The Monaco Diamond League Meet, the nineth stop on the 2023 Diamond League circuit held on the July 21, 2023, was highlighted by several exceptional performances. Faith Kipyegon (Kenya) broke the world record in the women’s mile. Shericka Jackson (Jamaica) and Karsten Warholm (Norway) both posted impressive performances in the women’s 200m and men’s 400m hurdles events, respectively. Nia Ali (USA) and Wyclife Kinyamal (Kenya) posted world leading times in the women’s 100m hurdles and the men’s 800m, respectively.
Another world record for Faith Kipyegon in the Women's Mile
Faith Kipyegon of Kenya produced another scintillating run when she posted a World Record of 4:07.64 in the mile final. By virtue of this victory Faith solidified herself as the best track and field athlete on the circuit as this was her third world record of the season. With 200m remaining in the event, Faith decimated the field by building a 70m lead to cruise to victory. Ciara Mageean of Ireland was a distant second in a National Record and Personal Best of 4:14.58 and Freweyni Hailu of Ethiopia, who was third in a Season’s Best of 4:14.79. Laura Muir of Great Britain (4:15.24 NR, PB), Jessica Hill of Australia (4:15.34 AR, PB), Nikki Hiltz of the USA ( 4:16.35, AR, PB), Melissa Courtney-Bryant of Great Britain (4:16. 38 PB), Elise Cranny of the USA (4:16.47 PB), Abbey Caldwell of Australia (4:20.51 PB) and Esther Guerrero of Spain, completed the top ten placings. The field was rounded-out by Berenice Cleyett-Merle of France (4:26.06 NR, PB), Agathe Guillemot of France (4:26.92, PB) and Daniely Brea Joselyn of Venezuela (4:27.41, AR, PB).
Shericka Jackson sensational in women’s 200m
The Jamaican sprinting sensation, Shericka Jackson won the women’s 200m in a very fast 21.86, to finish ahead of Julien Alfred of St. Lucia and Dina Asher Smith of Great Britain, both of whom stopped the clock in 22.08 and 22.23, respectively. Jackson’s winning time of 21.86 was slightly slower than her season best 21.71 set at the Jamaican National Trials on July 9, 2023. Only Gabby Thomas of the USA (21.60) has gone faster than Jackson this season. The 22.23 posted by Dina Asher Smith in Monaco was a Season Best for the 2019 200m World Champion. The field was rounded-out by Anthonique Strachan of the Bahamas (22.40), Daryll Neita of Great Britain (22.54), Kayla White of the USA (22.54), Gabrielle Thomas of the USA (22.67) and Tamara Clark of the USA (22.83). It should be noted, that, Gabrielle Thomas seventh-place finish was a bit disappointing, given her pedigree and being the US top female athlete in the half-lap event.
Warholm sets meet record and world leading time in men's 400m Hurdles
The Norwegian standout, Karsten Warholm, demonstrate his beastly prowess, when he posted a Diamond League Record, Meet Record and World Lead of 46.51. Warholm, the world record holder in the 400m hurdles, aggressively attacked the first five hurdles to separate from the field and was able to win the race comfortably. Alison dos Santos of Brazil returned from injury, to post a Season’s Best of 47.66, while CJ Allen of the USA was third in 47.84. Of note, Ludvy Vaillant of France was fourth in a Personal Best of 47.85. The field was rounded-out by Wilfried Happio of France (48.25), Nick Smidt of the Netherlands (48.57), Khallifah Rosser of the USA (48.71). Alessandro Sibilio of Italy did not finish.
Nia Ali ran personal best in women's 100m Hurdles.
The women’s 100m hurdles saw a close encounter between the four American juggernauts in Nia Ali, Kendra Harrison, Alaysha Johnson, and Tia Jones. However, it was Nia Ali, who posted an Area Record, World Lead and Personal Best of 12.30, to deny Kendra Harrison, Alaysha Johnson and Tia jones, all of whom stopped the clock in 12.31 and 12.39 and 12.39SB, respectively, for an American sweep. The field was rounded-out by Pia Skrzyszowska of Poland (12.68), Laeticia Bapte of France (12.73 PB), Sarah Lavin of Ireland (12.74) and Elena Carraro of Italy (13.28).
World lead for Wyclife Kinyamal in men's 800m
Wyclife Kinyamal of Kenya posted a World Lead of 1:43.22, to take the win over Slimane Moula of Algeria and Marco Arop of Canada, both of whom posted 1:43.40 and 1:43.51, respectively. Djamel Sedjati of Algeria posted 1:43.88 for fourth. The field was rounded-out by Daniel Rowden of Great Britain, and Bryce Hoppel of the USA in a Season’s Best of 1:43.95, Emmanuel Wanyoni of Kenya (1:44.35), Joseph Deng of Australia (1:44.93) and Clayton Murphy of the USA (1:45.83).
Ferdinand Omanyala goes sub-10 in men's 100m
Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya posted 9.92, to win the men’s 100m final, ahead of Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, who posted a Season’s Best of 9.93 and Ackeem Blake of Jamaica, who stopped the clock in 10 seconds flat. Yohan Blake of Jamaica posted a Season’s Best of 10.01 for fourth, while another Jamaican, Kishane Thompson, posted 10.04 for fifth. The field was rounded-out by Joshua Hartmann of Germany (10.15), Courtney Lindsay of the USA (10.16) and Arthur Cisse of Cote D’Ivoire (10.21).
Kaczmarek bests Little in Women's 400m
Natalia Kaczmarek of Poland won the women’s 400m final in a respectable time of 49.63, to get the better of Shamier Little of the USA, who posted a Season’s Best of 49.68 and Lieke Klaver of the Netherlands, who stopped the clock in 49.99. Rhasidat Adeleke of Ireland Posted 49.99 also, for fourth, while Sada Williams of Barbados posted a Season’s Best of 50.00 for fifth. The field was rounded-out by Mary Moraa of Kenya (50.48), Zeney Van Der Walt of South Africa (51.20) and Anna Kielbasinska of Poland (52.67).
