FLORENCE, ITALY, June 02 — While Faith Kipyegon capped the meet with a brilliant 1500 World Record, the Golden Gala DL meet (held away from its usual Rome Olympic Stadium venue) offered plenty more.
The first two races of the main program saw bright DL season openers from Femke Bol and Erriyon Knighton on a track still damp from earlier rain.
With Bol’s flat 400 indoor WR over the winter heightening expectations along with her announced intention to try alternating legs for a 14-step pattern in the long hurdles, the Dutch star produced a world-leading opener, 52.43, in turning back Rabat winner Shamier Little and a PR run from Anna Hall.
Bol (lane 6) got a challenge on her outside from Viktoriya Tkachuk through hurdle 3 before gaining the lead at the fourth barrier. She alternated legs through the seventh hurdle while building a formidable advantage around the curve and then held it as Little closed fast on the straight to finish in 53.38, the American’s best since the ’21 DL Final.
Hall, in lane 8 for her Diamond League debut just 5 days after her Götzis hept win, finished strong for 3rd in 54.42. “GRRRR,” she tweeted afterwards. “i am going to figure out this last hurdle if it kills me buttt 3rd in my first ever @Diamond League and a baby pb” — an 0.06 improvement of her PR set in the ’22 NCAA semis.
In the men’s 200, WC bronze medalist Knighton — still just 19 and racing both his first 200 and DL of the year — roared past ’22 WIC 400 winner Jereem Richards to his right entering the straight and pulled away to a 19.89 win.
Knighton, pleased with his effort, was asked if he was “saving form” versus his 19.49 opener in ’22 for performances later in the season. “I really don’t think it’s about really opening up fast or slow,” he said. “I wasn’t really worried about a time coming out; I was just trying to finish strong.”
He also reminded, “It’s gonna be my first full year doing it due to me not having school anymore. So I can really say that’s the only thing that’s changed.”
The men’s 5000 and women’s steeple both showcased fast times and remarkable depth. The 5K saw 12 men grouped at the bell (11:58.0). Tokyo 10K champ Selemon Barega led with little more than 200 to go but then Mohamed Katir — chased by Yomif Kejelcha — sprinted past, covering his next 100 in 13.3.
Spaniard Katir prevailed 12:52.09–12:52.12 over the Ethiopian as former California prep and Northern Arizona Lumberjack Luis Grijalva rushed up for 3rd (Guatemalan Record 12:52.97). Thirteen ran sub-13:00 and best-ever marks-for-place were set in 11th–14th.
Americans Woody Kincaid (12:54.40) and Joe Klecker (12:55.16) set PRs in 6th and 7th with Grant Fisher 11th in 12:56.99. Katir’s closing splits were impressive: 13.1, 26.4, 54.1.
Ethiopian 18-year-old Sembo Almayew pulled away in the women’s steeple to the No. 2 all-time Junior mark, 9:00.71, for the world lead. Kenya’s ’21 World Junior champ Jackline Chepkoech was 2nd (9:04.07). Courtney Wayment’s 9:11.41 in 8th took the U.S. lead, with Emma Coburn 12th after her second DL fall this season. Still, Coburn’s 9:18.17 time was the best-ever for 12th.
Fred Kerley, 9.94 from Ferdinand Omanyala’s 10.05, essayed another dominating 100 win — with Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs again a withdrawal.
Other wins for U.S. men went to Grant Holloway in the 110H (13.04) and JuVaughn Harrison in the high jump (7-7¼/2.32).
In the women’s vault Katie Moon unknotted herself from a 3-way tie for 1st clearing 15-5½ (4.71) on her second try.
“After the injection in my ankle after the Doha meeting I have not jumped a lot so today I was just jumping my way back into shape,” Moon said.
Surging back from 8th, Valarie Allman’s 216-5 (65.96) fifth-round discus throw in the rain withstood a close-but-no-cigar throw, 216-3 (65.91), from world champion Bin Feng in the same round.
“The rain messed with my timing and my technique,” said the American, who also allowed, “This was an unbelievable competition in a dramatic way!”
FLORENCE DL MEN’S RESULTS
100(0.0): 1. Fred Kerley (US) 9.94; 2. Ferdinand Omanyala (Ken) 10.05; 3. Trayvon Bromell (US) 10.09; 4. Akani Simbine (SA) 10.09; 5. Samuele Ceccarelli (Ita) 10.13 PR; 6. Rohan Browning (Aus) 10.15; 7. Yohan Blake (Jam) 10.15; 8. Marvin Bracy (US) 10.23.
200(0.0): 1. Erriyon Knighton (US) 19.89 (AL) (x, 9 WJ, AJ);
2. Jereem Richards (Tri) 20.28; 3. Aaron Brown (Can) 20.31; 4. Filippo Tortu (Ita) 20.41; 5. Reynier Mena (Cub) 20.48; 6. Joe Fahnbulleh (Lbr) 20.51;… fs—Alexander Ogando (DR).
