STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, August 23—On a warm and sunny Scandinavian summer afternoon in which Swedes provided plenty to cheer about at the Bauhaus Galan it was a superstar from neighboring Norway who stole the show. For Karsten Warholm it was a brilliant 1-lap double: 46.87 and then 45.05—both wins—some 90 minutes later. The stuff of which legends are made.
The best of the events, as they played out chronologically:
Men’s 400H: Warholm Scares The World Record
After the Norwegian ace streaked to a 47.10 time at the Monaco DL in his first full-lap hurdles outing of the year, the WR had to be considered endangered here. With his 46.92 in the DL Final last year already history’s No. 2 mark, surely he had a shot. And he went for it.
Having reportedly slept the night before in a motorhome outside the 1912 Olympic stadium to stay Covid-safe, Warholm selected lane 8 on the relatively tight-turned oval, not his customary corridor 7. While the numerology of “lucky” plays no role in the 24-year-old’s lane choices, misfortune ducked into the picture late in his race.
As alone in the lead as the entire field looked in the no-fans arena, Warholm tore into his run assiduously with a blistering attack from the gun and touched down from hurdle 5 in 20.6. Record possibilities were very much alive. He cleared the next four barriers with crisp efficiency… Then came hurdle 10.
Warholm, moving like a freight train, looked to be a snick too close to the last barrier on approach and caught it with his trail leg as he went over. The clip, which toppled the hurdle, may have been a decisive momentum-eater. His sprint through the run-in, a brilliant portion of his race in Monaco, was less impressive here, but he nevertheless pushed past the line in 46.87, 0.05 ahead of his own best and a mere 0.09 off Kevin Young’s WR, which turned 28 earlier this month.
And speaking of vintage 400H “records,” note that Warholm’s time is the fastest ever run out of lane 8, surpassing Edwin Moses’ 32-year-old 47.58 from the semis of the ’84 Olympic Trials.
Warholm covered his mouth with his hands, an echo of his “The Scream” pose when he won his first world title three years ago, lightly thumped his chest and fist-bumped his competitors.
Men’s Long Jump: Samaai Or Montler?
Depending on how you want to look at it, you had two choices as to the men’s LJ winner. If you’re a traditionalist, then it was Swede Thobias Montler, as the local favorite’s second-round 26-7¼ (8.13) stood up as the farthest of the day.
Ahh, but this was Stockholm 2020, with the DL folks getting creative. In this case, “creativity” was presented as only the top 3 jumpers after 5 rounds getting a sixth attempt, and as it played out, Ruswahl Samaai got his best jump of the day, 26-6½ (8.09). But when Montler reached only 26-5½ (8.06), the South African got the official win.
Said Montler, “I’m happy with my 4 jumps over 8m [26-3], but I’m not so happy with the competition system!”
Samaai was of a like mind, despite his win, tweeting, “I won the competition based on a format that’s not fair towards the guy with the farthest distance. Our event is simple. Whoever jumps the furthest during the competition wins the competition but not this time around.”
Men’s 800: Brazier Charges Late
He has not lost an 800 since early May ’19, putting together a 7-meet string since, so world champion Donavan Brazier started as the man to watch even against four finalists from Doha last fall including medalists Amel Tuka and Ferguson Cheruiyot. Since prevailing in Monaco 9 days ago, Brazier also won a 600 in Székesfehérvár on Thursday.
Pacer Rudolf Žan served up a spicy 49.90 first lap, but Brazier followed some 10m back in 4th. With Canadian former Mississippi Stater Marco Arop leading the racers at 50.3 from Swedish fan fave Andreas Kramer (50.5), Brazier eased past the bell at 51.0.
As Žan moved aside just past 500, Brazier closed up on Kramer and Arop before the Canadian led past 600 in 1:16.57. Wesley Vázquez, the Doha 5th-placer, surged late on the backstretch and into 3rd ahead of Brazier through most of the turn.
As they exited the bend, Brazier passed Vázquez into 3rd on the inside and made his dash to the win a final-straight affair. In lane 2 the American strode tall past Kramer early in the stretch, caught Arop with some 45 left and widened his advantage to about 6m with his 1:43.76 finish. Brazier’s closing 200 and 100 went in 27.0 and 13.0.