Larissa Iapichino wins Women's Long Jump
The Italian, Larissa Iapichino, won the women’s long jump final in a Personal Best of 6.95m (+0.3), while Tara Davis-Woodhall of the USA was second in 6.88m (+0.2) and Ivana Vuleta of Serbia was third in a Season’s Best of 6.86m in still conditions (0.0). The field was rounded-out by Hilary Kapatcha of France in 6.77m (0.0), Fatima Dlame of Spain in 6.74m (-0.6), Brooke Buschkuehl of Australia in 6.73 (-0.4), Ackelia Smith of Jamaica in 6.70m (-0.6), Ese Brumie of Nigeria in 6.67m (0.0), Quanesha Burks of the USA in 6,66m (-0.6), Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela in a Season’s Best of 6.61m (-0.6) and Jazmin Sawyers of Great Britain in 6.59m (+0.5).
Hagos Gebrhiwet tops the field in men's 5000m.
Ethiopians Hagos Gebrhiwet (12:42.18 PB), Berihu Aregawi (12:42.58) and Telahun Haile Bekele (12:42.70 PB) completed a clean sweep of the podium finishes, while Mohamed Katir of Spain was fourth in an Area Record and Personal Best of 12:45.01 and Jacob Krop of Kenya was fifth in a Season’s Best 12:46.02.
The next five placings were occupied by Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda (12:48.78), Nicholas Kipkorir of Kenya (12:55.46 SB), Thierry Ndikumwenayo of Spain (12:55.47 PB), Jimmy Gressier of France (12:56.09 NR, PB) and Mohammed Ahmed of Canada ( 13:01.58).
The bottom third of the field was rounded-out by Cornelius Kemboi of Kenya (13:01.78), Yann Schrub of France (13:17.95), Cooper Teare of the USA (13:19.44), Samuel Tefera of Ethiopia (13:22.22) and Kuma Girma of Ethiopia (13:43.60).
Jamaica’s Jaydon Hibbert second best in the Men's Triple Jump
Fabrice Zango of Burundi, leapt to a distance of 17.70m (-0.4) on his final jump to snatch victory from the eighteen-years-old Jaydon Hibbert, who cut the sands in 17.66m (+1.7). Hibbert, who recently turned Pro, led for most of the competition. Yasser Mohammed Triki of Algeria was third in a Season’s Best of 17.32 (+0.5). The field was rounded-out by Lazario Martinez of Cuba in 16.81 (+0.6), Jean-Marc Pontvianne of France in 16.71m (+0.1), Praveen Chithravel of India in 16.59 (+0.6), Will Claye of the USA in 16.21 (+0.7) and Christian Taylor of the USA in 16.20 (+0.2).
Kenya’s Koech and Kibiwot take top spots in men's 3000m Steeplechase
The top five placings of the men’s steeplechase was occupied by four Africans and one New Zealander. Simon Kiprop Koech of Kenya posted a Personal Best of 8:04.19, to take the victory over Abraham Kibiwot of Kenya (8:09.54) and Abrham Sime of Ethiopia (8:10.56 PB). Samuel Firewu, also of Ehiopia, posted a Personal Best of 8:10.57 for fourth, while George Beamish of New Zealand was fifth in an Area Record and Personal Best of 8:13.26.
The next five placings were occupied by Anthony Rotich of the USA, who posted a Personal Best of 8:13.74, Victor Ruiz of Spain (8:14.41), Mason Ferlic of the USA in a Personal Best of 8:16.03, Diilali Bedrani of France in a Season Best of 8:16.81 and Nicolas-Marie Daru of France in a Personal Best of 8:18.45.
The final five placings were completed by Mohamed Amin Jhinaoui of Tunisia (8:21.63), William Battershill of Great Britain (8:22.64 PB), Amos Serem of Kenya (8:24.02), Conseslus Kipruto of Kenya (8:24.46), Bernard Ketter of the USA (8:29.61).
Armand Duplantis fourth in Men's Pole Vault
The men’s pole vault was a rather interesting event, as the World Record Holder and defending Diamond League Champion, Armand Duplantis of Sweden was relegated to fourth, after clearing a height of 5.72. The event was won by Christopher Nilsen of the USA in a Season’s Best of 5.92m, while Ernest John Obiena of the Phillipines was second in 5.82m, a height shared by third-place Kurtis Marschall of Australia. Sam Kendricks of the USA and Bo Kanda Lita Baehre of Germany were tied for fourth in a clearance height of 5.72m. Pal Haugen Lillefosse of Noraway also cleared 5.72m, but was seventh on the count-back, while Thibaut Collet of France and Zac McWhorter of the USA were tied for eighth in a clearance height of 5.62m. The bottom placings were completed by Ben Broeders of Belgium, Dondre Guttormsen of Norway and Renaud Lavillenie of France, all of whom cleared 5.42m for a joint-tenth-place finish.
Australia’s Olyslagers tops Women's High Jump field
Nicola Olyslagers of Australia won the women’s high jump in 1.99m, while Iryna Gerashchenko of Ukraine was second in 1.96m and Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine was third in 1.96m. Eleanor Patterson (1.96m SB) and Topic Angelina (1.96m) were tied for fourth place. The field was rounded-out by Yuliia Levchenko of Ukraine (1.93m), Morgan Lake of Great Britain (1.93m) and Lia Apostolovski of Slovenia (1,90m).
Henley E. Taylor
Freelance Sports Writer
Alaysha Johnson photo courtesy of Nick Reid, Source Athletics
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