5000: 1. Mohamed Katir (Spa) 12:52.09 (out WL);
2. Yomif Kejelcha (Eth) 12:52.12; 3. Luis Grijalva (Gua) 12:52.97 NR (7:50.61); 4. Joshua Cheptegei (Uga) 12:53.81; 5. Telahun Haile (Eth) 12:54.31 (10:27.94);
6. Woody Kincaid (US) 12:54.40 PR (out AL) (x, 6 A); 7. Joe Klecker (US) 12:55.16 PR (x, 8 A);
8. Jacob Krop (Ken) 12:55.57; 9. Selemon Barega (Eth) 12:56.18; 10. Mohammed Ahmed (Can) 12:56.46; 11. Grant Fisher (US) 12:56.99; 12. Samuel Tefera (Eth) 12:58.44 PR; 13. Thierry Ndikumwenayo (Spa) 12:59.03 PR; 14. Berihu Aregawi (Eth) 13:04.52; 15. Nicholas Kipkorir (Ken) 13:10.52; 16. Stewart McSweyn (Aus) 13:23.81;… rabbits—Paul Robinson (Ire) (2:35.13), Jack Rayner (Aus) (5:11.84).
(best-ever mark-for-place: 11–14)
110H(-0.2): 1. Grant Holloway (US) 13.04; 2. Jason Joseph (Swi) 13.10 NR; 3. Devon Allen (US) 13.19; 4. Jamal Britt (US) 13.26; 5. Just Kwaou-Mathey (Fra) 13.35; 6. Freddie Crittenden (US) 13.38; 7. Rafael Henrique Pereira (Bra) 13.47; 8. Lorenzo Ndele Simonelli (Ita) 13.57 PR.
Field Events
HJ: 1. JuVaughn Harrison (US) 7-7¼ (2.32); 2. Sang-hyeok Woo (SK) 7-6½ (2.30); 3. Luis Zayas (Cub) 7-5¼ (2.27); 4. Hamish Kerr (NZ) 7-4¼ (2.24); 5. Douwe Amels (Neth) 7-2½ (2.20); 6. Edgar Rivera (Mex) 7-½ (2.15); 7. Tobias Potye (Ger) 7-½; 8. Andrii Protsenko (Ukr) 7-½; 9. Joel Castro (PR) 6-10¾ (2.10).
TJ: 1. Andy Díaz (Cub) 58-3 (17.75) PR (58-3, f, p, f, f, f) (17.75, f, p, f, f, f); 2. Hugues Fabrice Zango (Bur) 58-¼ (17.68) (56-9½, 56-1¾, 56-7¼, 57-4¼, f, 58-¼) (17.31, 17.11, 17.25, 17.48, f, 17.68); 3. Lázaro Martínez (Cub) 56-2 (17.12); 4. Emmanuel Ihemeje (Ita) 54-9¼ (16.69); 5. Donald Scott (US) 54-0 (16.46); 6. Abdulla Aboobacker (Ind) 53-8½ (16.37); 7. Christian Taylor (US) 53-6½ (16.32); 8. Tobia Bocchi (Ita) 53-3½ (16.24).
SP: 1. Leonardo Fabbri (Ita) 71-3½ (21.73) (69-10¼, 70-4½, f, 71-3½, f, f) (21.29, 21.45, f, 21.73, f, f); 2. Tom Walsh (NZ) 71-2 (21.69) (69-10¾, 71-2, 69-4, 71-2, 70-9¼, 70-7¼) (21.30, 21.69, 21.13, 21.69, 21.57, 21.52); 3. Tomáš Staněk (CzR) 71-0 (21.64); 4. Joe Kovacs (US) 70-8½ (21.55); 5. Tripp Piperi (US) 70-3¾ (21.43); 6. Zane Weir (Ita) 69-4 (21.13); 7. Filip Mihaljević (Cro) 68-7¾ (20.92); 8. Josh Awotunde (US) 66-¼ (20.12); 9. Armin Sinančević (Ser) 64-1 (19.53).
FLORENCE WOMEN’S RESULTS
100(-0.4): 1. Marie Josée Ta Lou (CI) 10.97; 2. Gina Lückenkemper (Ger) 11.09; 3. Imani Lansiquot (GB) 11.16; 4. Morolake Akinosun (US) 11.20; 5. Abby Steiner (US) 11.23; 6. Gabby Thomas (US) 11.27; 7. Jenna Prandini (US) 11.33.
400: 1. Natalia Kaczmarek (Pol) 50.41; 2. Lieke Klaver (Neth) 50.75; 3. Lynna Irby-Jackson (US) 50.84; 4. Roxana Gómez (Cub) 51.29; 5. Aliyah Abrams (Guy) 51.31; 6. Anna Kiełbasińska (Pol) 51.76; 7. Candice McLeod (Jam) 52.09.
