondo, owner of the fastest PR in the field, a 4:18.65 PR from ’19.
Price finally pulled off at 1200 in 3:24.54 and the racing began. Nanyondo took charge, with a calm Grace on her shoulder. They stayed in those places until they came off the final turn. Then Grace charged to the front and the pack started to reel in the fading Ugandan. They didn’t have a chance to challenge the 32-year-old American, who unleashed a brutal final 60 and won going away in a world-leading 4:27.20.
Said Grace, “I felt great. It makes me want to run the mile and the 1500m later on in the season. Right now [I’m] looking forward to the Diamond League Final.”
The men’s 800 featured an unexpected victor, Isaiah Harris, as the race had seemed tailor-made for the Tokyo-bound American pair of Clayton Murphy and Bryce Hoppel. Rabbit Erik Sowinski led for the first 500, passing the 400 in a swift 49.83. He stepped off leaving Hoppel in charge, with Murphy a stride behind.
Then at 600m Harris, still smarting over his OT 4th, stormed into the lead. Hoppel and Murphy had no response, and Harris’s margin grew coming off the turn. Kenyan Wycliffe Kinyamal led the attack past the two flagging Americans, but he could not tag Harris, who won in 1:44.76 to his 1:44.91. Hoppel (1:45.45) and Murphy (1:45.72) crossed in 5th and 6th.
“I was happy with that,” said Harris. “I wanted to get out a little bit harder, but I feel like I positioned myself well; I moved up and made confident and strong moves and I executed a good race plan.”
The sunny day belied cooler temperatures, in the mid-60s (18-19C) for most of the meet. That didn’t help the speed events much.
In the 100, Trayvon Bromell lined up in lane 4 with Andre De Grasse to his left and Fred Kerley to his right. Bromell didn’t get his usual lightning start, but took command by 20m and pulled away to a dominating win in 9.98. Next came Britain’s CJ Ujah (10.10) and Zharnel Hughes (10.13). De Grasse (4th) and Kerley (5th) also hit 10.13 as the photo took a while to sort out.
Said the winner, “I’ll take that win and I really want to get back into training, get my body under wraps, recover and get ready for Tokyo.”
An eagerly awaited Femke Bol–Shamier Little matchup in the 400H fell a bit short. In their third high-level clash in just 10 days, the flying Dutchwoman got out fast and sported a clear lead on the backstretch, but the American wasn’t up for the duel. Bol entered the homestretch with a huge lead and carried it to a 53.24 win as Little struggled to hold off Janieve Russell, 54.53–54.66.
The men’s 110 hurdles featured a grudge match between Omar McLeod, whose last-place finish at the Jamaican Trials will keep him out of the Olympics, and the winner of that Trials race, Ronald Levy. The two battled neck-and-neck for 9 hurdles but Levy cleared the final barrier much more smoothly and built a significant margin from there to the line, winning 13.22 to 13.42.
Sandi Morris celebrated the return of her delayed poles with a 15-7¼ (4.76) vault win over Britain’s Holly Bradshaw, who ended up passing that height. Both came close but were unsuccessful at 15-9¼ (4.81), with Bradshaw having a best on the day of 15-5½ (4.71).
“I’ve had a really tough time this last month,” admitted Morris. “I’ve had a couple of bad meets and my confidence was lacking a bit so I really needed today. I decided that I’d have no expectations and just have fun and anytime I jump for fun I always jump high. It’s amazing how you can have five bad meets and one good meet and your world flips back to normal.”
The women’s long jump also produced some drama. Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk of Ukraine led the first 5 rounds at 22-2½ (6.77). Then in the final-round faceoff, Malaika Mihambo hit her best mark of the day, 21-10 (6.65). That raised the very real possibility that the new DL format would once again rob the “real” winner of the win. However, Bekh-Romanchuk managed to get off a safe 21-10¾ (6.67) that just nicked the German.
