100: Coleman Finishes With A Flourish
SOMETHING MUST HAVE changed Noah Lyles’ mind about wrapping his season after the Zürich DL. Whether a tasty appearance fee or the video evidence of speed at practice he posted on social media turned the trick, the world champion/world leader announced 11 days before he’d race at Pre. Lyles came ready and tore to the second-fastest time ever in his short-dash career.
But Christian Coleman lay in wait, still on his redemption roll after Budapest, and crossed the finish line out front in 9.83 — equal to Lyles’ world lead from Worlds which Coleman had equaled in Xiamen 2 weeks ago. Ferdinand Omanyala placed 3rd also at 9.85, just 0.002 behind Lyles, the fastest non-altitude clocking of the Kenyan’s career.
Coleman in lane 4 hit his trademark-when-he’s-on rocket start with Omanyala inches back. In this one, though Lyles’ 0.155 reaction time was marginally slowest in the field, the double world champ roared out quick, as well.
Coleman clicked along in the lead and as Lyles never quite hit the very peak end of his trademark, the late-dash drive, he had to settle for collaring Omanyala at the line.
It was a burner of a campaign closer and Kishane Thompson surged aggressively for 4th in 9.87, second-fastest of the Jamaican’s career after his 9.85 behind Coleman in Xiamen. Budapest silver medalist Letsile Tebogo looked sluggish early and pulled up apparently injured though late enough to limp on momentum across the line 8th in 10.61.
“I feel like I could have executed the start a little bit better,” said Coleman, who had waited for the time to flash up before he celebrated. “But I feel like I was able to just put [to use] all my experiences throughout the year during the race.
“In races like that I usually might get tight or just not execute the back end, but I was able to just find a sense of confidence and believe in myself, like I knew I was supposed to win this race and so I was able to stay composed and put out a win at the end.
“You just got to stay consistent, find your race pattern, and when you find it you hold on to it. This year I feel like I had a mental breakthrough to where I’m able to just find my stride and stick to it. And I feel like next year I’ll be able to capitalize. Just relax, just fill my cup back up.”
Results (wind 0.1)
1. Christian Coleman (US) 9.83 (=WL, AL);
2. Noah Lyles (US) 9.85; 3. Ferdinand Omanyala (Ken) 9.85; 4. Kishane Thompson (Jam) 9.87; 5. Marvin Bracy-Williams (US) 10.01; 6. Yohan Blake (Jam) 10.08; 7. Joshua Hartmann (Ger) 10.30; 8. Letsile Tebogo (Bot) 10.61; … fs—Ackeem Blake (Jam).
(best-ever mark-for-place: 4)
200: De Grasse Springs Surprise
OLYMPIC CHAMPION Andre De Grasse, now 28, had struggled through a lingering case of Covid in ’22 and more health woes this season. He had not sprinted a sub-20 since his golden Games year, and placed 6th in Budapest — with a ’22 WC relay gold the only hardware collected since Tokyo. He said after this race he had come to “give it my best I got, and try to come away with something I can learn going into next year.”
Check that box. De Grasse churned a high-velocity straight to win in 19.76, about a meter up on Tokyo and Oregon22 silver medalist Kenny Bednarek (19.95) and Budapest silver teen Erriyon Knighton.
While Noah Lyles was absent, having sprinted in the 100 the day before, as were Letsile Tebogo (injured in the 100) and Zharnel Hughes, who also bested De Grasse at Worlds, the field was no pushover.
Bednarek (lane 8) and Knighton (7) rushed fastest through the first half of the curve, to reach the stretch in front of De Grasse (6). Their splits in order: 10.26, 10.30, 10.34 with Kyree King also in the mix at 10.36.
Ten meters into the straight, however, De Grasse — who had turned his first sub-20 in 2 years (19.89 for 3rd in Brussels) 9 days earlier — erupted with a burst of speed no others could match and strode home comfortably clear.
“I wanted to try to just give it all to try to see where I’m at going into next season,“ he said. “For me, it’s really just staying healthy. I know what I’m capable of if I’m healthy. Obviously I had some challenges this year with my health, and just trying to get back into my fitness and my speed. I see it coming back now, so I just have to remember to tell myself, ‘Stay patient, keep working hard, keep grinding, just keep going every single time.’”
