We’re not even sure where to start. The Monaco Diamond League Meeting, which was highly touted as one of the greatest track meets of this year, did not disappoint. The World Record attempts in the Men’s High Jump and Men’s 1,500-meters fell short and slow, respectively, but the high level across the board justified the fireworks at the end of the meet, literally and metaphorically speaking.
Seven world leading times, five meet records, and a slew of all-time marks highlight this evening’s Monaco Diamond League.
American Records & All-Time Mark
Records are meant to be broken, especially when they're your own. In the Women’s 5K, Molly Huddle put herself in the mix early, positioning herself on Genzebe Dibaba’s shoulder for much of the opening few laps.
Working with Shannon Rowbury over the later stages of the race, Huddle would grit out a sixth place finish and lower her American Record from 14:44.76 to 14:42.64.
Rowbury would break 15-minutes for the first time ever and move to #4 all-time on the American 5K list with her 14:48.68 eighth place finish.
| Result | P.A. | Pos. | Athlete | Birth | Cnt. | Type | Pl. | Venue | Date | R.S. | Rec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:42.64 | 1. | 1. | Molly HUDDLE | 84 | USA | F | 6. | Monaco (MON) | 18.07.2014 | 1197 | AR |
| 14:44.80 | 2. | 3. | Shalane FLANAGAN | 81 | USA | F | 1. | Walnut (USA) | 13.04.2007 | 1193 | |
| 14:45.35 | 3. | 5. | Regina JACOBS | 63 | USA | F | 1. | Sacramento (USA) | 21.07.2000 | 1192 | |
| 14:48.68 | 4. | 7. | Shannon ROWBURY | 84 | USA | F | 8. | Monaco (MON) | 18.07.2014 | 1185 | |
| 14:51.62 | 5. | 10. | Deena KASTOR | 73 | USA | F | 9. | Stockholm (SWE) | 01.08.2000 |
1179 |
via all-athletics.com
Justin Gatlin proved that the fastest route between two points is not necessarily a straight line.
Justin Gatlin's racing line in tonights 200m #MonacoDL pic.twitter.com/tN2xCLnViX
— Dean Shower-Davis (@deansd) July 18, 2014
The 32-year-old took the win in 19.68, which makes him the sixth fastest American of all-time. More than nine years after running 20.00 in 2005, Gatlin finally breaks the barrier, although there will certainly be questions regarding his second renaissance.
via all-athletics.com
Women’s 100m
| Result | Wind | P.A. | Pos. | Athlete | Birth | Cnt. | Type | Pl. | Venue | Date | R.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19.32 | +0.4 | 1. | 1. | Michael JOHNSON | 67 | USA | F | 1. | Atlanta (USA) | 01.08.1996 | 1327 |
| 19.53 | +0.7 | 2. | 2. | Walter DIX | 86 | USA | F | 2. | Bruxelles (BEL) | 16.09.2011 | 1291 |
| 19.58 | +1.3 | 3. | 3. | Tyson GAY | 82 | USA | F | 1. | New York (USA) | 30.05.2009 | 1280 |
| 19.63 | +0.4 | 4. | 5. | Xavier CARTER | 85 | USA | F | 1. | Lausanne (SUI) | 11.07.2006 | 1277 |
| 19.65 | +0.0 | 5. | 6. | Wallace SPEARMON | 84 | USA | F | 1. | Daegu (KOR) | 28.09.2006 | 1276 |
| 19.68 | -0.5 | 6. | 8. | Justin GATLIN | 82 | USA | F | 1. | Monaco (MON) | 18.07.2014 | 1274 |
| 19.73 | -0.2 | 7. | 16. | Michael MARSH | 67 | USA | SF1 | 1. | Barcelona (ESP) | 05.08.1992 | 1264 |
Women’s 100m
Newcomer Tori Bowie returns from injury to take the Women’s 100-meters in a personal best of 10.80 (+0.8 m/s). The converted long jumper is now #6 all-time on the American list. I wonder if she’ll go back to concentrating on field events?
