MARRAKECH, MOROCCO, May 19 — The Marrakech diamond wasn’t particularly shiny, perhaps because most of the glitter was at the Los Angeles Grand Prix the day before. The fourth Diamond League stop produced some performances that were noteworthy, but not spectacular. Even the meet’s lone world leader came in an event (the women’s 800) where some of the biggest stars haven’t fully flexed their outdoor muscles yet.
The event with the most star power was the men’s discus, where newly minted World Record holder Mykolas Alekna, throwing in his first Diamond League meet, took yet another foray beyond 70 meters. His 231-11 (70.70) in the fourth round easily bested a field that included event greats Daniel Ståhl and Kristjan Čeh.
Australia’s Matt Denny took the early lead (and his best of the day) at 222-3 (67.74), but by the next round Alekna was in control at 229-5 (69.94). The Lithuanian’s final toss of 223-8 (68.18) also would have given him the win. World and Olympic champion Ståhl placed 3rd in 221-5 (67.49), while Čeh had an off day — his lone legal throw of 212-1 (64.64) placed 7th.
If Alekna can maintain that 70-plus consistency, the 21-year-old could be ready to trade up from the Worlds silver and bronze he earned in 2022 and 2023.
“I’m happy with my result, over 70 meters, that’s what I hoped for,” said Alekna. “Yesterday I had a really long flight from the United States, so I wasn’t as fresh, but I’m happy with it.”
In that women’s 800, South African Prudence Sekgodisa took the global lead away from the 1:57.56 by both Uganda’s Halimah Nakaayi and Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma in the LA meet.
The race was led through halfway by an actual competitor, as the pacesetter faltered and Ethiopia’s Habitam Alemu went past the bell in 57.07.
Sekgodisa attempted to pass on the inside on the backstretch, but Alemu wisely hugged the rail into the curve — and then unwisely moved wide in the stretch. This time, Sekgodisa seized the gift. Her 1:57.26 was a big PR (beating her 1:58.05 from March 2), while Alemu held on for 2nd in 1:57.70.
“I didn’t expect to run so fast,” Sekgodisa said. “Winning was in my mind but not with such a fast time. It’s crazy fast. I am so proud of myself tonight. Achieving a world lead and a personal best is just amazing. But I cannot say that this performance will change something for me in terms of goals and expectations. For the Paris Olympics, I will try to reach the final.”
Of course, most of the crowd in Marrakech was there to see Moroccan national hero Soufiane El Bakkali win the steeple, and he did not disappoint. The Olympic and double World champion looked a little rusty, seemingly a little fatigued over the last two barriers, but handled the available competition well enough. (World record holder Lamecha Girma was at the meet but ran the 1500.)
In typical fashion, his final sprint gave him the victory, which was good for American viewers since NBC showed little more than the last lap. El Bakkali took the lead from Ethiopian Getnet Wale on the penultimate curve — a little earlier than his championship runs, when he waited until the water jump — and narrowly held him off the rest of the way, winning in 8:09.40. Wale was 0.38 back.
“I suffered from an injury which stopped me from participating in many events,” El Bakkali said. “This year is very important for me but the injury came in a very bad time. I was hesitating to participate today but I eventually decided with my coach to run. I’m so happy for winning in front of my supporters, as winning at home has always a different taste.”
In the women’s shot, American Chase Jackson showed she’s ready to stay on top of the world for another year by topping a talented field. She hit 20 meters-even (65-7½) on her second throw, plus tosses of 64-6 (19.66) and 64-4½ (19.62). German Yemisi Ogunleye finished 2nd in 63-7¾ (19.40) and Budapest silver medalist Sarah Mitton of Canada took 3rd in 63-6¼ (19.36). American Maggie Ewen was not at her best, placing 5th in 60-3¼ (18.37).
“Twenty meters is pretty much where I wanted to be tonight,” said Jackson. “At this time of the season, I don’t want to throw too far. I prefer to focus on my technique and try to be consistent. I keep the big throw for the Paris Olympics.”
MARRAKECH DL MEN’S RESULTS
100(-0.8): 1. Emmanuel Eseme (Cam) 10.11; 2. Andre De Grasse (Can) 10.19; 3. Jeremiah Azu (GB) 10.25; 4. Brandon Hicklin (US) 10.26; 5. Rohan Watson (Jam) 10.26; 6. Pjai Austin (US) 10.29.
400: 1. Alexander Doom (Bel) 44.51 PR; 2. Muzala Samukonga (Zam) 44.54; 3. Bayapo Ndori (Bot) 44.59; 4. Lythe Pillay (SA) 44.78; 5. Emmanuel Bamidele (Ngr) 44.88; 6. Quincy Hall (US) 45.52.
800: 1. Emmanuel Wanyonyi (Ken) 1:43.84; 2. Wycliffe Kinyamal (Ken) 1:43.98; 3. Yanis Meziane (Fra) 1:44.13; 4. Tshepiso Masalela (Bot) 1:44.14; 5. Ben Pattison (GB) 1:44.75; 6. Adrián Ben (Spa) 1:45.21; 7. Daniel Rowden (GB) 1:45.37;… rabbit—Ludovic le Meur (Fra) (49.76).
1500: 1. Azeddine Habz (Fra) 3:32.86 (2:52.18); 2. George Mills (GB) 3:33.47; 3. Elliot Giles (GB) 3:33.50; 4. Lamecha Girma (Eth) 3:33.54; 5. Adel Mechaal (Spa) 3:34.22; 6. Hafid Rizky (Mor) 3:34.52 PR; 7. Teddese Lemi (Eth) 3:34.83; 8. Tshepo Tshite (SA) 3:35.21;… rabbits—Mounir Akbache (Fra) (55.98), Alexandre Selles (Fra) (1:54.57).
