LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND, August 26 — On an evening where cool winds challenged athletes and unusually packed stands inspired them, the stars aligned for another magnificent 100-meter dash. Nothing could stop Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce as at age 34 she ran the fastest race of her life, 10.60, to win at the Athletissima Meeting in the Stade Pierre de Coubertin.
Once again, the Jamaican women sprinters took center stage on the post-Tokyo DL circuit, and once again they delivered. Only this time, it was the veteran SAFP, out like a rocket, who proved uncatchable.
Catching a break with a near-ideal 1.7 tailwind, the 2-time Olympic gold medalist got out fast, with rival Elaine Thompson-Herah — who had run 10.54 to win at Prefontaine — chasing. Only this time, it became apparent two-thirds into the race that SAFP had maintained her top velocity better than ever before. The Tokyo champion would need a miracle to catch her.
That miracle never came, but ETH finished close, her 10.64 in 2nd proving to be the fastest losing time in history. Completing the sweep, Shericka Jackson’s 10.92 held off Marie-Josée Ta Lou’s 10.94.
“It was cold but I came out here to do my job,” said Fraser-Pryce, who moved to No. 2 on the all-time world list. “Believe it or not I still have not run my best race. I know there is more to give because I still need to work on perfecting my technique. There will be more from me this season.”
In the women’s triple jump, World Record holder Yulimar Rojas said, “I wanted to enjoy the crowd and give the public a good show.” That she did, with her first-round hop-step-jump (as opposed to triple jump) effort of 51-¾w (15.56) the best in DL history and the No. 2 performance all-time, all conditions as the wind read a healthy 3.5.
The 25-year-old Colombian followed that up with a foul, then a 50-7¼ (15.42) for No. 5 legal mark ever, 50-11 (15.52) for No. 2 ever, a pass, and a closing effort of 49-7 (15.11). Any of them would have been good enough to top runner-up Shanieka Ricketts of Jamaica (49-3½/15.02).
“I feel like I am in really good shape,” Rojas understated. “Now I go back to Spain, keep training well and keep my focus before coming back to Zürich for the Diamond League Final. I really think I can break my World Record again in Zürich.”
Another highlight came in the 400H, with the first matchup since the Games between the silver and bronze medalists, Dalilah Muhammad and Femke Bol.
Muhammad, in 5, got out fast as usual, with Bol (4) and Shamier Little (3) able to pace off her. But by hurdle 3, into the teeth of the wind, Bol had caught Muhammad and both she and Little moved ahead of her into the second turn. Clearly, it was not Muhammad’s day, as she faded out of contention. Up front, Little had moved alongside Bol. They cleared hurdle 8 together and at 9, the American sported a lead of several feet.
But Little could not match the Dutchwoman’s drive down the straight. She came off the final hurdle more powerfully and built a 5m margin by the line to win in a meet record 53.05 to Little’s 53.78. Ukrainian Anna Ryzhykova got past Muhammad for 3rd, 54.32–54.50.
“The conditions were difficult,” admitted Bol. “After the Olympics I was mentally tired. But the public helps enormously. I am still in shape.”
The men’s 200 provided more thrills. Fred Kerley got out fastest but coming off the turn, Kenny Bednarek hit full stride. They hit 100 even at 10-flat but Bednarek continued to pour it on, crossing the line a stride ahead of Kerley. The 3.2 wind helped them to impressive times, 19.65w and 19.77w, with Olympic 400 champ Steven Gardiner’s long stride carrying him to 3rd in 20.11w.
“I was really hoping to PR tonight as I know this is a fast track, but the wind was too strong,” said Bednarek, who set his legal best of 19.68 in the Olympic final. This was his tenth sub-20 of the year, a record.
Devon Allen powered to a win in the 110H in a wind-aided (2.9) 13.07w. Starting next to Olympic champion Hansle Parchment, the 26-year-old American hit three hurdles but still forged a solid lead by hurdle 7. That was the barrier that Parchment slammed, throwing off his momentum. He jogged across the line in 8th at 13.58w.
