IAAF Diamond League - Stockholm

Stockholm: Souleiman Dominates As Centrowitz Fades In 1500

Stockholm: Souleiman Dominates As Centrowitz Fades In 1500

Jul 30, 2015 by Lincoln Shryack
Stockholm: Souleiman Dominates As Centrowitz Fades In 1500


Ayanleh Souleiman dominated the men's 1500 today in Stockholm, winning in 3:33.33

The final Diamond League meeting before next month’s World Championships went down today in Stockholm, the last chance for many to compete ahead of Beijing.
 
It was a mixed bag of performances for the Americans, as Katie Mackey grabbed a nice win in the women’s 3,000m, while Leo Manzano and Matt Centrowitz each had rough outings in the 800 and 1500, respectively.
 

Ayanleh Souleiman Dominates 1500, Centro Fades To 11th

The men’s 1500 was hyped as a battle between American Matt Centrowitz and Djibouti’s Ayanleh Souleiman, and that’s exactly how it played out through 1200m as they were shoulder to shoulder with 300 to go in 2:52.  
 
Centrowitz looked poised to challenge Souleiman, who had led from the gun, however the US champion uncharacteristically began to fade dramatically with 250 to go, appearing gassed as Souleiman really put the pedal to the floor. 
 
As Souleiman broke away from the field, winning easily in 3:33.33, Centro kept falling back in the final stretch and would end up 11th in 3:39.29. After two solid races in Monaco and London, the American won't be happy with today's dud in his final tune-up before Worlds. 

Centrowitz spoke about feeling tired post-London afterwards:


Robby Andrews
ran a solid race to finish 5th in 3:35.52, a season’s best.
 

France’s Renelle Lamote Surprises In 800, Brenda Martinez 3rd


21-year-old Renelle Lamote of France scored a big upset in the women's 800

The women’s 800 featured the American trio of Molly Ludlow, Chanelle Price, and Brenda Martinez, as well as 1:57 runner Rose Mary Almanza of Cuba, but none of them wound up victorious in Stockholm, as France’s Renelle Lamote took the surprise victory in 1:59.91.
 
The pace was quick from the gun, and Price and Ludlow sat in good position in 2nd in 3rd at the bell in around 57 seconds. Ludlow began to falter, however at 300 to go, as Brenda Martinez started to move up at the same point. With 200 to go, Great Britain’s Lynsey Sharp led while Martinez positioned herself into third on the outside. 
 
Sharp held that position at 100 to go, while Martinez frantically chased her in 2nd. With Sharp hanging on for dear life, Lamote started kicking for home in Lane 2, breaking Martinez in the process. 
 
The 21-year-old from France needed only to catch Sharp from there, who had paid for her aggressive move with 250 to go. Lamote did so successfully, winning in 1:59 with Sharp and Martinez settling for the next two places, respectively. Chanelle Price would finish 5th, with Ludlow all the way back in 8th.

Martinez talks about her race in Stockholm here:



The race was a much better performance for Martinez than her finish in London, where she was ninth in 2:02. She’s not quite at her 2013 level of fitness just yet, but it’s progress nonetheless with just three weeks to go until Beijing. 



Katie Mackey Grabs First Diamond League Victory In 3,000m

Katie Mackey was all smiles after grabbing a PR and her first Diamond League victory

The entire women’s 3,000m field benefited greatly from Molly Huddle scratching before the race in Stockholm, and fellow American Katie Mackey took full advantage with a brilliant come-from-behind victory in 8:52.99, a new PR. 
 
Mackey moved up steadily throughout the race, which was tactical from the onset. Just before one lap to go, Mackey caught up to the lead group of five other women as they hit the bell in 7:49. The pace really ramped up with 300 to go, and Mackey, who was sixth in last month’s 5,000m at USAs, held steady in fourth place. 
 
Bahrain’s Mimi Belete made the first move at 150 to go, and Mackey responded accordingly, slingshotting around Belete and the rest of the field while operating out of Lane 2. The American ran a powerful final 100 meters to win in 8:52, earning the first Diamond League victory of her career in the process.
 
While this field was weaker than most Diamond League races, especially with Huddle’s late scratch, taking down Belete is a very impressive scalp for Mackey’s collection. The Bahraini owns an 8:30 PR from 2014. 

Katie Mackey pumped to win Stockholm 3K: