EUGENE, OREGON, MAY 27-28 — The highlight for many of the fans on the rainy Saturday at the Prefontaine Classic (aka Eugene Diamond League) would be another showdown in the 100 between Sha’Carri Richardson and Olympic gold medalist Elaine Thompson-Herah, as well as bronze medalist Shericka Jackson.
Briton Dina Asher-Smith started best, but by midpoint ETH had hit full stride on the track where she ran 10.54 last summer. The Jamaican continued to pull away and hit the finish in 10.79 on a 0.7 breeze. Richardson, failing to lean, somehow stayed ahead of Jackson as both clocked 10.92, with Asher-Smith 4th ahead of TeeTee Terry both at 10.98.
“I’m happy to cross the line healthy and with the win,” said Thompson-Herah, who said she is still nursing a shoulder injury. For Richardson, the race marked her first sub-11 since the Olympic Trials.
Faith Kipyegon put on another demonstration of great 1500 running for an appreciative crowd, the Olympic champion using a powerful kick to set a meet record 3:52.59, history’s No. 5 time and the best ever run on U.S. soil. “I was really surprised to run 3:52 today with the weather,” she said
The Kenyan stayed behind World Indoor champion Gudaf Tsegay through splits of 60.77, 2:03.88 and 3:07.74, as the pack, headed by Laura Muir and Gabriela DeBues-Stafford, drifted more than 30m behind. Kipyegon flew past Tsegay on the backstretch to take the win with her world leader, Tsegay finishing at 3:54.21.
DeBues-Stafford beat the chase pack with her 3:58.62 as Sinclaire Johnson hit a PR 3:58.85 (No. 7 all-time U.S.) ahead of Jessica Hull (3:59.31) and Elle Purrier St. Pierre (3:59.68), with Muir fading to 11th.
The 800 lost Athing Mu in the days before, as the Olympic champion had not recovered from a bout with COVID. Natoya Goule led through 400 (58.31), with Sage Hurta and Olympic runner-up Keely Hodgkinson just behind. Ajee’ Wilson, uncharacteristically, ran from the back, just ahead of Raevyn Rogers.
By 600 (1:28.82) little had changed. Hodgkinson kicked on the turn and led on the stretch. Wilson and Rogers kicked hard, but it wouldn’t be enough, as the Brit won in a outdoor world-leading 1:57.72 ahead of the Americans (Wilson 1:58.06 AL, Rogers 1:58.44). “I felt really good, it was a bit windy out there but there was good competition, it was a good run. I can’t complain,” said the 20-year-old winner.
Moved to Friday night out of fear of wet weather on Saturday, the high jumpers put on a stirring battle. At 6-4 (1.93), Vashti Cunningham cleared on her first to take the lead, ahead of Nadezhda Dubovitskaya (second) and World Indoor champ Yaroslava Mahuchikh (third). However, only the Ukrainian had clearances after that, getting over 6-5 (1.96) on her first attempt and 6-6¾ (2.00) on her second. She closed up shop with three failed tries at 6-8 (2.03).
Discus thrower Valarie Allman was the only U.S. woman to win and she did it in a big way, with a crushing victory over 3-time winner Sandra Perković. After each fouled their openers, Allman hit 214-9 (65.46) on her second and never looked back. Her third went 221-7 (67.54) and her best toss came in the fifth round, a 224-3 (68.35). The best that Perković could muster was 214-11 (65.50).
A planned attempt on the 2M World Record of 8:58.58 (Meseret Defar ’07) fell barely short as Francine Niyonsaba became the second woman under 9:00. Taking charge shortly after the pacers led her through a 2:13.19 for 800, the Burundian soon passed them both and hit 1600 in 4:26.86 and 2000 in 5:34.26. The strain eventually showed and she slipped from 67s to a 68.78 on her seventh lap. With 500 to go the pace lights started leaving her behind. She still passed 3K in a world-leading 8:24.27 and rallied to clock 8:59.08. Back in 5th, Helen Schlachtenhaufen moved to No. 5 all-time among Americans at 9:17.62.
Friday night’s 5000 would be another WR attempt, Letesenbet Gidey attacking her own best of 14:06.62. However, the Ethiopian star could not hold the pace after passing 3K in 8:32.07, and in the final laps was upstaged by countrywoman Ejgayehu Taye, the World Indoor 3000 bronze medalist who last December set a 14:19 WR on the roads. Taye passed her with a lap to go, covering her final circuit in 64.0 to win in a PR 14:12.98 to move to No. 5 all-time, as Gidey trudged home in 14:24.59.
