FONTVIEILLE, MONACO, July 12—Sifan Hassan produced a stupendous final lap in the women’s mile at the Herculis EBS meet to finish in 4:12.33, thus breaking the 23-year-old World Record of 4:12.56 set by Russia’s ’96 Olympic 800 and 1500 champion Svetlana Masterkova later that same year.
Hassan had said on the day before her race in the ninth of this season’s Diamond League races that she intended to run “3 or 4 seconds” faster than her best of 4:14.71, set in London in ’17. As things turned out, the 26-year-old Dutch star failed in that ambition; not that she looked too put out about it after the race as she lay on her back with a radiant smile on her face before being congratulated by her coach at the Nike Oregon Project, Alberto Salazar.
After the field had been paced through the first 2 laps by Ukraine’s Olha Lyakhova in 64.6 & 2:08.6—almost 3 seconds off WR pace—Hassan (65.0, 2:08.9) moved into the lead with 600m remaining, Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay being the only runner in touch with her at that stage. Hassan, who had broken the 5K road WR in the Principality in February, simply cut loose over the last 400, which she covered in 60.2, and was suitably rewarded for her enterprise by the digital clock. By way of comparison, Masterkova’s recordbreaking race in Zürich on August 14, 1996, was taken through 800m in 2:06.90, with the Russian covering the final 200m in 29-flat.
“I knew I could run fast but the first 800 was a bit slow, so after that I wasn’t thinking it would be a World Record,” European 5000 champ Hassan said. “When I crossed the line I was so surprised. After you run a last 400 like that, and set a World Record, it gives me so much confidence over 5000m. I want to double over 1500 and 5000m in Doha and the way I finished the last 400 there, it’s amazing!” Hassan added she had been lifted by the crowd in the closing stages of the race. “That made me extra happy,” she said. “It was a beautiful last lap with the crowd supporting me.” Her next race, she said, would be a 5000: “I don’t know where yet. The one World Record I would love would be the 5000m.”
In Hassan’s wake the effort of chasing told on Tsegay, who faded to 4th in a season’s best 4:18.31 as Laura Weightman came through to finish 2nd in a PR 4:17.60—0.03 off the British Record—and Gabriela Debues-Stafford took 3rd with a Canadian Record 4:17.87. Back in 9th, Rachel Schneider’s PR 4:20.91 took the yearly U.S. lead and made her the No. 5 American ever.
Before the start of the event, renamed the “Brave Like Gabe Mile,” a short film clip was shown featuring the late U.S. runner Gabe Grunewald who fought cancer for so long before succumbing in mid-June, and the crowd showed its respect and appreciation. This race was a fitting—and lasting—memorial to her.
Nijel Amos produced the fastest 800 since the London ’12 Olympic final where David Rudisha set the WR of 1:40.91 and Amos himself won bronze in a PR 1:41.73. That meant, amazingly enough, that his winning time here of 1:41.89 was not even a PR. It was an electric effort from the Botswanan runner, who, incredibly, is still only 25. He was chased home by the taller figure of Kenya’s Ferguson Rotich, who was rewarded for his persistence with a PR 1:42.54. “I did an impossible session on Tuesday and after that I knew I could run 1:41,” Amos said. “The World Record is not in my mind but if I’m patient it will come.”
Piotr Lisek won a monumental men’s vault with a Polish Record/Meet Record/year-leading 19-9 (6.02). It was the second lifetime best in the space of a week for the 26-year-old WC silver medalist, who had cleared 19-8½ (6.01) to win in last Friday’s Lausanne DL. Nineteen-year-old Swede Mondo Duplantis was 2nd after clearing 19-5 (5.92), a mark matched by 3rd-placer Thiago Braz in what was his best performance since taking the Rio ’16 gold on home soil.
Although in the end the vault took top billing in the field events, the much anticipated men’s triple jump, featuring three 59-footers, didn’t disappoint. American Christian Taylor, the reigning world and Olympic champion, earned the honours with a winning effort of 58-5¾ (17.82), a meet record and season’s best. His compatriot Will Claye, who leads the yearly list with a personal best of 59-6¼ (18.14), retired after three rounds but had done enough with his second-round 58-3 (17.75) to earn 2nd. Portugal’s Pedro Pablo Pichardo, the last of the 18-meter trio, ended up a well-back 3rd at 57-¼ (17.38).
Sydney McLaughlin, with a poise that belied her 19 years, won an overwhelming victory in the women’s 400H, leading over the first set of barriers and coming home imperiously in a list-leading 53.32, her second-fastest time ever. Some 5m behind the New Jersey native—who was running nearly blind after encountering a problem with her contact lenses—a wave of world-class runners came home in a separate race, with Rio bronze medalist Ashley Spencer (54.46) taking 2nd, followed by the ’13 & ’15 world champion from the Czech Republic, Zuzana Hejnová (54.55).
