ROME, ITALY, June 04 — After a year away from the top, is Julien Alfred ready to reclaim her place? The Saint Lucian certainly gave that impression in a big matchup over 200 with the reigning world champion, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden.
Alfred started in lane 8, MJW in 7 and Amy Hunt, the Tokyo silver medalist, in 6. Both the giants got out fast and soon left the field behind. Try as she might, the American could not make up the stagger on Alfred, who widened her lead in the final 50 to take the win in 21.93. MJW clocked 22.17 while Anavia Battle closed well for a 22.39 ahead of Hunt’s 22.52.
“Win is a win,” said the winner, who explained, “I am a lot stronger now than I used to be and that’s why I could push a bit extra in the second part of the race.”
Said MJW, “I gave it all in me, I was putting together a good race. But in the curve I was too long.”
Disaster comes in different ways, but Trey Cunningham came prepared for his first outdoor race of the year. When his luggage got lost en route to the Golden Gala — a would-be disaster in the making — no problem. He had his spikes and kit in his backpack. “I’m always ready,” he said.
From lane 3, the 27-year-old Florida State alum faced some serious competition. Japan’s Rachid Muratake, in lane 5, ran 12.92 last season and already a 13.05 this season. And Jamal Britt in 6 had been on a hot streak, tying his best of 13.07 multiple times.
A lightning start gave Cunningham a slight lead over Britt at the first hurdle. By hurdle 3 the two Americans ran even, Muratake hitting hurdles and taking himself out of contention. Then disaster came for Britt at hurdle 8. A hit with his lead leg led to another hit at hurdle 9. His form broke down completely at the final barrier as he jumped high, clipped it and fell to his face, impeding Muratake in the process.
The carnage didn’t touch Cunningham, on his way to the fastest race of his life. He hit the line arms spread wide, 4m clear of the field. He produced a race so flawless that finally he had broken 13 seconds, 4 years after he first ran 13.00.
“This was a long time coming,” he said of his 12.98, a world leader and meet record, taking down the 13.01 that Olympic champion Allen Johnson had run in ’99, before Cunningham was a year old. The 30th man to break 13, he said, “I kind of hoped to run this last year. Beating the record of Allen Johnson is special. He was one of the legends. The motto this year is to enjoy what is happening right now.”
The final race of the night was another that pleased the capacity crowd at the Stadio Olimpico. Noah Lyles, already with a 100 win 2 weeks earlier in Tokyo, sought to start his DL campaign on the same note. The blocks have never been his friend and he languished behind the rest of the field as training partner Jordan Anthony and Ackeem Blake got out best. By 50m Anthony had forged ahead, with Lyles shifting into high gear from mid-pack.
In full flight over the final third of the race, Lyles took the lead by 80m and blasted home in a U.S.-leading 9.88, with Emmanuel Esme of Cameroon also closing fast for 2nd in 9.94. Letsile Tebogo grabbed 3rd in 9.95 and Anthony 4th in 9.96.
“I had a great finish,” said an energized Lyles. “I can go again. Who wants to go? I was having a great block session yesterday. I showed it today. This season might be different but it doesn’t mean the goal is different. I am not showing anywhere to lose. I am here to win; 10m before the finish line I knew the race was over and I had already won it.”
Anna Cockrell took the women’s 400H out hard in an effort to get some distance on Emma Zapletalová, who had run her down in Rabat. The plan worked until it didn’t. The Slovak captured the lead at the ninth hurdle. She hit a glitch at hurdle 10, giving Cockrell a faint hope, but she recovered to take the win in a world leading 52.58 to the American’s 52.77.
Said the winner, “It has been the crazy start of the season. I didn’t think I would be able to start my season with two national records. It’s amazing.”
The men’s javelin confirmed the a new name to the world’s attention. Rumesh Tharanga, only 7th at last year’s Worlds, but already the owner of the year’s 2 farthest marks, produced a monster of a throw on his second attempt and he knew it, celebrating before it landed at a national record and world leader of 303-10 (92.62). He is now No. 8 in history, one of 16 ever to break the 300-foot barrier. The 23-year-old Sri Lankan passed his remaining throws, saying, “Winning today feels like a Sri Lankan festival.”
Jamaica’s Megan Simmonds (née Tapper) had a much better result here than her 4th-places in the two Chinese DLs. She took command of the 100H early, streaking to the win in a season best 12.50. Keni Harrison closed well for a 12.54 that caught Nadine Visser (12.58) on the runin.
“I am excited and I am winning races. There is no better feeling,” said Simmonds.
He only had two fair jumps but either would have been the triple jump winner for Andy Díaz. The home crowd favorite reached 57-8¼ (17.58) on his second attempt and came back with a 57-8½ (17.59) on his fifth. Jamaicans Jordan Scott at 56-10¼ (17.33) and Jaydon Hibbert with 55-10 ¼ (17.02) could not approach that level.
“Winning the Diamond League in Rome three times in a row — I really made history. I got so much energy from the audience,” said Díaz.