In the hurdles, Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn looked as strong as ever. Behind for the first 4 barriers, the Puerto Rican took over at midpoint to handily win in 12.45, with Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan (12.58) following, ahead of Tonea Marshall (12.66) and Cindy Sember (12.69). Said Camacho-Quinn, “It was a little sloppy. I hit my trail leg a couple of times and that slowed me up, but I’ll take it.”
Last year’s top-ranked steepler, Norah Tanui, now representing Kazakhstan, produced a national record 8:57.97 to stay ahead of Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi (8:58.71). The Americans brought up the rear, Emma Coburn 8th in 9:18.19 AL, Courtney Frerichs 9th in 9:20.96, and Katie Rainsberger 10th in 9:32.13.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce handily won the 200 in 22.41 over Brittany Brown (22.74), Anthonique Strachan (22.76) and Jenna Prandini (22.77). A very wet long jump competition saw Sweden’s Khaddi Sagnia PR with her 22-9¾ (6.95) in the second round, a mark good enough to hand her the win over Nigeria’s Ese Brume (22-4½/6.82) and American Tara Davis (22-1/6.73).
EUGENE DL WOMEN’S RESULTS
(5/27—3K, 2M, 5K, HJ, DT)
100(0.7): 1. Elaine Thompson-Herah (Jam) 10.79 (lo-alt WL);
2. Sha’Carri Richardson (US) 10.92; 3. Shericka Jackson (Jam) 10.92; 4. Dina Asher-Smith (GB) 10.98; 5. TeeTee Terry (US) 10.98; 6. Marie-Josée Ta Lou (CI) 11.07; 7. Mujinga Kambundji (Swi) 11.11; 8. Teahna Daniels (US) 11.13; 9. Briana Williams (Jam) 11.20.
Non-DL 200(0.8): 1. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jam) 22.41; 2. Brittany Brown (US) 22.74; 3. Anthonique Strachan (Bah) 22.76; 4. Jenna Prandini (US) 22.77; 5. Tamara Clark (US) 22.77; 6. Cambrea Sturgis (US) 22.85; 7. Kambundji 22.88; 8. Dezerea Bryant (US) 22.91; 9. Shawnti Jackson (US) 23.28.
800: 1. Keely Hodgkinson (GB) 1:57.72 (out WL); 2. Ajee’ Wilson (US) 1:58.06 (AL);
3. Raevyn Rogers (US) 1:58.44; 4. Natoya Goule (Jam) 1:59.39; 5. Sage Hurta (US) 1:59.59 PR; 6. Halimah Nakaayi (Uga) 1:59.94; 7. Allie Wilson (US) 2:00.15; 8. Jemma Reekie (GB) 2:00.53; 9. Michaela Meyer (US) 2:01.31.
1500: 1. Faith Kipyegon (Ken) 3:52.59 (WL) (U.S. all-comers record) (x, 5 W);
2. Gudaf Tsegay (Eth) 3:54.21; 3. Gabriela DeBues-Stafford (Can) 3:58.62;
4. Sinclaire Johnson (US) 3:58.85 PR (AL) (7, x A);
5. Jessica Hull (Aus) 3:59.31; 6. Elle Purrier St. Pierre (US) 3:59.68; 7. Freweyni Hailu (Eth) 3:59.97; 8. Winnie Nanyondo (Uga) 4:00.25; 9. Cory McGee (US) 4:00.34 PR; 10. Gaia Sabbatini (Ita) 4:01.93 PR; 11. Laura Muir (GB) 4:04.45; 12. Aurore Fleury (Fra) 4:05.80; 13. Josette Norris (US) 4:06.13; 14. Tigist Ketema (Eth) 4:06.59; 15. Nozomi Tanaka (Jpn) 4:07.43;… dnf—Shannon Osika (US).
St: 1. Norah Tanui (Kaz) 8:57.97 NR (WL) (x, 7 W); 2. Winfred Yavi (Bhr) 8:58.71 PR (5, 9 W);
3. Mekides Abebe (Eth) 9:03.26; 4. Peruth Chemutai (Uga) 9:05.54; 5. Werkwuha Getachew (Eth) 9:07.81 PR; 6. Celliphine Chespol (Ken) 9:10.17; 7. Jackline Chepkoech (Ken) 9:15.97 PR;