| Result | Wind | P.A. | Pos. | Athlete | Birth | Cnt. | Type | Pl. | Venue | Date | R.S. | Rec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10.49 | +0.0 | 1. | 1. | Florence GRIFFITH-JOYNER | 59 | USA | QF1 | 1. | Indianapolis (USA) | 16.07.1988 | 1296 | AR, WR |
| 10.64 | +1.2 | 2. | 4. | Carmelita JETER | 79 | USA | F | 1. | Shanghai (CHN) | 20.09.2009 | 1259 | |
| 10.65 | +1.1 | 3. | 5. | Marion JONES | 75 | USA | F | 1. | Johannesburg (RSA) | 12.09.1998 | 1258 | |
| 10.76 | +1.7 | 4. | 16. | Evelyn ASHFORD | 57 | USA | F | 1. | Zürich (SUI) | 22.08.1984 | 1233 | |
| 10.78 | +1.0 | 5. | 20. | Dawn SOWELL | 66 | USA | F | 1. | Provo (USA) | 03.06.1989 | 1233 | |
| 10.78 | +1.8 | 5. | 20. | Torri EDWARDS | 77 | USA | SF2 | 1. | Eugene (USA) | 28.06.2008 | 1229 | |
| 10.79 | -0.1 | 7. | 25. | Inger MILLER | 72 | USA | F | 2. | Sevilla (ESP) | 22.08.1999 | 1237 | |
| 10.80 | +0.8 | 8. | 28. | Tori BOWIE | 90 | USA | F | 1. | Monaco (MON) | 18.07.2014 | 1240 | |
| 10.82 | -1.0 | 9. | 38. | Gail DEVERS | 66 | USA | F | 1. | Barcelona (ESP) | 01.08.1992 |
1237 |
via all-athletics.com
Ajee Wilson was Born To Run the 800-meters. In her first five match-ups against Eunice Sum, the World Champion has walked away the victor. But tonight in Monaco, it was the 20-year-old American sensation that would take the win over her Kenyan rival.
No one went with the rabbit, who set off on an inane 57.65 opening first lap, but Sum was in the lead with Wilson leading the chase pack just a few meters back.
Then, at the 550-meter mark, Sum came back to Wilson and company, before the Kenyan accelerated again at 600-meters. But Wilson, who quickly reacted to the increased pace, covered the move, swung wide 100-meters later, and gritted out the win.
We say gritted, because we couldn't tell from her facial expression, if Wilson was bored or about to rewrite American history.
No one went with the rabbit, who set off on an inane 57.65 opening first lap, but Sum was in the lead with Wilson leading the chase pack just a few meters back.
Then, at the 550-meter mark, Sum came back to Wilson and company, before the Kenyan accelerated again at 600-meters. But Wilson, who quickly reacted to the increased pace, covered the move, swung wide 100-meters later, and gritted out the win.
We say gritted, because we couldn't tell from her facial expression, if Wilson was bored or about to rewrite American history.
Wilson’s 1:57.67 win isn’t only the world lead and new personal best, but it ranks #6 all-time on the American list.
| Result | P.A. | Pos. | Athlete | Birth | Cnt. | Type | Pl. | Venue | Date | R.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:56.40 | 1. | 1. | Jearl MILES-CLARK | 66 | USA | F | 3. | Zürich (SUI) | 11.08.1999 | 1218 |
| 1:56.90 | 2. | 4. | Mary SLANEY | 58 | USA | F | 1. | Bern (SUI) | 16.08.1985 | 1209 |
| 1:56.91 | 3. | 5. | Kim GALLAGHER | 64 | USA | F | 3. | Seoul (KOR) | 26.09.1988 | 1209 |
| 1:57.04 | 4. | 7. | Meredith RAINEY-VALMON | 68 | USA | F | 1. | Atlanta (USA) | 17.06.1996 | 1206 |
| 1:57.34 | 5. | 10. | Alysia MONTAÑO | 86 | USA | F | 1. | Monaco (MON) | 22.07.2010 | 1201 |
| 1:57.67 | 6. | 18. | Ajee WILSON | 94 | USA | F | 1. | Monaco (MON) | 18.07.2014 | 1195 |
| 1:57.80 | 7. | 22. | Delisa WALTON-FLOYD | 61 | USA | F | 5. | Seoul (KOR) | 26.09.1988 | 1192 |
After his London Olympic silver medal, Leo Manzano’s shelf life was set to expire, but apparently no one told The Lion, who went off and ran a new personal best of 3:30.98
Don't ever give up! Thank you to all my supporters, my team, and @HokaOneOne #Perseverance #PersonalBest #1500m 3:30.98 #Monaco
— Leo Manzano (@Leomanzano) July 18, 2014
A rejuvenated and now Hoka ONE ONE sponsored Manzano chopped nearly two seconds off his previous personal best from 2010 (3:32.37) and now ranks #6 all-time on the American list.
In what also looked like a repeat from London, Matt Centrowitz finished right behind Manzano in 3:31.09. The 2013 World Championship silver medalist also set a new personal best and now sits #7 all-time on the American list.