Behind Allen, Swiss Jason Joseph finished best in 13.11w, ahead of Pascal Martinot-Lagarde (13.17w) and Daniel Roberts (13.23w).
Said Allen, “I had a good start. I knew that I was ready to run fast, like 13.0. That it comes out here, is a great feeling and winning means a lot for me.”
The distance races were perhaps slowed by the wind, but still the matchups were crucial. In the men’s 3000, only Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Stewart McSweyn went with the rabbits. Erik Sowinski guided them through the first kilo in 2:29.71 and Kenyan Vincent Kibet peeled off just before the 2K, McSweyn crossing in 5:02.25.
At that point, the two had a lead of 30m on the chase pack. However, the only one who looked to have an interest in chasing was Berihu Aregawi, the Olympic 10K 4th-placer. The Ethiopian, who had been 9m behind at the bell, sprinted into the lead on the backstretch.
Only the Olympic 1500 champion could respond, and the young Norwegian took the lead for the first time with 50 to go and won, 7:33.06–7:33.39, with McSweyn at 7:35.06. Said Ingebrigtsen, “McSweyn had told me that he would push the pace. I wanted to start at a moderate pace but I knew that we could not let McSweyn go. It was a really tough race, but I was very motivated to take the win.”
Australia’s Linden Hall almost scored a steal in the women’s 1500, being the only competitor to follow Chanelle Price’s 62.63/2:07.43 pacing. She led at 1200 in 3:13.31 but could not hold off the 63.1 kick of 20-year-old Freweyni Gebrezibeher, the Tokyo 4th-placer, who won 4:02.24 to 4:02.95. American Josette Norris continued her string of strong showings with a 3rd in 4:03.27.
The finish of men’s 800 looked a lot like the Prefontaine race, with Canada’s Marco Arop beating all three Olympic medalists by going after the rabbit at the bell while the rest of the field sat back. By 550 when the rabbit dropped, Arop had a 2-stride lead on the rest. Olympic champ Emmanuel Korir came after him but the Canadian held on to win by 0.12 with his 1:44.50.
“Not including the rabbit, I led from start to finish,” said Arop. “I was a little concerned about going out too fast but I found the strength to finish well.”
Ryan Crouser continued his season-long rampage with the 16-pound ball, topping the field with his opening throw of 74-10 (22.81) and adding 4 more throws that would have beaten runner-up Tom Walsh’s 72-6¼ (22.10) in the final round.
Said the winner, “It wasn’t an easy competition as Tom Walsh put good pressure on me in the final round.”
The non-DL 400 featured hurdle WR holder Karsten Warholm making a rare appearance on the flat. He got his favorite lane, 7, and went out hard, but the last half of the race did not go his way. After making up the stagger on Wil London in lane 8, Warholm saw Isaac Makwala charge into the lead on the final straight. As the Norwegian faded to 4th in 45.51, London closed hard to nip Makwala, 45.17–45.20.
LAUSANNE MEN’S RESULTS
200(3.2): 1. Kenny Bednarek (US) 19.65w; 2. Fred Kerley (US) 19.77w; 3. Steven Gardiner (Bah) 20.11w; 4. Aaron Brown (Can) 20.18w; 5. Yancarlos Martinez (DR) 20.30w; 6. William Reais (Swi) 20.46w; 7. Eseosa Desalu (Ita) 20.56w;… dq—Isiah Young (US).
Non-DL 400: 1. Wil London (US) 45.17; 2. Isaac Makwala (Bot) 45.20; 3. Liemarvin Bonevacia (Neth) 45.41; 4. Karsten Warholm (Nor) 45.51; 5. Vernon Norwood (US) 45.59; 6. Jochem Dobber (Neth) 45.75.
800: 1. Marco Arop (Can) 1:44.50; 2. Emmanuel Korir (Ken) 1:44.62; 3. Ferguson Rotich (Ken) 1:45.48; 4. Gabriel Tual (Fra) 1:45.70; 5. Clayton Murphy (US) 1:45.77; 6. Amel Tuka (Bos) 1:45.98; 7. Cornelius Tuwei (Ken) 1:46.53; 8. Adrian Ben (Spa) 1:46.74; 9. Peter Bol (Aus) 1:47.49; 10. Patryk Dobek (Pol) 1:50.60;… rabbit—Patryk Sieradzki (Pol) (51.07).