For Knighton, who will turn 20 in January, the race grew his perfect string of sub-20 finals in ’23 to 8 in all. Bednarek had 5 such this year (one a WC semi), broken up only by his 20.07 time in Budapest.
Results (wind 0.6)
1. Andre De Grasse (Can) 19.76 (10.34/9.42); 2. Kenny Bednarek (US) 19.95 (10.26/9.69); 3. Erriyon Knighton (US) 19.97 (10.30/9.67); 4. Alexander Ogando (DR) 20.08; 5. Kyree King (US) 20.16; 6. Aaron Brown (Can) 20.23; 7. Joe Fahnbulleh (Lbr) 20.38.
400: James Wins One For Coach Glance
TO SAY ’23 has been an odd year in the 400 is an understatement. ’22 world champ Michael Norman eschewed the event. Olympic gold medalist Steven Gardiner DNFed his WC semi with an injury, and Budapest winner Antonio Watson had no DL races so could not start here.
That left the Budapest 2-3-4 finishers, Matthew Hudson-Smith, Quincy Hall and Vernon Norwood as obvious figures of interest — along with 31-year-old Kirani James, the 6-time Worlds/Olympic medalist who mined gold at London 2012. Grenadan James had finished 5th in Budapest before his disqualification for a lane violation.
He not only avoided that mistake here, he hit the front with 10m of the lap remaining to win in 44.30 from Hall (44.44), Norwood (44.61) and Bryce Deadmon (44.90).
Before their finish ’23 provided its last outburst of trashing formcharts. Mid-backstretch Hudson-Smith dropped to a jog, then a walk clutching at his groin.
In lane 7 Norwood reached 200 first (21.54) with Deadmon (21.62 in 3), Rusheen McDonald (21.63 in 8) and Hall (21.64 in 4) near the front.
James in lane 6 lurked in 5th (21.82) and as Hall motored to the lead at mid-turn, the Grenadan ran even faster up to 3rd. Between 250 and 300 the pair’s surge moved them to 1st and 2nd ahead or Norwood.
Hall, though appearing to strain, held his momentum for the first half of the homestraight before James, cool and smooth, ran up to even and then ahead around 490m.
His plan? “Just try to run my own race,” said the winner, who had not won a race all year until the Xiamen DL on September 02. “I had a little bit of a knee issue coming in, so just kinda test it out, see how far it would take me. Didn’t feel anything much first 200, so last 200 I just kind of put everything on the line.”
James admitted also that the June death of Harvey Glance, his coach since his Auburn collegiate days, punched him hard in the gut: “It’s a bit up and down. I was contemplating whether I should run at the Championships, but thinking of how he is, he would have wanted me to compete.”
Results
1. Kirani James (Grn) 44.30 (21.82/22.48); 2. Quincy Hall (US) 44.44 (21.64/22.80); 3. Vernon Norwood (US) 44.61 (21.54/23.07); 4. Bryce Deadmon (US) 44.90; 5. Rusheen McDonald (Jam) 45.10; 6. Leungo Scotch (Bot) 45.18; 7. Gilles Biron (Fra) 45.51;… dnf—Matthew Hudson-Smith (GB);… fs—Alexander Ogando (DR).
800: Wanyonyi Meet Record & WL
WORLD CHAMPION Marco Arop had already faced off against silver medalist Emmanuel Wanyonyi 5 times this season, and while the Canadian won the big one in Budapest, the Kenyan had proved himself a more than worthy rival, with wins in 3 of the 4 other races. Here, he would do his best to upend the world champ.
Arop training partner Navasky Anderson of Jamaica rabbited, covering the first 400 in 49.19. The tall figure of Arop shadowed him, with Wanyonyi poised in 3rd. Djamel Sedjati of Algeria, DQed in Budapest, ran near the back of the pack, just ahead of American Bryce Hoppel, the only other Worlds finalist in the race.
Approaching 500, Navasky ran wide and alongside Arop, shouting encouragement before dropping. The Canadian moved hard, trying to separate from the pack. He passed 600 in 1:15.9 with Wanyonyi a stride back. Through the final turn Arop sped, Wanyonyi holding 2nd while Sedjati came barreling out of the crowd. On the straight it was Sedjati moving fastest at first. When he pulled even with Wanyonyi, the Kenyan responded with a burst that propelled him past the tiring Arop into a narrow lead that he carried to the line.
