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Caster Semenya on fire in Eugene
South Africa's Caster Semenya produced another brilliant display in the 800metres to set a meeting record and world lead of 1:55.92 at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene.
The South African seized command with 300 metres left well behind the pacemaker who went through in 57.25.
As she gears and down the home straight, Francine Niyonsaba simply had no answer to the world champion’s pace, with Ajee’ Wilson coming through strongly for second in 1:56.86. Niyonsaba took third in 1:56.88.
Semenya’s time was the fastest 800m ever run by a woman on US soil.
Eugene mile winner Timothy Cheruiyot.
Timothy Cheruiyot also cracked the 3:50 barrier to take victory, but for the second year straight it was Norwegian wunderkind Jakob Ingebrigtsen who stole the show, finishing fourth in 3:52.28 to set a world Under18 and European Under 20 record.
The previous world U18 best was held by Kenya’s Isaac Songok at 3:54.56.
The 17-year-old crept through the field on the penultimate lap, charging up the home straight to challenge world champion Elijah Manangoi for third, the Kenyan just about holding him off with 3:52.18. Ingebrigtsen’s mark carved four seconds off his previous best, and the teenager is now looking forward to competing on home soil at the Oslo Diamond League next month.
Up front, Cheruiyot was once again highly impressive, the world 1500m silver medallist showing Ethiopia’s Samuel Tefera a clean pair of heels around the final turn, kicking off the front to take victory in 3:49.87 to Tefera’s 3:51.26.
There was a shock result in the men’s 3000m steeplechase as unheralded Kenyan Benjamin Kigen overturned compatriot Conseslus Kipruto and Olympic silver medallist Evan Jager of USA.
After a slow early pace – 1000m was reached in 2:43, 2000m in 5:30 – Kipruto appeared in cruise control at the front, the race apparently playing into the hands of the lightning-fast Olympic and world champion. However, as Kipruto began to wind up the pace in the final lap he had unwanted company in the shape of Kigen, who blasted by him entering the back straight and swiftly opened a gaping advantage.
Surprise Eugene steeplechase winner Benjamin Kigen.
Kipruto simply had no answer, and it was soon clear that he would taste defeat in his specialist event for the first time since 2016, leaving aside his dropout in Rabat last summer.
Kigen was awkward off the last barrier but by then the damage was done, the 24-year-old hitting the finish all alone in 8:09.07. Kipruto edged a photo finish with Jager for second, both credited with 8:11.71.
The upsets continued in the women’s 1500m, Shelby Houlihan timing her run perfectly to charge past race favourites Laura Muir and Jenny Simpson as the line approached, the US athlete hitting the line in 3:59.06. Muir claimed second with 3:59.30 while Simpson, who had led the pack throughout the race behind the pacemakers, faded to third in 3:59.37.
Big win for Shelby Houlihan in Eugene.
Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba was once again dominant in the women’s 5000m, the Olympic 1500m champion showing an impressive turn of speed in the final 400 metres to take victory in 14:26.89, well clear of fellow Ethiopian Letesenbet Gidey, who clocked 14:30.29.
There was another small piece of athletics history etched in the books in the international mile, where Australia’s Luke Mathews became the 400th athlete to break the sub-four-minute mile at Hayward Field, Mathews playing his cards late and to great effect when swooping to victory in 3:57.02. Drew Hunter claimed a decent second in 3:57.29, with fellow US athlete Henry Wynne third in 3:57.61.
On a day when nostalgia hung in the air about the past – as more than 12,000 fans bid an emotional farewell to the much-loved stadium – there was no shortage of excitement about the future, particularly the sense that when the 2021 IAAF World Championships come to town, the new-and-improved Hayward Field will make a memorable host.
Courtesy of IAAF