3000: 1. Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Nor) 7:33.06; 2. Berihu Aregawi (Eth) 7:33.39 PR; 3. Stewart McSweyn (Aus) 7:35.06 (5:02.25); 4. Birhanu Yemataw (Bhr) 7:36.94; 5. Selemon Barega (Eth) 7:37.62; 6. Muktar Edris (Eth) 7:40.30; 7. Jacob Krop (Ken) 7:41.50; 8. Abel Kipsang (Ken) 7:42.21 PR; 9. Moh Ahmed (Can) 7:42.53; 10. Grant Fisher (US) 7:42.77; 11. Nicholas Kimeli (Ken) 7:43.71; 12. Bethwel Birgen (Ken) 7:54.27; 13. Jonas Raess (Swi) 7:56.07 PR;… dnf—Getnet Wale (Eth), Andrew Butchart (GB), Filip Ingebrigtsen (Nor);… rabbit—Erik Sowinski (US) (2:29.71).
110H(2.9): 1. Devon Allen (US) 13.07w; 2. Jason Joseph (Swi) 13.11w; 3. Pascal Martinot-Lagarde (Fra) 13.17w; 4. Daniel Roberts (US) 13.23w; 5. Ronald Levy (Jam) 13.40w; 6. Koen Smet (Neth) 13.42w; 7. Andy Pozzi (GB) 13.45w; 8. Hansle Parchment (Jam) 13.58w.
Field Events
HJ(8/25): 1. Ilya Ivanyuk (Rus) 7-6½ (2.30) (6-11½, 7-1, 7-2½, 7-4¼ [2], 7-5¼, 7-6½ [2], 7-9¾ [xxx]) (2.12, 2.16, 2.20, 2.24 [2], 2.27, 2.30 [2], 2.38 [xxx]); 2. Shelby McEwen (US) 7-5¼ (2.27); 3. Andrii Protsenko (Ukr) 7-5¼; 4. Edgar Rivera (Mex) 7-5¼; 5. Gianmarco Tamberi (Ita) 7-4¼ (2.24); 6. Loïc Gasch (Swi) 7-4¼; 7. Donald Thomas (Bah) 7-1 (2.16);… nh—Maksim Nedasekau (Blr).
PV: 1. Chris Nilsen (US) 19-1 (5.82) (17-9¼, 18-5¼, 18-9¼, 19-1, 19-5 [xxx]) (5.42, 5.62, 5.72, 5.82, 5.92 [xxx]); 2. Sam Kendricks (US) 19-1 (17-9¼, 18-5¼, 18-9¼, 19-1 [2], 19-5 [xxx]) (5.42, 5.62, 5.72, 5.82 [2], 5.92 [xxx]); 3. Timur Morgunov (Rus) 18-9¼ (5.72); 4. Mondo Duplantis (Swe) 18-5¼ (5.62); 5. tie, Ethan Cormont (Fra), KC Lightfoot (US) & Ernest John Obiena (Phi) 18-1¼ (5.52); 8. Piotr Lisek (Pol) 17-9¼ (5.42); 9. Valentin Lavillenie (Fra) 17-9¼; 10. Renaud Lavillenie (Fra) 17-5½ (5.32).
SP: 1. Ryan Crouser (US) 74-10 (22.81) ((x, 22 W; x, 18 A) (74-10, 74-5¾, 73-8¼, 73-7½, f, 74-3½) (22.81, 22.70, 22.46, 22.44, f, 22.64); 2. Tom Walsh (NZ) 72-6¼ (22.10) (70-10, 72-4¼, 71-6, f, f, 72-6¼) (21.59, 22.05, 21.79, f, f, 22.10); 3. Filip Mihaljević (Cro) 70-1½ (21.37); 4. Armin Sinančević (Ser) 70-½ (21.35); 5. Joe Kovacs (US) 69-11½ (21.32); 6. Zane Weir (Ita) 69-6¾ (21.20); 7. Tomáš Staněk (CzR) 69-¾ (21.05); 8. Darlan Romani (Bra) 68-10¾ (21.00); 9. Payton Otterdahl (US) 64-6 (19.66).