The final event of the night produced a solid 3000 clash between Australian Stewart McSweyn and Mohamed Katir, who has improved massively this season. After a 5:03.74 first 2000, McSweyn hammered the pace but could forge no daylight between him and the 23-year-old former Moroccan (he became eligible to represent Spain in 2020). In the final 200, Katir easily went by to record the win in 7:27.65, his third Spanish Record of the season. McSweyn followed in 7:28.94. The last three laps took a mere 2:54.07.
This was the last DL meet — indeed, last major international — before the Olympic break. The series will conclude post-Tokyo with meets in Eugene, Lausanne, Paris, Brussels & Zürich.
GATESHEAD DL MEN’S RESULTS
100(0.4): 1. Trayvon Bromell (US) 9.98; 2. Chijindu Ujah (GB) 10.10; 3. Zharnel Hughes (GB) 10.13; 4. Andre De Grasse (Can) 10.13; 5. Fred Kerley (US) 10.13; 6. Mike Rodgers (US) 10.17; 7. Isiah Young (US) 10.21; 8. Adam Gemili (GB) 10.21.
800: 1. Isaiah Harris (US) 1:44.76; 2. Wycliffe Kinyamal (Ken) 1:44.91; 3. Peter Bol (Aus) 1:45.22; 4. Álvaro de Arriba (Spa) 1:45.36; 5. Bryce Hoppel (US) 1:45.45; 6. Clayton Murphy (US) 1:45.72; 7. Jamie Webb (GB) 1:45.97; 8. Saul Ordóñez (Spa) 1:46.02; 9. Amel Tuka (Bos) 1:46.25;… rabbit—Erik Sowinski (US) (49.83).
Non-DL Mile: 1. Elliot Giles (GB) 3:52.49 PR (3:37.44); 2. Jake Heyward (GB) 3:52.50 PR (3:37.79); 3. Archie Davis (GB) 3:54.27 PR; 4. Jake Wightman (GB) 3:55.78(3:38.02) (2:54.46); 5. Piers Copeland (GB) 3:56.13 (3:40.91); 6. Joshua Lay (GB) 3:56.31 PR; 7. Andrew Coscoran (Ire) 3:56.89 PR; 8. Luke McCann (Ire) 3:56.93 PR; 9. Rorey Hunter (Aus) 3:57.39 PR; 10. James McMurray (GB) 3:58.18 PR; 11. James Young (GB) 3:58.71 PR; 12. George Mills (GB) 3:58.73 PR; 13. Tiarnan Crorken (GB) 3:58.89 PR; 14. James West (GB) 3:59.05;… rabbit—Sowinski (55.73, 58.09 [1:53.82]).
3000: 1. Mohamed Katir (Spa) 7:27.64 NR; 2. Stewart McSweyn (Aus) 7:28.94 (5:03.74); 3. Andrew Butchart (GB) 7:35.18 PR; 4. Jacob Krop (Ken) 7:35.34; 5. Matthew Ramsden (Aus) 7:35.65 NJR; 6. Patrick Dever (GB) 7:37.39 PR; 7. Michael Kibet (Ken) 7:37.80 PR; 8. Yemaneberhan Crippa (Ita) 7:37.90 NR; 9. Tom Mortimer (GB) 7:38.73 PR; 10. Sam Atkin (GB) 7:39.71 PR; 11. Fernando Carro (Spa) 7:41.20 PR; 12. Jack Rowe (GB) 7:42.15 PR; 13. Sergio Jiménez (Spa) 7:47.95 PR; 14. David McNeill (Aus) 7:49.32; 15. Ben Flanagan (Can) 7:54.32 PR;… rabbit—Adam Clarke (GB) (2:30.60).
110H(0.8): 1. Ronald Levy (Jam) 13.22; 2. Omar McLeod (Jam) 13.42; 3. Andy Pozzi (GB) 13.45; 4. Robert Dunning (US) 13.71; 5. Rasheed Broadbell (Jam) 13.84; 6. Tade Ojora (GB) 13.87; 7. Paolo Dal Molin (Ita) 13.97; 8. Freddie Crittenden (US) 19.26.