Wanyonyi’s world-leading 1:42.80, a meet record and PR, claimed the trophy. Arop, in 1:42.85, broke the Canadian record. Sedjati’s 1:43.06 in 3rd was also a PR. Farther back, 4th-place Yanis Meziane of France tied his at 1:43.94. Hoppel finished in 6th with his 1:44.63.
Afterwards, Wanyonyi took succinctness to record levels, saying only, “I tried my best.”
Results
1. Emmanuel Wanyonyi (Ken) 1:42.80 PR (WL) (5, 6 WJ) (49.7/53.1);
2. Marco Arop (Can) 1:42.85 NR (49.5/53.4); 3. Djamel Sedjati (Alg) 1:43.06 PR (50.6/52.5); 4. Yanis Meziane (Fra) 1:43.94 =PR; 5. Daniel Rowden (GB) 1:44.21; 6. Bryce Hoppel (US) 1:44.63; 7. Benjamin Robert (Fra) 1:45.43; 8. Saul Ordóñez (Spa) 1:45.90; 9. Wycliffe Kinyamal (Ken) 1:46.33; … rabbit—Navasky Anderson (Jam) (49.19).
Mile: Fastest In 24 Years
MAYBE IT WASN’T rocket science, but Jakob Ingebrigtsen proved to be very prescient the day before at the press conference, when he responded to Yared Nuguse’s stated goal of breaking the American Record in the mile by saying, “Just stick to me as long as you can.”
The final event on Saturday was one that put the Hayward faithful at fever pitch, and few were disappointed with the fastest — and deepest — mile ever run on U.S. soil. As usual, Erik Sowinski drew pacing duties, and after Aussie teen phenomenon Cameron Myers led through the 400 in 55.38, he took the lead and brought the race through 800 in 1:51.67, just a few 100ths behind the pace in Hicham El Guerrouj’s 3:43.00 WR. Ingebrigtsen stayed close behind and Nuguse followed dutifully.
At 900, with Ingebrigtsen getting antsy, Sowinski swung wide and let the Norwegian take over. He and Nuguse moved away from the field, covering lap 3 in 56.06 (2:47.73). El Guerrouj had hit 2:47.91. Ingebrigtsen strained hard in an effort to get conquer his first WR in a standard event, but he was unable to shake Nuguse. On the final turn, it appeared that the American might even have a chance to win.
On the straight, Nuguse swung wide, but this time, the 22-year-old Ingebrigtsen still had plenty of fight. He came across the line first in 3:43.73, a European Record and the No. 3 time in history. For the distance-mad fans, the bigger thrill was probably Nuguse’s 3:43.97 American Record that sliced nearly 3 seconds off Alan Webb’s 3:46.91 from ’07.
PRs fell for the next 6, as Britain’s George Mills ran 3rd in 3:47.65, ahead of Spain’s Mario Garcia (3:47.69 NR) and Raynold Kipkorir’s World Junior Record 3:48.06. Cole Hocker finished 6th in 3:48.08. A record 11 men broke 3:50 — the old best was 6 in one race. Understandably, the list of best-ever-marks-for-place was rewritten, with new standards from 4th to 13th.
Said the winner, planning to double back in the 3000 Sunday, “Today I wanted to race where I could challenge myself to really set out at a decent pace, somewhat conservative, and then I go as hard as I could the last two laps to try to run as fast as I could. So it was very good.”
He added, “But now it’s all about getting back home to the hotel, eat, sleep, try to prepare as good as I can and we’ll see tomorrow. Hopefully getting married next weekend, so I think I have to prepare for that as well.”
Nuguse said he tried hard to win: “This is going to be my last chance for a while to beat him, I might as well just pour my whole heart into it. It was the perfect race because I just felt very unbothered the entire time, so it was all just really gritting it out and seeing who could run faster… That third lap, I feel like having that crowd just going nuts was really huge. I could just feel they were all cheering for me for once, [while] I feel like in Europe they’re mostly cheering for him.”
