SZÉKESFEHÉRVÁR, HUNGARY, July 18 — In her pro debut over 100m, Texas alum Julien Alfred knocked one out of the park, taking down undefeated Sha’Carri Richardson at the István Gyulai Memorial meet in this city 40M (64K) southwest of the stadium that will host the World Championships a month from now.
Currently No. 4 on the yearly list, the St. Lucian caught the best start of the field from lane 6 and was not headed en route to her 10.89 victory with an 0.7 breeze.
Richardson, in lane 4, revealed convincingly that her Achilles heel is her lackluster start, which left her in a knot in 3rd after the opening strides, with both Alfred and Tamari Davis well ahead. She fought her way to 2nd, in 10.97, passing Davis in the closing strides, but could make no headway on Alfred. Thus ended Richardson’s 5-meet unbeaten streak in 100 finals this year. Alfred’s string of 6 — all in collegiate competition plus a win at the Central American and Caribbean Games two weeks ago — lives on along with her skein of 5 straight wins in the 200 since her last defeat at the NCAA Indoor.
Davis finished in 11.02 and TeeTee Terry, who closed as fast as Richardson, was 4th in 11.07.
“A lot of people would say it is a surprise result,” said winner Alfred, “but I felt the power and I knew I could do it. I could not be in any better shape one month before the World Championships.”
In the 200, Shericka Jackson — caught on the losing end of a century duel with Richardson 2 days earlier in Chorzów — found herself behind another Longhorn pro debutante, Rhasidat Adeleke, at the halfway point, and even with American Kayla White. However, none could match the world champion’s closing drive as she won in 22.02, with Adeleke at 22.36. Bahamian Anthonique Strachan (22.45) caught White (22.51) for 3rd.
Olympic champion Steven Gardiner served a reminder that he will be a force to contend with in the Budapest 1-lapper. Out hard over the first 200, the Bahamian ate up all the staggers and entered the homestretch with a margin that could not be challenged. His 43.74 took over the world lead and comfortably won over Jamaican Rusheen McDonald (44.03—his fastest time in 8 years) and Vernon Norwood (44.63).
“I think that is my old self again out there and I’m happy,” said Gardiner of his first race since the Rabat DL in May. “It gives me more confidence to know that I can do anything, it’s possible. I went out there and I did what I had to do and I surprised myself today.”
The women’s highs brought another great race, with World Record holder Tobi Amusan staying ahead of Nia Ali the entire way to win in 12.35. Ali’s 12.41 led Americans Alaysha Johnson (12.50) and Tia Jones (12.51).
Hurdler Daniel Roberts, after a disastrous 13.90 for last in Chorzów, recovered well to fly to a 13.12 that edged Jamaicans Hansle Parchment and Tyler Mason, both 13.14.
Andrenette Knight, 2nd in the Jamaican Trials, upended the winner, Janieve Russell, with a dominating lap over the hurdles. It was the fastest race ever for the 26-year-old Knight, who clocked 53.26 over Russell (53.72) and Rushell Clayton (53.79).
Jamaicans swept the men’s 100 ahead of 4th-placer Marvin Bracy-Williams (10.11). Yohan Blake (10.04) led Ackeem Blake (10.09) and Rohan Watson (10.10) across the line.
In the 800, Australian Peter Bol battled France’s Gabriel Tual to the line, edging him 1:44.48–1:44.55 while Clayton Murphy finished 3rd in 1:45.53.
Action on the track concluded with a surprising 200. Erriyon Knighton came off the turn a half-stride behind Andrew Hudson. The World bronze medalist soon caught the Jamaican champion but couldn’t hold off the late-race drive of Dominican Alexander Ogando in lane 8, who won 19.99–20.05, with Hudson 3rd at 20.36.
While the winds didn’t favor monster discus throws, the competition brought together the event’s heavy hitters for a preview of Budapest. Olympic champion Daniel Ståhl launched his winning 226-4 (68.98) in round 2 and then fouled the rest of his throws. Lithuania’s ’17 world champ Andrius Gudžius took 2nd with his round 2 toss of 222-0 (67.66). Current world champion Kristjan Čeh struggled but could go no farther than 221-9 (67.60) while Mykolas Alekna, fresh off his Euro U23 win, threw 220-6 (67.21) for 4th.