“Given the way I felt I’d give myself a good grade. I don’t know if my coach would!” said the 23-year-old Michigander. “Since I’ve been in Europe I’ve kind of been having problems with my foot, so I’m very pleased with that. Next is Gothenburg; taking a train after this.”
Women’s 400: Jonathas Holds On
In what turned out to be a rather ho-hum race, Wadeline Jonathas went to the front early and entered the straight with a solid lead, which shrunk under the attack of Britain’s Laviai Nelson. The favored American eased up before the finish but still held on for a 51.94–52.16 win.
Said the winner, “I didn’t like this race, but I’ll take the win!
My body still has to get used to racing again, but I’m getting it back!”
Women’s 1500: A World Leader For Muir
In her first 1500 of the year, Laura Muir meant business. With the rabbits assigned a 4-minute pace, they hit it on the nose in the first 64.07 lap, with Muir following closely, just ahead of Shannon Rowbury and Hellen Obiri.
On lap 2, Britain’s Laura Weightman moved into the mix, passing Obiri with Australia’s Oregon alum Jessica Hull running alongside. That was the cue for the Kenyan to uncharacteristically fade, showing no sign of the strength that gave her a big 5000 win in Monaco.
At 800, the pace had slipped slightly, with Muir leading Rowbury, Hull and Weightman. The pacer dropped at the kilo marker and Winny Chebet came flying up from the pack to tuck in just behind Muir. The last 400, though, there was no heading the Scot, who passed 1200 in 3:12.78 already some 8m ahead of the Kenyan. The gap only grew as Muir drove hard and no one in the pack—seemingly held back by Chebet—had a response.
Rowbury ran 3rd with 200 to go but it would be a British podium. Up front, Muir kept the pressure on, her lead growing with every step. A 45.09 final 300 brought her to the line in a world-leading 3:57.87, the sixth-fastest time of her career.
Weightman and fellow Brit Melissa Courtney-Bryant (a 4:03.44 performer) battled best down the straight, finishing off the sweep with times of 4:01.62 & 4:01.81. Chebet (4:02.58) and Hull (4:02.65) both got home before the 4:03.04 season best of Rowbury. Obiri trudged home 11th in 4:10.53.
Women’s High Jump: Another Ukrainian 1–2
For the second DL meet in a row, Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Yuliya Levchenko took the first two spots, with the 18-year-old Mahuchikh bouncing back after losing to her fellow Ukrainian in Bydgoszcz 4 days earlier.
Levchenko, who had equaled the yearly outdoor lead with her 6-6¾ (2.00) in Poland, was perfect through 6-4 (1.93) here, while her younger compatriot had notched a miss at 6-2¾ (1.90). Each needed a pair at 6-5 (1.96), but then Mahuchikh took the lead with her first-time make at 6-6 (1.98), while Levchenko needed a pair.
From there the bar went to 6-6¾ (2.00), which was too much for Levchenko, but which Mahuchikh—after twice ticking it off with her butt—just grazed the crosspiece for her first outdoor 2m jump of the year. She ended her day with a trio of misses at 6-8 (2.03).
Said the happy winner, “It’s a really special year because our season started in August, and before we started in May. It’s so hard to train without competition, but I’m very happy to be back in sports arenas and happy to compete with girls on the international level.”
Men’s Pole Vault: Another 6-Meter Mondo
And then he had 10: that’s Mondo Duplantis’s tally of career meets broaching the 6-meter (19-8¼) barrier. This one, at 19-8½ (6.01) became a fairly easy one once arch-rival Sam Kendricks faltered early, failing at a pedestrian 18-9½ (5.73). After clearing 19-1½ (5.83) on first attempt to keep his sheet clean for the day the local hero next tried the 19-8½ (6.01). A huge clearance earned him a fist bump from good buddy Kendricks, and then the bar went all the way up to an outdoor WR 20-2 (6.15).
On a day with significant winds making things difficult, a clearance was not to be. After an animated on-field discussion with father/coach Greg, he wasn’t close on his first, ran through on his second and finally stalled out on his third.
“I got the win, got the stadium record which is also really important to me,” said Mondo. On having an empty stadium he commented,”It’s just the reality of things for the moment. It’s not as fun for sure, you don’t have that energy when you jump, that adrenaline rush, but it is what it is.”