Results
1. Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Nor) 3:43.73 NR (WL) (3:28.76) (U.S. all-comers record, new-millenium WR) (WL) (3, 3 W)
(56.1, 55.9 [1:52.0], 55.8 [2:47.8], 54.7 [3:42.5], 1.2) (14.8, 28.3, 55.9, 1:51.7, 2:47.6);
2. Yared Nuguse (US) 3:43.97 AR (old AR 3:46.91 Alan Webb [Nik] ’07) (4, 4 W) (3:29.10—x, 2 A)
(56.3, 55.9 [1:52.2], 55.9 [2:48.1], 54.6 [3:42.7], 1.3) (14.8, 28.3, 55.9, 1:51.8, 2:47.7;
3. George Mills (GB) 3:47.65 PR (3:32.86); 4. Mario García (Spa) 3:47.69 NR (3:33.03);
5. Raynold Kipkorir (Ken) 3:48.06 WJR (old WJR 3:49.29 İlham Tanui Öbzilen [Ken] ’09) (3:33.41);
6. Cole Hocker (US) 3:48.08 PR (4, 5 A) (3:33.30);
7. Narve Gilje Nordås (Nor) 3:48.24 PR (3:33.51); 8. Azeddine Habz (Fra) 3:48.64 NR (3:33.73);
9. Niels Laros (Neth) 3:48.93 NR, NJR (2, 2 WJ) (3:33.26);
10. Stewart McSweyn (Aus) 3:49.32 (3:34.10); 11. Sam Tanner (NZ) 3:49.51 PR (3:33.78); 12. Elliot Giles (GB) 3:51.63 PR (3:35.25); 13. Abel Kipsang (Ken) 3:53.50 (3:36.22);… rabbits—Cameron Myers (Aus) (55.38), Erik Sowinski (US) (1:51.67).
(best-ever mark-for-place: 4–12)
3000: Ingebrigtsen Astonishes With Double
SURELY SOME OF Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s competitors thought they just might have an opportunity against the Norwegian powerhouse the day after he had run the fastest mile on the planet in the last 24 years. But no, no one else really had a chance as Ingebrigtsen bounced back to run one of history’s fastest times in the deepest 3000 race ever.
Craig Nowak handled the pacing for the early laps, followed by the next pacer, Sam Prakel, and then Ingebrigtsen, with Ethiopian Telahun Haile staying close. The splits were steady: 59.01 and 59.10 before a kilometer in 2:27.55. At 1200 Prakel took over as Ingebrigtsen slipped back to be passed by Haile. Moments later he rebooted and eliminated the gap behind Prakel.
Approaching 1600, Prakel clocked out and Ingebrigtsen split 3:57.9 with seven others going through under 4:00, including Grant Fisher in 6th. The tempo slowed to 61.3, with 2K in 4:59.12. Haile and Yomif Kejelcha remained close, and Fisher had moved into 4th.
Any hope of a real challenge to Daniel Komen’s WR of 7:20.67 from ’96 faded as the leader paced another 61+. Kejelcha was on his way past Ingebrigtsen when Haile quickly passed them both. But Ingebrigtsen rallied back into the lead as the bell rang.
Ingebrigtsen had to fight to stay ahead of Kejelcha on the last lap as World Indoor 3K champ Selemon Barega flew past Fisher. But the two in front took off on their own battle and went hammer and tongs to the line, only a hundredth separating them when it counted.
For Ingebrigtsen, 7:23.63 broke his own European Record and moved to No. 3 all-time. Kejelcha scored an Ethiopian record 7:23.64. Fisher produced a dazzling kick, coming from more than 5 meters behind Haile to nail him, 7:25.47–7:25.48. Barega finished 5th in 7:26.28 as best-ever marks fell for places 2-8. It was the first time 7 men had broken 7:30 — old record 5.
Fisher’s mark sliced 2.76 from the 7:28.23 AR that Yared Nuguse ran on Boston’s indoor track in January. He explained, “I was hurt in the middle of the year, not the best timing, but it gave me an opportunity to do something cool, to end on a positive note and feel good.”
Ingebrigtsen — having paced two American Records over the weekend — said he wasn’t disappointed he missed another world mark. “I’m just focusing on myself and trying to run as fast as I can, and if it was a goal to break the records in any events, I would probably do things differently.”
Results
1. Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Nor) 7:23.63 NR (WL) (3, 3 W) (4:59.12); 2. Yomif Kejelcha (Eth) 7:23.64 NR (4, 4 W);
3. Grant Fisher (US) 7:25.47 AR (old AR 7:28.48 Fisher ’22) (11, 14 W);
4. Telahun Haile (Eth) 7:25.48 PR; 5. Selemon Barega (Eth) 7:26.28 PR; 6. Berihu Aregawi (Eth) 7:28.38; 7. Luis Grijalva (Gua) 7:29.43 NR; 8. Stewart McSweyn (Aus) 7:31.14; 9. Brian Fay (Ire) 7:54.73; … dnf—Getnet Wale (Eth); … rabbit—Craig Nowak (US) (2:27.55).