1500: 1. Faith Kipyegon (Ken) 3:49.11 WR (old WR 3:50.07 Genzebe Dibaba [Eth] ’15) (3:05.28) (14.8, 29.3, 43.83, 58.9, 2:00.6);
2. Laura Muir (GB) 3:57.09; 3. Jessica Hull (Aus) 3:57.29 NR; 4. Ciara Mageean (Ire) 4:00.95; 5. Axumawit Embaye (Eth) 4:00.98; 6. Abbey Caldwell (Aus) 4:01.34; 7. Josette Andrews (US) 4:01.39; 8. Cory McGee (US) 4:01.45; 9. Sintayehu Vissa (Ita) 4:01.98 PR; 10. Linden Hall (Aus) 4:02.43; 11. Ludovica Cavalli (Ita) 4:03.04 PR; 12. Gabriela DeBues-Stafford (Can) 4:03.64; 13. Federica Del Buono (Ita) 4:05.09; 14. Marta García (Spa) 4:07.22 PR;… rabbits—Brooke Feldmeier (US) (62.37), Sage Hurta-Klecker (US) (2:04.00).
St: 1. Sembo Almayew (Eth) 9:00.71 PR (WL) (11, x W; 2, 2 WJ);
2. Jackline Chepkoech (Ken) 9:04.07 (6:02.13); 3. Zerfe Wondemagegn (Eth) 9:04.61 PR; 4. Beatrice Chepkoech (Ken) 9:10.02; 5. Alice Finot (Fra) 9:10.04 NR; 6. Maruša Mišmaš-Zrimsek (Slo) 9:10.07 NR; 7. Mekides Abebe (Eth) 9:11.09;
8. Courtney Wayment (US) 9:11.41 (AL);
9. Marwa Bouzayani (Tun) 9:11.76 PR; 10. Luiza Gega (Alb) 9:11.94; 11. Winfred Yavi (Bhr) 9:18.12; 12. Emma Coburn (US) 9:18.17;… rabbit—Fancy Cherono (Ken) (2:57.79).
(best-ever mark-for-place: 10–12)
400H: 1. Femke Bol (Neth) 52.43 (WL);
2. Shamier Little (US) 53.38; 3. Anna Hall (US) 54.42 PR; 4. Gianna Woodruff (Pan) 54.59; 5. Viktoriya Tkachuk (Ukr) 54.71; 6. Rushell Clayton (Jam) 54.71; 7. Ayomide Folorunso (Ita) 55.34; 8. Anna Ryzhykova (Ukr) 55.99.
Field Events
PV: 1. Katie Moon (US) 15-5½ (4.71) (14-9½ [2], 15-1½, 15-5½ [2], 15-9¾ [xxx]) (4.51 [2], 4.61, 4.71 [2], 4.82 [xxx]); 2. Tina Šutej (Slo) 15-5½ (14-5½, 14-9½ [2], 15-1½, 15-5½ [3], 15-7¾ [xxx]) (4.41, 4.51 [2], 4.61, 4.71 [3], 4.77 [xxx]); 3. Nina Kennedy (Aus) 15-1½ (4.61); 4. Roberta Bruni (Ita) 15-1½; 5. Sandi Morris (US) 15-1½; 6. tie, Lene Onsrud Retzius (Nor) & Wilma Murto (Fin) 14-9½ (4.51); 8. tie, Elisa Molinarolo (Ita) & Katerína Stefanídi (Gre) 14-5½ (4.41).
LJ: 1. Larissa Iapichino (Ita) 22-3½ (6.79) (22-3½, 21-9½, 20-10, p, f, 21-2½) (6.79, 6.64, 6.35, p, f, 6.46); 2. Tara Davis-Woodhall (US) 22-1½ (6.74) (20-11¼, 21-5½, 21-1½, 22-1½, 20-10¾, 21-7½) (6.38, 6.54, 6.44, 6.74, 6.37, 6.59); 3. Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk (Ukr) 21-7½ (6.59); 4. Ese Brume (Ngr) 21-7¼ (6.58); 5. Malaika Mihambo (Ger) 21-6¾ (6.57); 6. Jazmin Sawyers (GB) 21-1¼ (6.43); 7. Ivana Vuleta (Ser) 21-¾ (6.42); 8. Quanesha Burks (US) 20-9¼ (6.33); 9. Khaddi Sagnia (Swe) 20-9 (6.32).
DT: 1. Valarie Allman (US) 216-5 (65.96) (189-0, f, f, f, 216-5, f) (57.60, f, f, f, 65.96, f); 2. Bin Feng (Chn) 216-3 (65.91) (207-4, 214-11, f, 198-10, 216-3, 212-7) (63.21, 65.50, f, 60.61, 65.91, 64.80); 3. Shanice Craft (Ger) 211-6 (64.47); 4. Liliana Cá (Por) 208-11 (63.69); 5. Mélina Robert-Michon (Fra) 207-4 (63.20); 6. Jorinde van Klinken (Neth) 203-10 (62.13); 7. Daisy Osakue (Ita) 201-11 (61.55); 8. Izabela da Silva (Bra) 199-6 (60.81); 9. Lagi Tausaga (US) 181-7 (55.34).