Shaunae Miller-Uibo, the Olympic 400 champion from the Bahamas, also produced a mighty performance, winning the women’s 200 against a stellar field, coming home in a season’s best 22.09. Trailing in her wake were Jamaica’s reigning Olympic champ Elaine Thompson (22.44) and double world champ Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands (22.45). “The quicker I get at 200 the quicker I’ll be at 400, and I’m very happy with where I’m at right now,” said Miller-Uibo. “If they can change the timetable for the Olympics, I‘d be more than happy to double.”
As expected, Timothy Cheruiyot won the men’s 1500, a non-DL race. On a track where he set his PR of 3:28.41 last season, the 23-year-old Kenyan, who also won at Stockholm, Stanford and Lausanne, came home in 3:29.97. Norway’s 18-year-old Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who had taken over the lead boldly at the bell, was next in 3:30.47 and Ronald Musagala 3rd in a Ugandan Record 3:30.58.
At the age of 37, reigning world men’s 100m champ Justin Gatlin continues to defy probability with his winning performances. Tonight a great start and a smoothly handled follow through earned him victory in 9.91. His fast-finishing 21-year-old U.S. compatriot Noah Lyles, twice Diamond League 200 champion, had to settle for 2nd in 9.92 after running out of track and time.
MONACO DL MEN’S RESULTS
Herculis; Fontvieille, Monaco, July 12—
100(0.3): 1. Justin Gatlin (US) 9.91; 2. Noah Lyles (US) 9.92; 3. Mike Rodgers (US) 10.01; 4. Akani Simbine (SA) 10.04; 5. Cravon Gillespie (US) 10.14; 6. Jimmy Vicaut (Fra) 10.17; 7. Arthur Cissé (CI) 10.25; 8. Divine Oduduru (Ngr) 10.26.
400(rerun after false start): 1. Steven Gardiner (Bah) 44.51; 2. Abderrahmane Samba (Qat) 45.00; 3. Nathan Strother (US) 45.54; 4. Luka Janežič (Slo) 45.76; 5. Davide Re (Ita) 46.21; … dnc—Anthony Zambrano (Col) (ran 200+ first time), Jonathan Jones (Bar) (ran all 400 despite recall);… fs—Kahmari Montgomery (US) (allowed to run, then DQed).
800: 1. Nijel Amos (Bot) 1:41.89 (WL) (x, 15 W) (1:15.22) (world’s fastest time since London ’12);
2. Ferguson Cheruiyot (Ken) 1:42.54 PR; 3. Amel Tuka (Bos) 1:43.62; 4. Michael Saruni (Ken) 1:43.70; 5. Brandon McBride (Can) 1:43.83; 6. Wesley Vázquez (PR) 1:44.40 NR; 7. Adam Kszczot (Pol) 1:44.69; 8. Jake Wightman (GB) 1:45.08; 9. Pierre-Ambroise Bosse (Fra) 1:45.43; 10. Jonathan Kitilit (Ken) 1:45.78;… rabbit—Harun Abda (US) (48.70).
1500: 1. Timothy Cheruiyot (Ken) 3:29.97;
2. Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Nor) 3:30.47 (x, 5 WJ) (2:48.75);
3. Ronald Musagala (Uga) 3:30.58 NR; 4. Charlie Da’Vall Grice (GB) 3:30.62 PR; 5. Ayanleh Souleiman (Dji) 3:31.38;
6. George Manangoi (Ken) 3:31.49 PR (7, x WJ);
7. Filip Ingebrigtsen (Nor) 3:31.81; 8. Stewart McSweyn (Aus) 3:31.81 PR; 9. Charles Simotwo (Ken) 3:33.25; 10. Vincent Kibet (Ken) 3:33.36; 11. Marcin Lewandowski (Pol) 3:34.14; 12. Alexis Miellet (Fra) 3:34.23 PR; 13. Brimin Kiprotich (Ken) 3:35.32 PR; 14. Michael Kibet (Ken) 3:41.96 (1:51.28);… rabbit—Bram Som (Neth) (55.08).