JT: 1. Johannes Vetter (Ger) 290-6 (88.54) (277-3, f, 290-6, f, 283-9, 283-3) (84.51, f, 88.54, f, 86.49, 86.34); 2. Jakub Vadlejch (CzR) 281-3 (85.73); 3. Anderson Peters (Grn) 276-8 (84.32); 4. Andrian Mardare (Mol) 271-0 (82.61); 5. Vítězslav Veselý (CzR) 266-4 (81.19); 6. Pavel Mialeshka (Blr) 266-4 (81.18); 7. Aliaksei Katkavets (Blr) 264-11 (80.76); 8. Gatis Čakšs (Lat) 247-11 (75.57); 9. Alexandru Novac (Rom) 238-10 (72.81).
LAUSANNE WOMEN’S RESULTS
100(1.7): 1. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jam) 10.60 PR (2, 2 W); 2. Elaine Thompson-Herah (Jam) 10.64 (x, =7 W);
3. Shericka Jackson (Jam) 10.92; 4. Marie Josée Ta Lou (CI) 10.94; 5. Daryll Neita (GB) 10.96 =PR; 6. Ajla Del Ponte (Swi) 10.97; 7. Mujinga Kambundji (Swi) 11.01; 8. Alexandra Burghardt (Ger) 11.12.
(best-ever mark-for-place: 2)
Non-DL 100(2.7)–1. Nadine Visser (Neth) 11.11w; 2. Salomé Kora (Swi) 11.12w; 3. Imani Lansiquot (GB) 11.19w.
Non-DL 200(2.5): 1. Marije van Hunenstijn (Neth) 22.78w; 2. Corinna Schwab (Ger) 22.97w.
400: 1. Marileidy Paulino (DR) 50.40; 2. Sada Williams (Bar) 50.77; 3. Quanera Hayes (US) 51.06; 4. Natalia Kaczmarek (Pol) 51.10; 5. Candice McLeod (Jam) 51.26; 6. Lieke Klaver (Neth) 51.73; 7. Jodie Williams (GB) 52.12; 8. Rachel Pellaud (Swi) 53.52.
Non-DL 400: 1. Polina Miller (Rus) 52.16.
Non-DL 800: 1. Ellie Baker (GB) 2:00.45; 2. Lore Hoffmann (Swi) 2:01.06; 3. Hedda Hynne (Nor) 2:01.17; 4. Eglay Nalyanya (Ken) 2:01.26; 5. Lovisa Lindh (Swe) 2:01.52; 6. Gabriela Gajanová (Svk) 2:01.70; 7. Delia Sclabas (Swi) 2:02.18; 8. Noélie Yarigo (Ben) 2:02.24;… rabbit—Aneta Lemiesz (Pol) (57.92).
1500: 1. Freweyni Gebreezibeher (Eth) 4:02.24; 2. Linden Hall (Aus) 4:02.95 (3:13.31); 3. Josette Norris (US) 4:03.27; 4. Marta Pérez (Spa) 4:03.79; 5. Jemma Reekie (GB) 4:04.72; 6. Hirut Meshesha (Eth) 4:05.28; 7. Hanna Klein (Ger) 4:09.58; 8. Katie Snowden (GB) 4:09.81; 9. Gaia Sabbatini (Ita) 4:10.61; 10. Kristiina Mäki (CzR) 4:12.57; 11. Caterina Granz (Ger) 4:19.61; 12. Sara Kuivisto (Fin) 4:20.68;… rabbit—Chanelle Price (US) (62.63, 64.80 [2:07.43]).