A 60.4 final lap gave Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw the 5000 win in a world-leading 14:18.41 after she came back from 3rd on the final straight. She led a parade of her countrywomen, as they swept the top 7 places. Local favorite Nadia Battocletti, who went through a bout with the flu in late May, fell apart before 3K and could only manage 13th.
Henriette Jæger, who anchored Norway to the World Relays 4×4 gold, showed impressive finishing strength here, coming from 4th in the final strides to win in 49.60. American Aaliyah Butler finished 4th in 49.83.
For a little bit, it looked as if Ryan Crouser would be back in the winners circle for the first time since his unfathomable win at the Worlds in Tokyo. In the second round, he launched a solid 70-6½ (21.50) to move to the top of the chart. But then Joe Kovacs, on his next throw, hit 71-9 (21.87). His celebration didn’t last long, as Leonardo Fabbri got the crowd cheering with his 72-7¾ (22.14). None of the top three improved after that.
“My first couple of throws were very tight,” said Fabbri. “I needed to let it go. I came back from China and I knew I was capable of 22-plus. It is still amazing. I was a little bit too stupid because I celebrated too much after the third attempt, so I could not improve anymore.”
The women’s vault went to Molly Caudery, using a shortened approach and taking it on misses at 15-9 (4.80), the same height as Nina Kennedy and Angelica Moser. Sandi Morris landed 5th at 15-1 (4.60).
A non-DL 800 race featured Ireland’s Mark English at the front, being challenged by Donavan Brazier on the final backstretch. Then France’s Gabriel Tual swept by. English chased him to the line but Tual prevailed, 1:43.66 to 1:43.80. Brazier faded to 9th, caught by Bryce Hoppel at the line, 1:44.45–1:44.46.
The final women’s race was the 1500, where Nikki Hiltz took the lead just past 1000 after the rabbit took the pack through splits of 62.6 and 2:08.2. The edge on speed, however, belonged to Georgia Hunter Bell, who flew past in the last 200 for the win in 3:58.63 over Oregon alum Klaudia Kazimierska of Poland (3:59.24) and Hiltz (3:59.26). Hunter Bell’s final 400 took 58.2.
“It was a fast last lap,” said Hunter Bell. “I do not know, it felt hard today. I needed evidence to get confidence. I am really happy, happy about the way I ran the race.”
Two-time Olympic champion Miltiádis Tentóglou led into the final stanza of the long jump with his 26-11 (8.20). He improved to a solid 27-½ (8.24) which seemed safe given how the field was jumping in the balmy Roman night. Then young (21) Bozhidar Sarâboyukov of Bulgaria, 5th at Worlds last year, hit the board just right and flew to a 27-1¼ (8.26) to steal his first Diamond League win. “I am extremely happy,” he admitted.
A ho-hum high jump saw Italy’s Matteo Sioli win with a 7-5¾ (2.28), as second place cleared only 7-3¾ (2.23). American JuVaughn Harrison cleared just 7-1 (2.16) for 9th.
ROME DL MEN’S RESULTS
100(0.4): 1. Noah Lyles (US) 9.88 (AL);
2. Emmanuel Eseme (Cam) 9.94 NR; 3. Letsile Tebogo (Bot) 9.95; 4. Jordan Anthony (US) 9.96; 5. Lamont Marcell Jacobs (Ita) 9.99; 6. Akani Simbine (SA) 10.03; 7. Ackeem Blake (Jam) 10.06; 8. Ferdinand Omanyala (Ken) 10.11.
Non-DL 800: 1. Gabriel Tual (Fra) 1:43.66; 2. Mark English (Ire) 1:43.80; 3. Francesco Pernici (Ita) 1:43.97; 4. Peyton Craig (Aus) 1:44.01 PR; 5. Isaac Nader (Por) 1:44.28; 6. Yanis Meziane (Fra) 1:44.29; 7. Bryce Hoppel (US) 1:44.45; 8. Donavan Brazier (US) 1:44.46; 9. Nathan Green (US) 1:45.58 PR;… rabbit—Patryk Sieradzki (Pol) (50.02).
110H(0.5): 1. Trey Cunningham (US) 12.98 PR (WL) (sub-13 performer #30); 2. Orlando Bennett (Jam) 13.31; 3. Enrique Llopis (Spa) 13.32; 4. Rachid Muratake (Jpn) 13.40; 5. Thomas Wilkes (Fra) 13.44; 6. Jason Joseph (Swi) 13.49; 7. Jakub Szymański (Pol) 13.54; 8. Just Kwaou-Mathey (Fra) 13.76; 9. Jamal Britt (US) 26.75.
Field Events
HJ: 1. Matteo Sioli (Ita) 7-5¾ (2.28); 2. Erik Portillo (Mex) 7-3¾ (2.23); 3. Romaine Beckford (Jam) 7-3¾; 4. tie, Mateusz Kołodziejski (Pol) & Tomohiro Shinno (Jpn) 7-2½ (2.20); 6. Yual Reath (Aus) 7-2½;… 9. JuVaughn Harrison (US) 7-1 (2.16).