St: 1. Soufiane El Bakkali (Mor) 8:04.82 (WL);
2. Benjamin Kigen (Ken) 8:05.12 PR;
3. Getnet Wale (Eth) 8:05.51 NR (WJL) (4, 8 WJ; non-Kenyan: 9, x W);
4. Fernando Carro (Spa) 8:05.69 NR; 5. Abraham Kibiwot (Ken) 8:05.72 PR; 6. Hillary Bor (US) 8:09.23; 7. Djilali Bedrani (Fra) 8:09.47 PR; 8. Takele Nigate (Eth) 8:09.50 PR; 9. Nicholas Bett (Ken) 8:11.47; 10. Albert Chemutai (Uga) 8:12.29 PR; 11. Leonard Bett (Ken) 8:15.90; 12. Matt Hughes (Can) 8:17.26; 13. Lawrence Kemboi (Ken) 8:19.82 (5:24.84); 14. Yoann Kowal (Fra) 8:26.16; 15. Yohanes Chiappinelli (Ita) 8:26.93; 16. Daniel Arce (Spa) 8:34.48;… rabbit—Barnabas Kipyego (Ken) (2:37.74)
(best-ever mark-for-place: 5, 8)
Field Events
PV: 1. Piotr Lisek (Pol) 19-9 (6.02) NR (WL) (=11, x W) (18-1¼, 18-9¼, 19-1, 19-3, 19-5, 19-7, 19-9, 19-10½ [xxx]) (5.52, 5.72, 5.82, 5.87, 5.92, 5.97, 6.02, 6.06 [xxx]);
2. Mondo Duplantis (Swe) 19-5 (5.92) (18-1¼, 18-9¼, 19-1, 19-3, 19-5, 19-7 [xpp], 19-9 [xx]) (5.52, 5.72, 5.82, 5.87, 5.92, 5.97 [xpp], 6.02 [xx]); 3. Thiago Braz (Bra) 19-5 (highest height since OG win in ’16, =No. 3 height ever) (18-1¼, 18-5¼ [xpp], 18-9¼, 19-1, 19-5, 19-9 [xxx]) (5.52, 5.62 [xpp], 5.72, 5.82, 5.92, 6.02 [xxx]);
4. Paweł Wojciechowski (Pol) 19-3 (5.87); 5. tie, Renaud Lavillenie (Fra) & Sam Kendricks (US) 19-1 (5.82); 7. Valentin Lavillenie (Fra) 19-1 PR; 8. Alioune Sene (Fra) 18-9¼ (5.72) PR; 9. Cole Walsh (US) 18-9¼; 10. Seito Yamamoto (Jpn) 18-5¼ (5.62);… nh—Raphael Holzdeppe (Ger).
TJ: 1. Christian Taylor (US) 58-5¾ (17.82) (56-11½, 58-3¼, 58-5¾, p, f, 58-½) (17.36, 17.76, 17.82, p, f, 17.69); 2. Will Claye (US) 58-3 (17.75) (56-9½, 58-3, 58-2, p, p, p) (17.31, 17.75, 17.73, p, p, p); 3. Pedro Pablo Pichardo (Por) 57-¼ (17.38) (f, 56-8, 57-¼, 56-9½, 56-3¼, 56-3¼) (f, 17.27, 17.38, 17.31, 17.15, 17.15); 4. Fabrice Zango Hugues (Bur) 56-10¼ (17.33) =NR (54-11½, 54-6, 54-2¾, 56-5¾, 55-3½, 56-10¼) (16.75, 16.61, 16.53, 17.21, 16.85, 17.33); 5. Nelson Évora (Por) 56-2½ (17.13); 6. Donald Scott (US) 55-10½ (17.03); 7. Almir dos Santos (Bra) 55-0 (16.76); 8. Latario Collie-Minns (Bah) 53-0 (16.15).
JT: 1. Andreas Hofmann (Ger) 288-2 (87.84) (287-7, 269-4, 288-2, 274-4, 276-7, f) (87.66, 82.09, 87.84, 83.62, 84.30, f); 2. Magnus Kirt (Est) 286-11 (87.47) (272-8, 267-1, 279-1, f, f, 286-11) (83.10, 81.40, 85.08, f, f, 87.47); 3. Thomas Röhler (Ger) 282-3 (86.04); 4. Chao-Tsun Cheng (Tai) 269-11 (82.29); 5. Marcin Krukowski (Pol) 269-7 (82.16); 6. Jakub Vadlejch (CzR) 265-9 (81.00); 7. Toni Kuusela (Fin) 243-10 (74.32); 8. Kevin Mayer (Fra) 221-6 (67.52).
MONACO WOMEN’S RESULTS
200(0.1): 1. Shaunae Miller-Uibo (Bah) 22.09; 2. Elaine Thompson (Jam) 22.44; 3. Dafne Schippers (Hol) 22.45; 4. Teahna Daniels (US) 22.59; 5. Jenna Prandini (US) 22.66; 6. Marie-Josée Ta Lou (CI) 22.66; 7. Gabby Thomas (US) 22.99.