(best-ever mark-for-place: 2–7)
110H: Parchment’s Flying Finish
HANSLE PARCHMENT lost by 0.11 to Grant Holloway at the WC, but the Jamaican Olympic champion has been on a roll since then, with a 12.96 victory over Daniel Roberts and Holloway in Xiamen and a win over Roberts in Zagreb. Those were, in fact, his only wins of the season, but the 33-year-old veteran squeezed out another when it counted, taking the DL title in impressive fashion with a national record 12.93.
Starting from lane 5, Parchment found himself with Holloway on his immediate right and 13.00 man Freddie Crittenden on his left. Roberts started in 3, and early-season sensation Cordell Tinch in 2.
Holloway, Roberts and Japan’s Shunsuke Izumiya all got out far better than Parchment, who was in last place at the first hurdle. Roberts had 2nd behind Holloway at halfway with Tinch close behind. Then Parchment found his rhythm and pulled even with Holloway at the ninth hurdle. His momentum was such that at the finish he claimed a commanding victory, leaning for a 12.93 far ahead of runner-up Holloway’s 13.06. Roberts nearly caught Holloway with his 13.07. Japan’s Shunsuke Izumiya ran 4th in 13.10, ahead of Jason Joseph (13.12) and the season-best 13.15 from Crittenden.
Said Parchment, “We’re tired, we’ve been competing for months now, it’s really brilliant to be able to carry this season up until the end.”
Of his rivalry with Holloway, he said, “We try to enjoy ourselves as well, it’s a friendly rivalry, we try to push each other every time we go there. He has a massive, ridiculous start. I try to learn from that every time I see him run. He looks up to me as well because I’ve been competing for many years before he started. So I think it’s a good rivalry and really helps us to make the event more competitive.”
Results (wind 0.9)
1. Hansle Parchment (Jam) 12.93 PR (WL) (=13, x W);
2. Grant Holloway (US) 13.06; 3. Daniel Roberts (US) 13.07; 4. Shunsuke Izumiya (Jpn) 13.10; 5. Jason Joseph (Swi) 13.12; 6. Freddie Crittenden (US) 13.15; 7. Cordell Tinch (US) 13.21; 8. Jamal Britt (US) 13.36; 9. Just Kwaou-Mathey (Fra) 13.46.
(best-ever mark-for-place: =5, =6, 7)
400H: Benjamin Runs Down Warholm
THIS, THE FIRST track event of the meet, was a harbinger of the fabulous marks that would follow.
History’s three fastest were matched again, 23 days after their Budapest showdown. And now they were four, after Kyron McMaster’s World silver and defeat of Karsten Warholm at Zürich.
As usual, Warholm was off fastest, but a lane inside McMaster stayed very close. At hurdle 5, it was Warholm (20.22), McMaster (20.29), trailing Rai Benjamin (20.68) and Alison dos Santos (20.84). Around the curve, Benjamin methodically closed the gap, gaining with every step. He caught McMaster between hurdles 9 and 10, was still 0.18 behind Warholm at the final barrier, then ran him down for a decisive victory.
His 46.39 is the No. 4 all-time mark, a yearly world lead, and a meet and Diamond League Record. “Being a sprinter, that’s what I am. Went back to my old race model. Just tried to channel that today and feel like I did a really good job. I’m not really too caught up in this win. What matters is winning at major championships and I haven’t done that yet, so I need to do that.” /Tom Casacky/
Results
1. Rai Benjamin (US) 46.39 (WL, AL) (x, 4 W; x, 2 A); 2. Karsten Warholm (Nor) 46.53 (x, 7 W);
3. Kyron McMaster (BVI) 47.31; 4. Alison dos Santos (Bra) 47.44; 5. Wilfried Happio (Fra) 47.83; 6. Ludvy Vaillant (Fra) 47.93; 7. Rasmus Mägi (Est) 47.99; 8. Trevor Bassitt (US) 48.42; 9. CJ Allen (US) 48.62.
(best-ever mark-for-place: 7-9)