Women’s 800: Reekie Holds Off Rogers
The pacers weren’t quite on the mark for the 2-lapper, as the hoped-for 58-second opener turned into a 59.37. Raevyn Rogers ran ahead of Jemma Reekie until just before the bell, when Reekie—Laura Muir’s training partner and housemate—took command.
Rogers wasn’t about to let go, and with 300 left the Worlds silver medalist pulled back alongside Reekie. The Scot, who had run a world-leading 1:57.91 during the indoor season, refused to let her pass and prevailed through the 600 in 1:30.00. On the turn she only gained power while the American slipped back. Reekie maintained that drive to the finish in 1:59.69. The fading Rogers nonetheless scored a seasonal best, crossing next in 2:01.02.
Said Reekie, “My coach said, “If you have a kick at the end, kick,’ and I felt good so I did. I don’t have a completely set plan because you never know what’s going to happen in a race, but it went one of the ways it could have.”
Women’s Pole Vault: Bradshaw Gets Her First
Never trailing after entering the competition at the third height of the day, 14-6 (4.42), with a first-try make, Holly Bradshaw was likewise perfect at 14-10 (4.52) and 15-1¾ (4.62). The only one still with the 28-year-old Briton at 15-4½ (4.69) was homestanding Angelica Bengtsson. Each missed twice before Bradshaw cleared, then watched the Swede fail. Bradshaw ended her day with a trio of misses at 15-6½ (4.74), but scored her first Diamond League win ever.
Men’s 400: Warholm Claims His Double
On paper, Warholm faced a stronger set of challengers on the flat 94 minutes after his sparkling lap over hurdles. Three on the start list had PRs faster than the Norwegian’s 44.87—and wouldn’t Warholm’s legs still be rubbery after his earlier exertion?
To answer the question, not really. And the lifetime bests of the others were not especially correlative in what has been almost a non-season. However, four men led Warholm though halfway, where the order was Jochem Dobber (lane 2 in 21.9) Marvin Schlegel (7), Luka Janežic (6), Rabah Yousif (4) and then Warholm, again in lane 8.
Dutchman Dobber held his advantage through the bend though Warholm was busy gobbling it up. 90m from the finish the hurdles star lit his afterburners and dashed home some 6m ahead of Janežic, 45.05–45.85.
“It felt really good, especially the hurdles,” Warholm concluded. “I’m really really proud of what I did.”
Rai Benjamin—whose ’18 NCAA final day featured a 43.6 relay leg less than an hour after a 47.02 hurdles effort—surely ached at not being in either race today.
As for WR holder Young, he breathes easy, but for how much longer no one knows.
Men’s Discus: A 1–2 For The Home Folks
If there had been spectators, they would have loved Daniel Ståhl and Simon Pettersson taking the first two places. In the second round, Andrius Gudžius erupted with a mighty grunt and took the lead at 219-2 (66.80), but next into the ring was Ståhl. The fully-bearded world champion wasn’t as impressive as a grunter, but definitely won the “woo” competition, as he whooped it up several times as his platter sailed into the summer sky and finally came down at 226-11 (69.17).
Ståhl and Gudžius were maxed out for the day, but Pettersson was not, PRing at 222-2 (67.72) in the fifth round to make it a 1-2 for the yellow and blue.
Said Ståhl, who last year succeeded Gudžius as world champion, “It was great, I felt pretty powerful. The technique wasn’t the best, but 69m, I’m happy with it.”
Women’s Long Jump: Bekh-Romanchuk The Traditional Way
Unlike the men’s long jump, the performer with the longest mark of the day was named the winner. Going into the final-round troika, Khaddi Sagnia led at 22-5 (6.83), followed by Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk at 22-¼ (6.71) and Caterine Ibargüen at 21-8 (6.60).
Ibargüen promptly improved by a centimeter to 21-8¼ (6.61) and Bekh-Romanchuk to 22-5¾ (6.85). When Sagnia closed the competition at a mediocre wind-aided 18-9¾ (5.73) she dropped to 3rd and B-R was the winner.
Sagnia, who had claimed an outdoor PR, had a mixed reaction to the new format, saying, “I don’t like it because I feel like it’s getting unfair because especially outdoors with the different winds so like one jumper can have plus meanwhile the other jumpers can have minus, and I feel like that is unfair.” On the other hand, she also said, “But I do like the thinking of just like putting all the attention on one event.”