400H: 1. Femke Bol (Neth) 53.05; 2. Shamier Little (US) 53.78; 3. Anna Ryzhykova (Ukr) 54.32; 4. Dalilah Muhammad (US) 54.50; 5. Léa Sprunger (Swi) 54.75; 6. Janieve Russell (Jam) 54.89; 7. Leah Nugent (Jam) 56.41; 8. Viktoriya Tkachuk (Ukr) 56.53.
Non-DL 4 x 100: 1. Great Britain 42.44 (Philip, Lansiquot, Nelson, Neita); 2. Switzerland 42.47 (Dietsche, Del Ponte, Kambundji, Kora); 3. Netherlands 43.52 (Visser, van Vliet, van Hunenstijn, Sedney); 4. Team International 44.14; 5. Switzerland B 44.24; 6. Poland 44.38; 7. Austria 44.49 NR.
Field Events
HJ: 1. Mariya Lasitskene (Rus) 6-6 (1.98) (6-¾, 6-2¼, 6-3½ [2], 6-4¾ [3], 6-6, 6-7 [xxx]) (1.85, 1.89, 1.92 [2], 1.95 [3], 1.98, 2.01 [xxx]); 2. Yaroslava Mahuchikh (Ukr) 6-6 (6-¾, 6-2¼ [2], 6-3½ [2], 6-4¾ [2], 6-6 [3], 6-7 [xxx]) (1.85, 1.89 [2], 1.92 [2], 1.95 [2], 1.98 [3], 2.01 [xxx]); 3. Nicola McDermott (Aus) 6-4¾ (1.95); 4. Iryna Herashchenko (Ukr) 6-3½ (1.92); 5. Kamila Lićwinko (Pol) 6-2¼ (1.89); 6. tie, Yuliya Levchenko (Ukr) & Mirela Demireva (Bul) 6-¾ (1.85); 8. Eleanor Patterson (Aus) 6-¾; 9. Inika McPherson (US) 5-11¼ (1.81).
LJ: 1. Khaddi Sagnia (Swe) 22-8½ (6.92) =PR (f, 21-10¾, 22-8½, f, 18-5¾, 21-9½) (f, 6.67, 6.92, f, 5.63, 6.64); 2. Ivana Španović (Ser) 22-5¾w (6.85) (22-¼, 22-2¼, 22-1½, 21-7½, 22-5¾w, 22-1) (6.71, 6.76, 6.74, 6.59, 6.85w, 6.73); 3. Jazmin Sawyers (GB) 21-10¼ (6.66) (20-8½, f, 21-6¼, 21-3½, 21-10¼, 21-1¼) (6.31, f, 6.56, 6.49, 6.66, 6.43) (DL protocol order: Španović–Sagnia–Sawyers); 4. Chantel Malone (IVB) 21-9½ (6.64); 5. Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk (Ukr) 21-5½w (6.54) (21-2¾/6.47); 6. Nastassia Mironchyk-Ivanova (Blr) 21-3¼ (6.48); 7. Abigail Irozuru (GB) 21-0 (6.40); 8. Daniela Schlatter (Swi) 19-8¾ (6.01).
TJ: 1. Yulimar Rojas (Ven) 51-¾w (15.56) (a-c: x, 2 W) (51-¾w, f, 50-7¼ [x, 5 W], 50-11 [x, 2 W], p, 49-7) (15.56w, f, 15.42, 15.52, p, 15.11);
2. Shanieka Ricketts (Jam) 49-3½w (15.02) (47-7, 49-3½w, 48-7½, 48-4¾, 48-7¼, 47-7¾) (14.50, 15.02w, 14.82, 14.75, 14.81, 14.52); 3. Hanna Minenko (Isr) 47-5¾ (14.47) (47-5¾, 46-6, f, f, f, 41-5) (14.47, 14.17, f, f, f, 12.62); 4. Kim Williams (Jam) 46-10¾ (14.29); 5. Patrícia Mamona (Por) 46-7½ (14.21); 6. Thea Lafond (Dom) 46-4¾ (14.14); 7. Liadagmis Povea (Cub) 46-1½ (14.06); 8. Kristiina Mäkelä (Fin) 45-8½ (13.93);… 3f—Senni Salminen (Fin).