800: 1. Ajee’ Wilson (US) 1:57.73 (1:27.37); 2. Natoya Goule (Jam) 1:57.90; 3. Laura Muir (GB) 1:58.42 PR; 4. Lynsey Sharp (GB) 1:58.76; 5. Halimah Nakaayi (Uga) 1:59.57; 6. Raevyn Rogers (US) 2:00.16; 7. Chunyu Wang (Chn) 2:01.31; 8. Freweyni Hailu (Eth) 2:02.36; 9. Nelly Jepkosgei (Ken) 2:04.85;… rabbit—Chrishuna Williams (US) (56.12).
Mile: 1. Sifan Hassan (Hol) 4:12.33 WR (old WR 4:12.56 Svetlana Masterkova [Rus] ’96 (3:55.30 NR [WL]); (pace is three 400s, then 409.35m—65.0, 63.9 [2:08.9], 61.6 [3:10.5], 61.8) (finish—60.2, 2:01.9)
2. Laura Weightman (GB) 4:17.60 PR (4:00.63); 3. Gabriela DeBues-Stafford (Can) 4:17.87 NR (4:01.06); 4. Gudaf Tsegay (Eth) 4:18.31 (4:00.11); 5. Rabab Arrafi (Mor) 4:18.42 PR (4:01.40); 6. Axumawit Embaye (Eth) 4:18.58 PR (4:00.95); 7. Winnie Nanyondo (Uga) 4:18.65 NR (4:01.15); 8. Ciara Mageean (Ire) 4:19.03 PR (4:01.21);
9. Rachel Schneider (US) 4:20.91 PR (AL) (5, 11 A) (4:02.26);
10. Alemaz Teshale (Eth) 4:23.35 PR (4:03.46); 11. Aisha Praught Leer (Jam) 4:26.14 PR (4:06.43); 12. Melissa Courtney (GB) 4:27.76 (4:09.84);… rabbit—Olha Lyakhova (Ukr) (64.6, 64.0 [2:08.6]).
(best-ever mark-for-place: 1, 5–8)
100H(0.1): 1. Keni Harrison (US) 12.43 (AL);
2. Danielle Williams (Jam) 12.52; 3. Christina Clemons (US) 12.62; 4. Janeek Brown (Jam) 12.71; 5. Nia Ali (US) 12.80; 6. Karolina Kołeczek (Pol) 12.93; 7. Sharika Nelvis (US) 12.98;… fs—Pedrya Seymour (Bah).
400H: 1. Sydney McLaughlin (US) 53.32 (WL, AL);
2. Ashley Spencer (US) 54.46; 3. Zuzana Hejnová (CzR) 54.55; 4. Janieve Russell (Jam) 54.70; 5. Rushell Clayton (Jam) 54.82; 6. Léa Sprunger (Swi) 55.60; 7. Kori Carter (US) 55.63; 8. Anna Ryzhykova (Ukr) 55.65.
Field Events
HJ: 1. Mariya Lasitskene (Rus) 6-6¾ (2.00) (6-¾, 6-2¾, 6-5½, 6-6¾, 6-8¼ [xxx]) (1.85, 1.90, 1.97, 2.00, 2.04 [xxx]); 2. Mirela Demireva (Bul) 6-4¼ (1.94); 3. Nicola McDermott (Aus) 6-4¼; 4. tie, Ana Šimić (Cro) & Levern Spencer (StL) 6-2¾ (1.90); 6. Kamila Lićwinko (Pol) 6-2¾; 7. tie, Erika Kinsey (Swe) & María Fernanda Murillo (Col) 6-¾ (1.85).
TJ(7/11, street): 1. Yulimar Rojas (Ven) 49-1¾ (14.98) (f, 43-7, 49-1, 49-1¾, f, f) (f, 13.28, 14.96, 14.98, f, f); 2. Liadagmis Povea (Cub) 48-3¼ (14.71) (47-11¼, 45-7¼, f, 48-3¼, 47-1¾, f) (14.61, 13.90, f, 14.71, 14.37, f); 3. Shanieka Ricketts (Jam) 48-1¾ (14.67) (47-3¾, 46-11¾, 47-7, 47-10½, f, 48-1¾) (14.42, 14.32, 14.50, 14.59, f, 14.67); 4. Kim Williams (Jam) 47-9¼ (14.56); 5. Olha Saladukha (Ukr) 47-2½ (14.39); 6. Caterine Ibargüen (Col) 47-¼ (14.33); 7. Olga Rypakova (Kaz) 46-11½ (14.31); 8. Paraskeví Papahrístou (Gre) 46-11½ (14.31); 9. Keturah Orji (US) 46-7¼ (14.20); 10. Rouguy Diallo (Fra) 46-7¼ (14.20); 11. Ana Peleteiro (Spa) 46-6 (14.17). ◻︎