Men’s 1500: Cheruiyot’s Go-To Tactic
Any miler looking to best Timothy Cheruiyot—another world champion with a perfect slate of wins since early May of ’19—can guess by now that the No. 1 World Ranker the past two seasons is likely to make any 1500 a 3:30 race or faster. With no fancy stuff. The 24-year-old Kenyan will aim to run you off your feet, and he will probably succeed.
Nine days after Cheruiyot dueled young Jakob Ingebrigtsen to a 3:28.45–3:28.68 defeat (but European Record) in Monaco, the pair lined up again here with several others from that contest back for another bite, as well. This time, though, the pacing was more even.
Rabbit Akbache Mounir hit 400 in 54.04 with Cheruiyot some 5m behind at 54.8 and the youngest Ingebrigtsen leading the rest of the 10-man field another 5m or so back at 55.6. As second hare Timothy Sein completed the second go-round at 1:50.9, Cheruiyot loped with his characteristic forward-leaning, stoop-shouldered gait about 3m behind with about that separation back to Ingebrigtsen and three others including his brother Filip, who ultimately did not finish.
When Sein stepped aside just after 1000, the heart of the race was on, Cheruiyot powering steadily forward. Ingebrigtsen, with Aussie Stewart McSweyn on his outside, moved almost to the Kenyan’s shoulder at the bell (2:34.8). Cheruiyot simply would not yield. Pouring out a 14.0 interval 1200–1300, he held his advantage and kept it through the turn, splitting 14.0 again.
Coming off the bend Ingebrigtsen, eyes trained on his rival’s back, gave his all. He got to within inches some 80m out but from there Cheruiyot repelled the attack. His speed disguised by his trademark form, he covered the straight in 13.2 to finish well clear in 3:30.25.
Ingebrigtsen finished just under a half-second back at 3:30.74 with McSweyn 3rd in a PR 3:31.48.
“It was a bit windy, but the pace was good and I am pleased with my win today, Cheruiyot said. “We are traveling around many countries but we are following all precautions and wearing masks so I am happy to be racing.”
Said Ingebrigtsen, patient though still a teenager, “I didn’t have the great legs that I had in Monaco. It was a tough race, it wasn’t too easy today. I’m closing in on him though, it’s just a matter of time before I beat him—I’m happy to race him.
“It’s tough for us and everyone with the Olympics postponed—you have to take every opportunity to race, I’m happy to have at least some races to run. There’s plenty of other people that don’t. My goal for this season was to get a fast race. I did that in Monaco, so now going forward I just want to get some good runs and enjoy competing.”
STOCKHOLM DL MEN’S RESULTS
Bauhaus Galan; Stockholm, Sweden, August 23—
200(3.0): 1. Adam Gemili (GB) 20.61w; 2. Felix Svensson (Swe) 20.75w; 3. Silvan Wicki (Swi) 20.75w; 4. Mario Burke (Bar) 20.80w; 5. Jan Veleba (CzR) 20.83w; 6. Richard Kilty (GB) 20.87w; 7. Elijah Hall (US) 20.90w;… dnf—Bruno Hortelano-Roig (Spa).
400: 1. Karsten Warholm (Nor) 45.05; 2. Luka Janežič (Slo) 45.85; 3. Jochem Dobber (Neth) 46.23; 4. Rabah Yousif (GB) 46.63; 5. Marvin Schlegel (Ger) 46.99; 6. Davide Re (Ita) 47.00.
800: 1. Donavan Brazier (US) 1:43.76 (24.8, 26.2 [51.0], 26.1 [1:17.1], 26.7) (51.0/52.8); 2. Marco Arop (Can) 1:44.67 (50.3/54.4); 3. Andreas Kramer (Swe) 1:45.04; 4. Ferguson Cheruiyot (Ken) 1:45.11; 5. Wesley Vázquez (PR) 1:45.88; 6. Max Burgin (GB) 1:46.02; 7. Peter Bol (Aus) 1:46.26; 8. Amel Tuka (Bos) 1:47.55; 9. Erik Martinsson (Swe) 1:50.06… rabbit—Žan Rudolf (Slo) (49.90).