LJ: 1. Bozhidar Saraboyukov (Bul) 27-1¼ (8.26); 2. Miltiádis Tentóglou (Gre) 27-½ (8.24); 3. Jorge A. Hodelín (Cub) 26-10 (8.18); 4. Tajay Gayle (Jam) 26-4½ (8.04); 5. Gerson Baldé (Por) 26-3 (8.00); 6. Thobias Montler (Swe) 25-6¾ (7.79); 7. Wayne Pinnock (Jam) 25-5¼ (7.75).
TJ: 1. Andy Díaz (Ita) 57-8½ (17.59); 2. Jordan Scott (Jam) 56-10¼; 3. Jaydon Hibbert (Jam) 55-10¼ (17.02); 4. Lázaro Martínez (Cub) 55-2¾ (16.83); 5. Yasser Triki (Alg) 54-10 (16.71); 6. Russell Robinson (US) 53-9¾ (16.40.
SP: 1. Leonardo Fabbri (Ita) 72-7¾ (22.14); 2. Joe Kovacs (US) 71-9 (21.87); 3. Ryan Crouser (US) 70-6½ (21.50); 4. Tom Walsh (NZ) 70-6¼ (21.49); 5. Rajindra Campbell (Jam) 70-2¼ (21.39); 6. Jordan Geist (US) 69-10¾ (21.30).
JT: 1. Rumesh Tharanga (SrL) 303-10 (92.62) NR (WL) (8, x W) (277-2, 303-10, f, f, f, f) (84.49, 92.62, f, f, f, f);
2. Anderson Peters (Grn) 275-3 (83.91); 3. Curtis Thompson (US) 275-2 (83.89); 4. Keshorn Walcott (Tri) 273-9 (83.45); 5. Thomas Röhler (Ger) 271-11 (82.89); 6. Dawid Wegner (Pol) 264-0 (80.47); 7. Julius Yego (Ken) 262-1 (79.89).
ROME DL WOMEN’S RESULTS
200(1.3): 1. Julien Alfred (StL) 21.93; 2. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (US) 22.17; 3. Anavia Battle (US) 22.39; 4. Amy Hunt (GB) 22.52; 5. Dina Asher-Smith (GB) 22.76.
400: 1. Henriette Jæger (Nor) 49.60; 2. Lurdes Gloria Manuel (CzR) 49.77 PR; 3. Nickisha Pryce (Jam) 49.80; 4. Aaliyah Butler (US) 49.83; 5. Amber Anning (GB) 50.19; 6. Lieke Klaver (Neth) 50.62; 7. Keely Hodgkinson (GB) 51.14 PR.
1500: 1. Georgia Hunter Bell (GB) 3:58.63; 2. Klaudia Kazimierska (Pol) 3:59.24; 3. Nikki Hiltz (US) 3:59.26 (3:14.89); 4. Agathe Guillemot (Fra) 4:00.46; 5. Patrícia Silva (Por) 4:00.86; 6. Ludovica Cavalli (Ita) 4:01.64 PR;… 12. Heather MacLean (US) 4:06.74;… rabbit—Weronika Lizakowska (Pol) (62.57, 65.58 [2:08.15]).
5000: 1. Likina Amebaw (Eth) 14:18.41 PR (WL);
2. Aleshign Baweke (Eth) 14:18.54 PR; 3. Freweyni Hailu (Eth) 14:18.94 PR; 4. Senayet Getachew (Eth) 14:22.37 PR; 5. Medina Eisa (Eth) 14:22.51; 6. Hirut Meshesha (Eth) 14:22.56 PR; 7. Fantaye Belayneh (Eth) 14:23.44 PR; 8. Winfred Yavi (Bhr) 14:30.06 NR (8:41.17, 11:35.97); 9. Maureen Koster (Neth) 14:33.56 PR; 10. Margaret Akidor (Ken) 14:34.01;… rabbit—Purity Chepkirui (Ken) (2:51.46, 5:44.40).
(best-ever mark-for-place: 6–7, 9–10, 12)
100H(0.8): 1. Megan Simmonds (Jam) 12.50; 2. Keni Harrison (US) 12.54; 3. Nadine Visser (Neth) 12.58; 4. Marione Fourie (SA) 12.59; 5. Danielle Williams (Jam) 12.69; 6. Pia Skrzyszowska (Pol) 12.69; 7. Tonea Marshall (US) 12.76.
400H: 1. Emma Zapletalová (Svk) 52.58 NR (WL);
2. Anna Cockrell (US) 52.77 (AL);
3. Rushell Clayton (Jam) 53.14; 4. Dalilah Muhammad (US) 53.39; 5. Gianna Woodruff (Pan) 53.58; 6. Jasmine Jones (US) 53.92.
Field Event
PV: 1. Molly Caudery (GB) 15-9 (4.80); 2. Nina Kennedy (Aus) 15-9; 3. Angelica Moser (Swi) 15-9; 4. Tina Šutej (Slo) 15-5 (4.70); 5. Sandi Morris (US) 15-1 (4.60); 6. Amálie Švábíková (CzR) 14-7¼ (4.45); 7. Elisa Molinarolo (Ita) 14-7¼); 8. tie, Eliza McCartney (NZ) & Olivia McTaggart (NZ) 14-1¼ (4.30).