Non-DL 4 x 100: 1. Great Britain 38.27 (= lo-alt WL) (Ujah, Hughes, Kilty, Mitchell-Blake);
2. Canada 38.29 (Boateng, Blake, Ajomale, De Grasse); 3. Netherlands 38.49 (van Gool, Burnet, Garia, Martina); 4. Brazil 38.57; 5. All Stars 38.59 (Rodgers, Matadi, Young, J. Lyles); 6. Great Britain 39.36; 7. Select International 39.43.
Field Events
HJ: 1. Donald Thomas (Bah) 7-4½ (2.25); 2. Marco Fassinotti (Ita) 7-4½; 3. Fabian Delryd (Swe) 7-3¼ (2.22); 4. Tobias Potye (Ger) 7-3¼; 5. Péter Bakosi (Hun) 7-1¾ (2.18); 6. tie, Chris Baker (GB) & Joel Khan (GB) 7-¼ (2.14).
TJ: 1. Pedro Pablo Pichardo (Por) 57-5 (17.50) (56-8¾, p, p, p, p, 57-5) (17.29, p, p, p, p, 17.50); 2. Tiago Pereira (Por) 56-1¾ (17.11) PR (54-6½, 55-7½, p, f, 56-1¾, 54-0) (16.62, 16.95, p, f, 17.11, 16.46); 3. Tobia Bocchi (Ita) 55-11 (17.04) (55-11, p, 50-3½, p, p, 54-5½) (17.04, p, 15.33, p, p, 16.60) (DL protocol order: 1. Pichardo–Bocchi–Pereira); 4. Pablo Torrijos (Spa) 54-8 (16.66); 5. Almir dos Santos (Bra) 54-8 (16.66); 6. Ben Williams (GB) 53-2¾ (16.22).
JT: 1. Johannes Vetter (Ger) 279-8 (85.25) (258-10, 269-5, 266-7, f, 268-11, 279-8) (78.89, 82.13, 81.25, f, 81.96, 85.25); 2. Keshorn Walcott (Tri) 271-8 (82.81) (261-3, 262-7, 271-8, 266-0, p, 251-9) (79.62, 80.05, 82.81, 81.08, p, 76.74); 3. Julian Weber (Ger) 265-11 (81.07) (248-5, 258-10, 252-10, 265-11, 256-10, 253-2) (75.73, 78.89, 77.07, 81.07, 78.28, 77.16) (DL protocol order: 1. Vetter–Weber–Walcott); 4. Jakub Vadlejch (CzR) 265-3 (80.85); 5. Anderson Peters (Grn) 264-5 (80.59); 6. Gatis Čakšs (Lat) 253-0 (77.12); 7. Leandro Ramos (Por) 250-6 (76.35); 8. Patriks Gailums (Lat) 241-3 (73.54).
GATESHEAD DL WOMEN’S RESULTS
Non-DL 100(1.5): 1. Ajla Del Ponte (Swi) 11.19; 2. Khamica Bingham (Can) 11.23; 3. Crystal Emmanuel (Can) 11.36; 4. Marije van Hunenstijn (Neth) 11.41; 5. Leonie van Vliet (Neth) 11.62; 6. Jacqueline Madogo (Can) 11.74; 7. Cynthia Reinle (Swi) 11.77.
200(0.2): 1. Elaine Thompson-Herah (Jam) 22.43; 2. Jodie Williams (GB) 22.60; 3. Blessing Okagbare (Ngr) 22.61; 4. Tamara Clark (US) 22.62; 5. Beth Dobbin (GB) 22.92; 6. Dezerea Bryant (US) 22.95; 7. Daryll Neita (GB) 23.06 PR; 8. Natasha Morrison (Jam) 23.16.
400: 1. Stephenie Ann McPherson (Jam) 50.44; 2. Jodie Williams (GB) 50.94 PR; 3. Lieke Klaver (Neth) 51.54; 4. Natalia Kaczmarek (Pol) 51.71; 5. Nicole Yeargin (GB) 51.77; 6. Sada Williams (Bar) 52.34; 7. Ama Pipi (GB) 52.50; 8. Lisanne de Witte (Neth) 52.67.