1500: 1. Timothy Cheruiyot (Ken) 3:30.25 (2:49.06) (54.8, 56.0 [1:51.8], 57.3 [2:49.06], 41.19) (13.2, 27.2, 55.5);
2. Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Nor) 3:30.74 (13.4, 27.4, 55.7);
3. Stewart McSweyn (Aus) 3:31.48 PR; 4. Jesús Gómez (Spa) 3:33.46; 5. Matthew Ramsden (Aus) 3:35.99; 6. Craig Engels (US) 3:37.55; 7. Kalle Berglund (Swe) 3:38.19; 8. Neil Gourley (GB) 3:38.30; 9. Johan Rogestedt (Swe) 3:38.97; 10. Emil Danielsson (Swe) 3:40.08 PR; 11. Charlie Da’Vall Grice (GB) 3:41.75; … dnf—Filip Ingebrigtsen (Nor);… rabbits—Mounir Akbache (Fra) (54.04), Timothy Sein (Ken) (1:50.90).
400H: 1. Karsten Warholm (Nor) 46.87 (WL) (2, 2 W) (11.2, 11.0 [22.2], 11.7 [33.9], 13.0);
2. Wilfried Happio (Fra) 49.14; 3. Ludvy Vaillant (Fra) 49.18; 4. Rasmus Mägi (Est) 49.40; 5. David Kendziera (US) 49.47; 6. Constantin Preis (Ger) 50.13; 7. Carl Bengtström (Swe) 50.21; 8. Ramsey Angela (Neth) 51.90.
Field Events
PV: 1. Mondo Duplantis (Swe) 19-8½ (6.01) (out WL) (18-1¾, 18-9½, 19-1½, 19-8½, 20-2 [xxx]) (5.53, 5.73, 5.83, 6.01, 6.15 [xxx]);
2. Ben Broeders (Bel) 18-9½ (5.73); 3. Sam Kendricks (US) 18-1¾ (5.53); 4. Pål Haugen Lillefosse (Nor) 18-1¾ (5.53); 5. Raphael Holzdeppe (Ger) 17-5¾ (5.33);… nh—Sondre Guttormsen (Nor).
LJ: 1. Thobias Montler (Swe) 26-8¼ (8.13); 2. Ruswahl Samaai (SA) 26-6½ (8.09) (Samaai official DL winner based on farthest round 6 jump); 3. Kristian Pulli (Fin) 26-3¾ (8.02); 4. Filippo Randazzo (Ita) 25-10 (7.87); 5. Marko Čeko (Cro) 25-8¾ (7.84); 6. Andreas Carlsson (Swe) 25-6¾ (7.79); 7. Ingar Kiplesund (Nor) 25-2½ (7.68); 8. Antonino Trio (Ita) 25-¾ (7.64).
DT: 1. Daniel Ståhl (Swe) 226-11 (69.17) (f, 226-11, 221-0, 221-3, f, 224-11) (f, 69.17, 67.36, 67.44, f, 68.57);
2. Simon Pettersson (Swe) 222-2 (67.72) PR; 3. Andrius Gudzius (Lit) 219-2 (66.80); 4. Kristjan Čeh (Slo) 215-7 (65.73); 5. Robert Urbanek (Pol) 212-4 (64.72); 6. Ola Stunes Isene (Nor) 204-8 (62.39); 7. Alexandru Firfirica (Rom) 200-7 (61.14).
STOCKHOLM DL WOMEN’S RESULTS
100(1.3): 1. Ajla Del Ponte (Swi) 11.20; 2. Marije Van Hunenstijn (Neth) 11.28; 3. Marie-Josée Ta Lou (CI) 11.32; 4. Rebekka Haase (Ger) 11.32; 5. Gina Lückenkemper (Ger) 11.33; 6. Carolle Zahi (Fra) 11.34; 7. Ivet Lalova-Collio (Bul) 11.49.
400: 1. Wadeline Jonathas (US) 51.94; 2. Laviai Nielsen (GB) 52.16; 3. Lieke Klaver (Neth) 52.35; 4. Jessie Knight (GB) 52.42 PR; 5. Lada Vondrová (CzR) 52.44; 6. Barbora Malíková (CzR) 53.13; 7. Moa Hjelmer (Swe) 53.79.