St: 1. Soufiane El Bakkali (Mor) 8:09.40; 2. Getnet Wale (Eth) 8:09.78 (5:30.66); 3. Amos Serem (Ken) 8:10.82; 4. Samuel Firewu (Eth) 8:11.73; 5. Daniel Arce (Spa) 8:12.28; 6. Hillary Bor (US) 8:13.30; 7. Djilali Bedrani (Fra) 8:13.73; 8. Mohamed Amine Jihnaoui (Tun) 8:13.86;… rabbit—Abderraffia Bouassel (Mor) (2:42.62).
Field Events
TJ: 1. Lázaro Martínez (Cub) 56-1¼ (17.10); 2. Pedro Pablo Pichardo (Por) 55-6¼ (16.92); 3. Almir dos Santos (Bra) 55-5½ (16.90); 4. Max Heß (Ger) 55-3½ (16.85); 5. Jean-Marc Pontvianne (Fra) 53-10½ (16.42); 6. Tiago Pereira (Por) 53-6¼ (16.31); 7. Christian Taylor (US) 53-¼ (16.16).
DT: 1. Mykolas Alekna (Lit) 231-11 (70.70) (f, 229-5, 221-3, 231-11, f, 223-8) (f, 69.94, 67.44, 70.70, f, 68.18); 2. Matt Denny (Aus) 222-3 (67.74); 3. Daniel Ståhl (Swe) 221-5 (67.49); 4. Traves Smikle (Jam) 216-8 (66.04); 5. Andrius Gudžius (Lit) 213-11 (65.21); 6. Fedrick Dacres (Jam) 213-5 (65.05); 7. Kristjan Čeh (Slo) 212-1 (64.64); 8. Lukas Weißhaidinger (Aut) 211-5 (64.44); 9. Martynas Alekna (Lit) 209-9 (63.93); 10. Sam Mattis (US) 205-9 (62.73).
MARRAKECH WOMEN’S RESULTS
200(-1.0): 1. Shericka Jackson (Jam) 22.82; 2. Maboundou Koné (CI) 22.96; 3. Helene Parisot (Fra) 23.02 PR; 4. Caisja Chandler (US) 23.06; 5. Mujinga Kambundji (Swi) 23.14.
800: 1. Prudence Sekgodisa (SA) 1:57.26 PR (WL); 2. Habitam Alemu (Eth) 1:57.70 (57.07); 3. Noélie Yarigo (Ben) 1:59.96; 4. Gabriela Gajanová (Svk) 2:00.30; 5. Eloisa Coiro (Ita) 2:00.35; 6. Rachel Pellaud (Swi) 2:00.95; 7. Anita Horvat (Slo) 2:01.38; 8. Assia Raziki (Mor) 2:01.42; 9. Soukaina Hajji (Mor) 2:03.05; 10. Kristie Schoffield (US) 2:03.25.
5000: 1. Medina Eisa (Eth) 14:34.16; 2. Fotyen Tesfay (Eth) 14:34.21 PR; 3. Edina Jebitok (Ken) 14:35.64 PR; 4. Melknat Wudu (Eth) 14:39.79; 5. Likina Amebaw (Eth) 14:44.06 PR; 6. Maureen Koster (Neth) 14:50.74.
400H: 1. Rushell Clayton (Jam) 53.98; 2. Shiann Salmon (Jam) 54.27; 3. Anna Ryzhykova (Ukr) 55.09; 4. Zeney Geldenhuys (SA) 55.28; 5. Janieve Russell (Jam) 55.74; 6. Viivi Lehikoinen (Fin) 55.81.
Field Events
HJ: 1. Angelina Topić (Ser) 6-6 (1.98) NR (=7, x WJ) (5-11¼, 6-1½, 6-3¼ [2], 6-4¾, 6-6 [3], 6-6¾ [xxx]) (1.81, 1.87, 1.91 [2], 1.95, 1.98 [3], 2.00 [xxx]);
2. Christina Honsel (Ger) 6-3¼ (1.91); 3. Lia Apostolovski (Slo) 6-3¼; 4. tie, Morgan Lake (GB), Buse Savaşkan (Tur), Safina Sadullayeva (Uzb) & Nawal Meniker (Fra) 6-1½ (1.87).
PV: 1. Angelica Moser (Swi) 15-6¼ (4.73) (=out WL) (14-7¼, 14-11, 15-3 [2], 15-6¼ [3], 15-8¼ [xx], 15-9¼ [x]) (4.45, 4.55, 4.65 [2], 4.73 [3], 4.78 [xx], 4.81 [x]);
2. Roberta Bruni (Ita) 15-3 (4.65); 3. tie, Katerína Stefanídi (Gre) & Elisa Molinarolo (Ita) 14-11 (4.55); 5. Alix Dehaynain (Fra) 14-7¼ (4.45) PR; 6. Tina Šutej (Slo) 14-7¼; 7. Olivia McTaggart (NZ) 14-7¼.
SP: 1. Chase Jackson (US) 65-7½ (20.00) (64-4½, 65-7½, 64-6, 63-2, f, f) (19.62, 20.00, 19.66, 19.25, f, f); 2. Yemisi Ogunleye (Ger) 63-7¾ (19.40); 3. Sarah Mitton (Can) 63-6¼ (19.36); 4. Danniel Thomas-Dodd (Jam) 60-10 (18.54); 5. Maggie Ewen (US) 60-3¼ (18.37); 6. Adelaide Aquilla (US) 59-5¾ (18.13); 7. Jessica Schilder (Neth) 59-5 (18.11); 8. Jessica Woodard (US) 58-9¼ (17.91).