Elsewhere on the field, Americans Ryan Crouser and Joe Kovacs came out 1-2 in the shot, Crouser hitting his best of 73-10¼ (22.51) in round 4 and Kovacs opening at a 72-4½ (22.06) he couldn’t improve upon. In the hammer, world leader Wojciech Nowicki of Poland couldn’t match a consistently strong series from Ukraine’s Mykhaylo Kokhan, who triumphed 260-4 (79.37) to 255-6 (77.89).
Greece’s Olympic champion Miltiádis Tentóglou came from behind on his final long jump — the scenario under which he triumphed in Tokyo — to span 27-2½ (8.29), beating Jamaica’s ‘19 world champion Tajay Gayle (27-½/8.24).
GYULAI MEN’S RESULTS
100(-0.1): 1. Yohan Blake (Jam) 10.04; 2. Ackeem Blake (Jam) 10.09; 3. Rohan Watson (Jam) 10.10; 4. Marvin Bracy-Williams (US) 10.11; 5. Emmanuel Matadi (Lbr) 10.13; 6. Ryiem Forde (Jam) 10.19; 7. Pjai Austin (US) 10.35; 8. Ronnie Baker (US) 10.48.
200(1.1): 1. Alexander Ogando (DR) 19.99; 2. Erriyon Knighton (US) 20.05; 3. Andrew Hudson (Jam) 20.36; 4. Julian Forte (Jam) 20.41; 5. Kyree King (US) 20.50;… dq—Elijah Morrow (US).
400: 1. Steven Gardiner (Bah) 43.74 (WL);
2. Rusheen McDonald (Jam) 44.03; 3. Vernon Norwood (US) 44.63; 4. Attila Molnár (Hun) 44.98 =NR; 5. Ryan Willie (US) 44.98; 6. Leungo Scotch (Bot) 45.10; 7. Zibani Ngozi (Bot) 46.01.
800: 1. Peter Bol (Aus) 1:44.48; 2. Gabriel Tual (Fra) 1:44.55; 3. Clayton Murphy (US) 1:45.53; 4. Isaiah Jewett (US) 1:46.08; 5. Dániel Huller (Hun) 1:46.11; 6. Balázs Vindics (Hun) 1:46.20; 7. Joseph Deng (Aus) 1:47.19.
St: 1. Mohammed Tindoufti (Mor) 8:15.73; 2. Samuel Firewu (Eth) 8:16.40 PR; 3. Leonard Chemutai (Uga) 8:17.14 PR; 4. Jean-Simon Desgagnés (Can) 8:17.40 PR; 5. Karl Bebendorf (Ger) 8:19.59 PR; 6. Geoffrey Kirwa (Ken) 8:22.54 PR; 7. Will Battershill (GB) 8:24.37; 8. Ben Buckingham (Aus) 8:25.07; 9. Jens Mergenthaler (Ger) 8:28.50; 10. Velten Schneider (Ger) 8:28.91; 11. István Palkovits (Hun) 8:31.17; 12. Sebastián Martos (Spa) 8:34.71.
110H(0.5): 1. Daniel Roberts (US) 13.12; 2. Hansle Parchment (Jam) 13.14; 3. Tyler Mason (Jam) 13.14; 4. Eric Edwards (US) 13.34; 5. Damion Thomas (Jam) 13.45; 6. Freddie Crittenden (US) 13.50; 6. Michael Dickson (US) 13.50.
Field Events
LJ: 1. Miltiádis Tentóglou (Gre) 27-2½ (8.29); 2. Tajay Gayle (Jam) 27-½ (8.24); 3. Jarrion Lawson (US) 26-1¾ (7.97); 4. Will Williams (US) 25-10¾ (7.89); 5. Héctor Santos (Spa) 25-10 (7.87); 6. Marquis Dendy (US) 25-6 (7.77).
SP: 1. Ryan Crouser (US) 73-10¼ (22.51) (70-3¾, 73-6¾, f, 73-10¼, 72-6½, 73-8¼) (21.43, 22.42, f, 22.51, 22.11, 22.46); 2. Joe Kovacs (US) 72-4½ (22.06) (72-4½, 72-3¾, f, f, 69-11½, f) (22.06, 22.04, f, f, 21.32, f); 3. Tom Walsh (NZ) 71-8¼ (21.85); 4. Payton Otterdahl (US) 70-10½ (21.60); 5. Filip Mihaljević (Cro) 69-8¾ (21.25); 6. Tomáš Staněk (CzR) 69-3½ (21.12); 7. Josh Awotunde (US) 68-8½ (20.94); 8. Armin Sinančević (Ser) 67-½ (20.43); 9. Chukwuebuka Enekwechi (Ngr) 66-11½ (20.41); 10. Zane Weir (Ita) 65-8¼ (20.02).