800: 1. Jemma Reekie (GB) 1:59.68 (59.6/60.1); 2. Raevyn Rogers (US) 2:01.02 (59.9/61.1); 3. Hedda Hynne (Nor) 2:01.44; 4. Christina Hering (Ger) 2:02.13; 5. Alexandra Bell (GB) 2:02.25; 6. Selina Büchel (Swi) 2:02.38; 7. Renelle Lamote (Fra) 2:02.53; 8. Lovisa Lindh (Swe) 2:04.98;… rabbit—Noelie Yarigo (Ben) (59.37).
1500: 1. Laura Muir (GB) 3:57.86 (WL) (64.4, 64.9 [2:09.3], 63.5 [3:12.78], 45.08);
2. Laura Weightman (GB) 4:01.62; 3. Melissa Courtney-Bryant (GB) 4:01.81 PR; 4. Winny Chebet (Ken) 4:02.58; 5. Jessica Hull (Aus) 4:02.65; 6. Shannon Rowbury (US) 4:03.04 (fastest since ’16); 7. Esther Guerrero (Spa) 4:03.13 PR; 8. Eilish McColgan (GB) 4:03.74; 9. Hanna Hermansson (Swe) 4:09.51; 10. Linn Söderholm (Swe) 4:10.27 PR; 11. Hellen Obiri (Ken) 4:10.53; 12. Ciara Mageean (Ire) 4:10.99;… rabbit—Aneta Lemiesz (Pol) 64.07, 2:09.08.
100H(1.4): 1. Luminosa Bogliolo (Ita) 12.88; 2. Lotta Harala (Fin) 13.07; 3. Mette Graversgaard (Den) 13.13; 4. Julia Wennersten (Swe) 13.72; 5. Lovisa Karlsson (Swe) 13.76; 6. Katarina Johnson-Thompson (GB) 13.94.
400H: 1. Femke Bol (Neth) 54.68; 2. Anna Ryzhykova (Ukr) 55.19; 3. Amalie Iuel (Nor) 55.92; 4. Sara Slott Petersen (Den) 56.30; 5. Sage Watson (Can) 56.31; 6. Lea Sprunger (Swi) 56.40; 7. Zuzana Hejnová (CzR) 56.75.
Field Events
HJ: 1. Yaroslava Mahuchikh (Ukr) 6-6¾ (2.00) (=out WL) (x, =8 WJ) (6-½, 6-1½, 6-2¾ [2], 6-4, 6-5 [2], 6-6, 6-6¾ [3], 6-8 [xxx]) (1.84, 1.87, 1.90 [2], 1.93, 1.96 [2], 1.98, 2.00 [3], 2.03 [xxx]);
2. Yuliya Levchenko (Ukr) 6-6 (1.98); 3. Nicola McDermott (Aus) 6-4 (1.93); 4. Erika Kinsey (Swe) 6-4 (1.93); 5. Mirela Demireva (Bul) 6-2¾ (1.90); 6. Levern Spencer (LCA) 6-1½ (1.87); 7. Sofie Skoog (Swe) 6-½ (1.84).
PV: 1. Holly Bradshaw (GB) 15-4½ (4.69); 2. Angelica Bengtsson (Swe) 15-1¾ (4.62); 3. tie, Michaela Meijer (Swe) & Tina Šutej (Slo) 14-10 (4.52); 5. Lisa Gunnarsson (Swe) 14-6 (4.42); 6. Nikoleta Kiriakopoulou (Gre) 14-2 (4.32).
LJ: 1. Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk (Ukr) 22-5¾ (6.85); 2. Khaddi Sagnia (Swe) 22-5 (6.83) out PR; 3. Caterine Ibarguen (Col) 21-8¼ (6.61) (officially, Sagnia is 3rd based on round 6); 4. Alina Rotaru (Rom) 21-7½ (6.59); 5. Abigail Irozuru (GB) 21-6¾ (6.57); 6. Katarina Johnson-Thompson (GB) 21-4¾ (6.52); 7. Tilde Johansson (Swe) 21-4¾ (6.52); 8. Erica Jarder (Swe) 20-9¼ (6.33); 9. Shara Proctor (GB) 20-1¾ (6.14). ◻︎