| Result | P.A. | Pos. | Athlete | Birth | Cnt. | Type | Pl. | Venue | Date | R.S. | Rec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3:29.30 | 1. | 1. | Bernard LAGAT | 74 | USA | F | 1. | Rieti (ITA) | 28.08.2005 | 1255 | AR |
| 3:29.77 | 2. | 3. | Sydney MAREE | 56 | USA | F | 1. | Köln (GER) | 25.08.1985 | 1248 | |
| 3:30.54 | 3. | 4. | Alan WEBB | 83 | USA | F | 1. | Paris (FRA) | 06.07.2007 | 1237 | |
| 3:30.90 | 4. | 6. | Andrew WHEATING | 87 | USA | F | 4. | Monaco (MON) | 22.07.2010 | 1232 | |
| 3:30.98 | 5. | 7. | Leonel MANZANO | 84 | USA | F | 8. | Monaco (MON) | 18.07.2014 | 1231 | |
| 3:31.01 | 6. | 8. | Jim SPIVEY | 60 | USA | F | 1. | Koblenz (GER) | 28.08.1988 | 1230 | |
| 3:31.09 | 7. | 10. | Matthew CENTROWITZ | 89 | USA | F | 9. | Monaco (MON) | 18.07.2014 | 1229 | |
| 3:31.52 | 8. | 14. | Steve HOLMAN | 70 | USA | F | 6. | Bruxelles (BEL) | 22.08.1997 | 1223 |
via all-athletics.com
Two French Records in Monaco
Men’s 800m
Two Frenchmen set huge PBs to grab national records in front of an intensely partisan home* crowd in Monaco on Friday night. First up was the men’s 800: while it was the only non-Diamond League race of the night, it would have been the fastest DL 800 of all time.
The first three-quarters of the race played out more or less like a dozen or so other Diamond League 8s over the last four years. Sammy Tangui took the field halfway in 49-mid and dropped out 30 meters later, and Rudisha got to pole position with 200 meters to go. Unlike many of those 2010-13 DL blowouts, though, Rudisha had company.
Pierre-Ambroise Bosse was right on Rudisha’s heels, and Olympic silver medallist Nijel Amos was a stride back of Bosse (pronounced, wonderfully, “Boss”). With less than 100 to go, Amos slipped by Bosse and Rudisha; Bosse chased Amos all the way to the line, and Mo Aman and Ferguson Cheruiyot** passed a tiring Rudisha in the last 50 meters.
Oh yeah, the times. When the FAT smoke cleared, tonight was the second*** fastest top-to-bottom 800 in history. Amos ran 1:42.45, a world leader. And Bosse, previously best known for rocking a football kit in Paris, ran 1:42.53 to destroy Mehdi Baala’s old French record of 1:43.15. Aman, Cheruiyot, and Rudisha all broke 1:43 a few meters behind Bosse.
Bosse is now tied with Timothy Kitum for the eleventh fastest performer in world history. He’s run faster than the American record and is the third fastest European ever, behind only Seb Coe and Yuriy Borzakovskiy.
He’s only 22. His previous PR came in Monaco a year ago and is more than a full second slower. Cue the “like a Bosse” jokes.
*Here’s a short definition of what exactly the principality of Monaco is: while Monaco is an independent nation, the natives speak French, and the French army has Monaco’s back. Just like Wikipedia has my back!
**If the DL media guides are to be believed, Cheruiyot changed his first name because he’s a huge fan of Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.
***We believe the 1996 Oly final is now the third fastest. Email me with corrections.
While Bosse’s time was just as historic, unlike Pascal Martinot-Lagarde’s national record, it didn’t make any French reporters cry.****
Martinot-Lagarde’s 110 hurdles win and 12.95 national record came exactly an hour after his countryman’s NR. When he and Bosse stack up the weight of their respective accomplishments, here’s what PML will bring to the scales: tied for 12th fastest performer in history, #2 time in European history, and the sixteenth man to join the hallowed sub-13 club. Pascal took a full tenth from his old 13.05 PB and two-hundredths from Ladji Doucouré’s 12.97 previous Gallic best.
****Maybe this reporter had some personal connection to Martinot-Lagarde. It was one of many occasions when your correspondent had to break out a “Je ne parle pas français.”
Failed Word Record Attempts
Men’s 1500m
Asbel Kiprop promised that he’d chase after Hicham El Guerrouj’s 3:26.00 world record and, like an honorable man, followed through on his word. Kiprop followed rabbits Andrew Rotich and James Magut through the first 1200-meters, splitting 54.08 at 400-meters, 1:50.84 at 800-meters, and 2:47.49 at the bell.
At the pre-race press conference, Kiprop mentioned that he’d run 2:45 for 1,200-meters in practice and was prepared to hit that interval in Monaco. However, a slow third lap meant there was blood in the water, and Kiprop’s compatriot Silas Kiplagat was there to spoil the party.
An incredible last 300-meters gave Kiplagat the win in 3:27.64, which was a world lead, a Diamond League record, and makes him the 4th fastest 1,500-meter runner of all-time.
Kiplagat, not known for kicking a man when he’s done, displaced Kiprop on the all-time list, moving his sinewy rival to #5 all-time.
Even still, this makes Kiplagat's head-to-head record against Kiprop 13 wins and 10 loses.
But the most ridiculous note, without a doubt, is that neither Kiprop nor Kiplagat will represent Kenya at the Commonwealth Games. Unreal.