Mile: 1. Kate Grace (US) 4:27.20 (WL, AL) (4:12.00);
2. Katie Snowden (GB) 4:28.04 (4:12.34); 3. Helen Schlachtenhaufen (US) 4:28.13 (4:12.16); 4. Marta Pérez (Spa) 4:28.24 PR (4:12.22); 5. Winnie Nanyondo (Uga) 4:29.08 (4:11.97); 6. Sarah Healy (Ire) 4:29.38 PR (4:12.72); 7. Rebecca Mehra (US) 4:30.80 PR (4:13.20); 8. Jessica Judd (GB) 4:31.18; 9. Marta García (Spa) 4:31.41 PR;… rabbits—Aneta Lemiesz (Pol) (66.79), Chanelle Price (US) ([2:17.07], 67.47 [3:24.54]).
100H(1.5): 1. Cindy Sember (GB) 12.69; 2. Payton Chadwick (US) 12.75; 3. Nadine Visser (Neth) 12.78; 4. Danielle Williams (Jam) 12.78; 5. Brittany Anderson (Jam) 12.81; 6. Tejyrica Robinson (US) 13.14; 7. Hannah Jones (Aus) 13.39.
400H: 1. Femke Bol (Neth) 53.24; 2. Shamier Little (US) 54.53; 3. Janieve Russell (Jam) 54.66; 4. Jessie Knight (GB) 54.69 PR; 5. Nnenya Hailey (US) 55.16; 6. Léa Sprunger (Swi) 55.39; 7. Meghan Beesley (GB) 57.04.
Non-DL 4 x 100: 1. Netherlands 42.84 (Samuel, Schippers, van Hunenstijn, Sedney); 2. Great Britain 42.92 (Philip, Lansiquot, Dobbin, Neita); 3. All Stars 43.45 (Robinson, Chadwick, Hailey, Morrison); 4. Switzerland 43.46; 5. Wales 45.25;… dq—Canada.
Field Events
PV: 1. Sandi Morris (US) 15-7¼ (4.76) (14-9½, 15-1½, 15-5½ [2], 15-7¼, 15-9¼ [xxx]) (4.51, 4.61, 4.71 [2], 4.76, 4.81 [xxx]); 2. Holly Bradshaw (GB) 15-5½ (4.71); 3. Wilma Murto (Fin) 15-1½ (4.61); 4. Nikoléta Kiriakopoúlou (Gre) 14-9½ (4.51); 5. Molly Caudery (GB) 14-9½; 6. Roberta Bruni (Ita) 14-3½ (4.36); 7. Olivia Gruver (US) 14-3½; 8. Michaela Meijer (Swe) 13-9¾ (4.21).
LJ: 1. Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk (Ukr) 22-2½ (6.77) (21-2½, 21-10, f, f, 22-2½, 21-10¾) (6.46, 6.65, f, f, 6.77, 6.67); 2. Fatima Diame (Spa) 21-10¾ (6.67) (21-¾, 21-10¾, 21-6¾, 20-6½, 21-2½, 21-2½) (6.42, 6.67, 6.57, 6.26, 6.46, 6.46); 3. Malaika Mihambo (Ger) 21-10 (6.65) (19-8, 20-11¼, 19-9½, 21-8¾, 21-4¾, 21-10) (5.99, 6.38, 6.03, 6.62, 6.52, 6.65) (DL protocol order: 1. Bekh-Romanchuk–Mihambo–Diame); 4. Jazmin Sawyers (GB) 21-8¾ (6.62); 5. Abigail Irozuru (GB) 21-8 (6.60); 6. Taliyah Brooks (US) 21-1½ (6.44); 7. Sha’Keela Saunders (US) 20-5¾ (6.24); 8. Katarina Johnson-Thompson (GB) 20-¼ (6.10);… 3f—Khaddi Sagnia (Swe).