8. Emma Coburn (US) 9:18.19 (AL);
9. Courtney Frerichs (US) 9:20.96; 10. Katie Rainsberger (US) 9:32.13.
Non-DL 2M: 1. Francine Niyonsaba (Bur) 8:59.08 PR (WL) (U.S. all-comers record—old 9:00.75 Niyonsaba ’21) (2, 2 W) (8:24.27 out WL);
2. Beatrice Chebet (Ken) 9:14.71 PR (8:40.58); 3. Laura Galván (Mex) 9:15.74 PR (8:40.81 NR); 4. Konstanze Klosterhalfen (Ger) 9:16.73 PR (8:40.44);
5. Helen Schlachtenhaufen (US) 9:17.62 PR (AL) (5, 5 A) (8:44.42 PR); 6. Elly Henes (US) 9:18.73 PR (6, 7 A) (8:42.58 PR) ;
7. Edina Jebitok (Ken) 9:19.01 PR) (8:42.53);
8. Eleanor Fulton (US) 9:20.17 PR (7, 8 A) (8:45.14 PR); 9. Whittni Morgan (US) 9:20.19 PR (8, 9 A) (8:43.39 PR);
10. Dani Jones (US) 9:35.67 PR (8:51.97); 11. Ella Donaghu (US) 9:40.44 PR (9:02.43 PR); 12. Taryn Rawlings (US) 9:41.11 PR (9:02.76).
5000: 1. Ejgayehu Taye (Eth) 14:12.98 PR (WL) (U.S. all-comers record—old 14:19.76 Genzebe Dibaba [Eth] ‘15) (5, 5 W);
2. Letesenbet Gidey (Eth) 14:24.59; 3. Rahel Daniel (Eri) 14:36.66 NR; 4. Lemlem Hailu (Eth) 14:44.73 PR; 5. Teresia Gateri (Ken) 14:44.89 PR; 6. Fantu Worku (Eth) 14:47.37; 7. Daisy Jepkemei (Kaz) 14:52.64 NR; 8. Caroline Kipkirui (Kaz) 15:05.68; 9. Rebecca Mwangi (Ken) 15:35.98.
100H(-0.7): 1. Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PR) 12.45; 2. Tobi Amusan (Ngr) 12.58; 3. Tonea Marshall (US) 12.66; 4. Cindy Sember (GB) 12.69; 5. Danielle Williams (Jam) 12.71; 6. Gabbi Cunningham (US) 12.75; 7. Nia Ali (US) 12.77; 8. Kendra Harrison (US) 12.78; 9. Anna Cockrell (US) 12.84.
Field Events
HJ: 1. Yaroslava Mahuchikh (Ukr) 6-6¾ (2.00) (out WL) (6-¾, 6-2¾, 6-4 [3], 6-5, 6-6¾ [2], 6-8 [xxx]) (1.85, 1.90, 1.93 [3], 1.96, 2.00 [2], 2.03 [xxx]);
2. Vashti Cunningham (US) 6-4 (1.93); 3. Nadezhda Dubovitskaya (Kaz) 6-4; 4. Iryna Herashchenko (Ukr) 6-2¾ (1.90); 5. tie, Elena Vallortigara (Ita) & Nicola Olyslagers (Aus) 6-2¾; 7. tie, Emily Borthwick (GB) & Yuliya Levchenko (Ukr) 5-10¾ (1.80);… nh—Airinė Palšytė (Lit).
LJ: 1. Khaddi Sagnia (Swe) 22-9¾ (6.95) PR (f, 22-9¾, f, 22-3¾w, f, f) (f, 6.95, f, 6.80w, f, f); 2. Ese Brume (Ngr) 22-4½ (6.82) (21-7¼, 22-4½, 21-10, f, 21-10, 21-7¼) (6.58, 6.82, 6.65, f, 6.65, 6.58); 3. Tara Davis (US) 22-1 (6.73) (21-11¾, 22-1, 20-9¾, 21-11, 21-6¾w, 21-2¾) (6.70, 6.73, 6.34, 6.68, 6.57w, 6.47); 4. Quanesha Burks (US) 21-11¾w (6.70) (21-10¼/6.66); 5. Ivana Vuleta (Ser) 21-0 (6.40); 6. Rhesa Foster (US) 20-2½ (6.16);… 5f—Lorraine Ugen (GB).
DT: 1. Valarie Allman (US) 224-3 (68.35) (f, 214-9, 221-7, 218-9, 224-3, 183-6) (f, 65.46, 67.54, 66.68, 68.35, 55.95); 2. Sandra Perković (Cro) 214-11 (65.50); 3. Kristin Pudenz (Ger) 205-4 (62.58); 4. Liliana Cá (Por) 202-7 (61.74); 5. Lagi Tausaga (US) 201-7 (61.45); 6. Rachel Dincoff (US) 200-1 (60.99); 7. Jade Lally (GB) 196-1 (59.76); 8. Daisy Osakue (Ita) 192-3 (58.60).