DT: 1. Daniel Ståhl (Swe) 226-4 (68.98) (217-6, 226-4, f, f, f, f) (66.30, 68.98, f, f, f, f); 2. Andrius Gudžius (Lit) 222-0 (67.66); 3. Kristjan Čeh (Slo) 221-9 (67.60); 4. Mykolas Alekna (Lit) 220-6 (67.21); 5. Matt Denny (Aus) 207-5 (63.23).
HT: 1. Mykhaylo Kokhan (Ukr) 260-4 (79.37) (255-5, 250-11, 254-7, 257-11, 260-4, 258-10) (77.87, 76.49, 77.60, 78.61, 79.37, 78.90); 2. Wojciech Nowicki (Pol) 255-6 (77.89); 3. Bence Halász (Hun) 255-4 (77.82); 4. Eivind Prestegård Henriksen (Nor) 246-8 (75.19); 5. Gabriel Enrique Kehr (Chl) 241-7 (73.65); 6. Donát Varga (Hun) 241-3 (73.55);… nm—Pawel Fajdek (Pol).
GYULAI WOMEN’S RESULTS
100(0.7): 1. Julien Alfred (StL) 10.89; 2. Sha’Carri Richardson (US) 10.97; 3. Tamari Davis (US) 11.02; 4. TeeTee Terry (US) 11.07; 5. Boglárka Takács (Hun) 11.18; 6. Melissa Jefferson (US) 11.21; 7. Natasha Morrison (Jam) 11.32.
200(1.0): 1. Shericka Jackson (Jam) 22.02; 2. Rhasidat Adeleke (Ire) 22.36; 3. Anthonique Strachan (Bah) 22.45; 4. Kayla White (US) 22.51; 5. Tamara Clark (US) 22.77; 6. Dezerea Bryant (US) 23.23; 7. Briana Williams (Jam) 23.38.
400: 1. Sada Williams (Bar) 50.34; 2. Andrea Miklos (Rom) 50.80; 3. Susanne Gogl-Walli (Aut) 50.87 PR; 4. Makenzie Dunmore (US) 51.20; 5. Tereza Petržilková (CzR) 51.28 PR; 6. Charokee Young (Jam) 51.35; 7. Line Kloster (Nor) 52.17; 8. Kaylin Whitney (US) 52.75.
1500: 1. Nelly Chepchirchir (Ken) 4:00.18;
2. Brenda Chebet (Ken) 4:01.25 (9, x WJ);
3. Winnie Nanyondo (Uga) 4:01.96; 4. Marta Pérez (Spa) 4:02.35; 5. Adelle Tracey (Jam) 4:02.61; 6. Agueda Muńoz (Spa) 4:03.78 PR; 7. Federica Del Buono (Ita) 4:05.95; 8. Qsanet Alemu (Eth) 4:06.16 PR; 9. Elise Vanderelst (Bel) 4:06.21; 10. Aleksandra Płocińska (Pol) 4:06.84 PR.
100H(-0.5): 1. Tobi Amusan (Ngr) 12.35; 2. Nia Ali (US) 12.41; 3. Alaysha Johnson (US) 12.50; 4. Tia Jones (US) 12.51; 5. Pia Skrzyszowska (Pol) 12.65; 6. Luca Kozák (Hun) 12.87; 7. Gréta Kerekes (Hun) 12.92 PR.
400H: 1. Andrenette Knight (Jam) 53.26 PR; 2. Janieve Russell (Jam) 53.72; 3. Rushell Clayton (Jam) 53.79; 4. Shiann Salmon (Jam) 55.04; 5. Ayomide Folorunso (Ita) 55.63; 6. Viktoriya Tkachuk (Ukr) 55.77; 7. Gianna Woodruff (Pan) 56.43; 8. Viivi Lehikoinen (Fin) 56.54.
LJ: 1. Milica Gardašević (Ser) 22-3¾ (6.80); 2. Ese Brume (Ngr) 21-11½ (6.69); 3. Petra Beáta Banhidi-Farkas (Hun) 21-10¼ (6.66); 4. Quanesha Burks (US) 21-9½ (6.64); 5. Brooke Buschkuehl (Aus) 21-7¼ (6.58); 6. Chanice Porter (Jam) 21-5¼ (6.53); 7. Diána Lesti (Hun) 21-4¼ (6.51).