Even still, this makes Kiplagat's head-to-head record against Kiprop 13 wins and 10 loses.
But the most ridiculous note, without a doubt, is that neither Kiprop nor Kiplagat will represent Kenya at the Commonwealth Games. Unreal.
The previously unknown 18-year-old Ronald Kwemoi from Kenya came through to finish third in 3:28.81, which was not only a personal best, but also a World Junior Record.
The man to beat, Djibouti’s superstar Ayanleh Souleiman, was fourth in a national record of 3:29.58. The previous best time for a fourth place finisher in the history of the 1,500-meters was Noureddine Morceli’s 3:30.23 from 1997.
Actually, looking down the all-time list for “fastest time by place” in the 1,500-meters, every finisher from 4th to 10th in Monaco was the fastest athlete for their respective place.
Here’s to you, the fastest losers!
But that's not where the statistics for the deepest 1,500-meter ends:
But that's not where the statistics for the deepest 1,500-meter ends:
SEVEN men under 3:30!! Before tonight, the best was three guys under 3:30.
— Jon Mulkeen (@Statman_Jon) July 18, 2014
Men’s High Jump
The event was billed as “Mission: World Record” but only one of the big three managed to clear 2.40m. Bohdan Bondarenko was well-clear on his first attempt at 2.43-meters, but nipped the bar with his heels as he began to descend to the to the mat. That would prove to be his best attempt as the Ukrainian would have to settle for a meet record and no leaps at the World Record of 2.45-meters.
Somewhere, Cuba’s Javier Sotomayor breathes a sigh of relief as his 20-year-old mark lives for another day.
Qatar’s Mutaz Barshim was clear through 2.37-meters, but missed his first two jumps at 2.40-meters and, since he wanted to win the competition, moved the bar to 2.43-meter to take one attempt. Although he fell short, Barshim was in high spirits, signing autographs for the crowd and enjoying a raucous high jump atmosphere.
Russia’s Ivan Ukhov missed once at 2.37-meters and then passed to 2.40-meters, where he missed twice and was eliminated.
Another day, Icarus-esque men.
Big Winners
After "just" setting three indoor world records, there were questions regarding Dibaba's summer form. She had opened her season with a sixth place finish in the Doha 3K (8:26.21), but followed that up with a convincing win at the Rome 5K in a personal best of 14:34.99. Then, the pendulum swung back down, with her second place finish at the Lausanne 3K in 8:50.81.
But tonight in Monaco, as she stepped back up to the 5K, Dibaba hushed the doubters, with another 5K personal best. Dibaba followed Almaz Ayana for most of the way, and even though it took Dibaba all the way to the line to close the door on her compatriot, it was still a convincing win.
Even though she's more used to world records, Dibaba now ranks #9 all-time in the Women's 5K.
Amos in 800m
The pre-race hype was all David Rudisha, but the 20-year-old from Botswana would not be denied.
Nijel Amos, who had already beaten an underwhelming Rudisha at the Prefontaine Classic, took the win tonight over what what supposed to be vintage Rudisha.
After a 49.41-second opening split, Rudisha led, with Amos just a step off the pace behind Pierre-Ambroise Bosse. Then, at the 600-meter mark, when we usually see Rudisha break the race open, both Bosse and Amos began to creep up on Rudisha's shoulder.
It was Amos who would swing wide to challenge the World Record holder and, for a moment, we thought that the gangly form of Amos would succumb to the smooth stride of Rudisha.
But then, 50-meters before the line, Amos, pulled clear and brought an entire train of four guys with him past Rudisha.
Five guys would go sub-1:43, but Amos would again get scalps from both Rudisha and Mohammed Aman.
We once read a story that Amos was considering a career change to become a nightclub DJ. Here's our sage advice: please don't.
Birech in 3kST
Jarius Birech proves he's the best 3000-meter steeplechaser in the world, winning Monaco DL by more than six seconds and almost running a personal best by less than one second. The Commonwealth Games are up next for him.
Though this fits nowhere in our recap, we feel that we have to give a shout-out to Canadian Matt Hughes, who finished fourth in 8:12.81. That's right off his personal best from last year's Moscow Championships (8:11.64) and, like Birech, puts him in good shape to mix it up at the Commonwealth Games for Canada.
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In the Women’s Triple Jump, Caterine Ibarguen of Colombia was trailing Russia’s Yekaterina Koneva, who had just set a personal best of 14.89-meters with her second jump.
Then, on her final leap, Ibarguen soared to 15.31-meters, which was a national record, world lead, Diamond League record, and fifth farthest triple jump of all-time.
For some perspective, the World Record in the event 15.50-meters.
And, to cap off the recap, New Zealdand’s Valerie Adams won her 53rd consecutive Women’s Shot Put. She also has the Diamond League title wrapped up.