Bowie Blasts to 200m Win In Eugene,Elaine 3rd , Felix 5th
It was billed as the race of the weekend, and the women’s 200m duly delivered a contest for the ages at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene on Saturday afternoon (27), with Tori Bowie upsetting the odds and flying to victory in an IAAF Diamond League record of 21.77 (1.5m/s) in Eugene.
In truth, the race was as good as over the moment they turned for home, with Bowie already holding a sizeable advantage over the world’s fastest women. The Olympic 200m champion, Elaine Thompson, simply had no response to the US sprinter’s pace, nor did world champion Dafne Schippers.
In the end, it was Olympic 400m champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo who got closest, the Bahamian powering home from lane eight to take second in a national record of 21.91. Thompson came home strongly for third in 21.98, with Schippers fourth in 22.30.
It exemplified the depth of the race that Allyson Felix, one of the greatest 200m runners in history, could manage no better than fifth in 22.33, just ahead of Marie-Josee Ta Lou (22.37).
“I felt really good before the race, both physically and mentally,” said Bowie. “I tried something new this race. I came in not putting any pressure on myself.
Baker seals 100m ,Gatling finished 5th
The men’s 100m was won in commanding fashion by Ronnie Baker, who powered down the track to a wind-aided 9.86 (2.4m/s). Su Bingtian demonstrated China’s continuing development in the event with a second-place finish in 9.92, with Britain’s Chijindu Ujah third in 9.95. Olympic bronze medallist Andre De Grasse was fourth in 9.96, with Justin Gatlin fifth in 9.97.
Moralake Akinosun came from behind to take the women’s 100m in a wind-aided 10.94 (2.1m/s), marginally ahead of Murielle Ahoure (10.96) and Michelle Lee-Ahye (10.97).
Farah wins with fastest time of the year
Four time Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah ran the fastest time of the year to win the 5,000m in the Diamond League meeting in Eugene, Oregon. The 34-year-old Briton led at the bell and kicked clear to win in 13 minutes 00.70 seconds. Ethiopian teenager Yomif Kejelcha was second in 13:01.21, with Kenyan Geoffrey Kamworor third in 13:01.35. Olympic silver medallist Paul Chelimo was seventh in 13:10.11, with GB’s Andrew Butchart eighth in 13:11.45.
Crouser Stays On Top
If Bowie’s run was the supreme display of pace on offer today, then Ryan Crouser proved the epitome of power, the Olympic champion taking victory in the men’s shot put with his fifth-round effort of 22.43m, the second longest throw in the world this year. Crouser credited the move to full-time training for his improved form at this year’s event.
His touted head-to-head with world champion Joe Kovacs never materialised; Kovacs, who had thrown 22.57m just nine days ago, able to manage no better than his second-round effort of 21.44m, which placed him third.
Spencer Flies To World Lead
In the women’s 400m hurdles, Ashley Spencer clocked the fastest time in the world this year and a lifetime best of 53.38 to take victory, edging US compatriot Shamier Little, who ran 53.44 for second from lane one. Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad was fifth in 54.53.
Omar McLeod continued his dominance in the men’s 110m hurdles, running yet another clean, clinical race to take victory in 13.01 ahead of Jamaican teammate Ronald Levy (13.10) and local fan favourite Devon Allen (13.11).
In the 100m hurdles, Jasmin Stowers proved best of the seven US women in the line-up, and that, unsurprisingly, was also good enough for victory, clocking 12.59 (0.8m/s) ahead of compatriots Queen Harrison (12.64) and Dawn Harper Nelson (12.66).
LaShawn Merritt justified his favourite’s tag in the men’s 400m, taking victory in 44.79 ahead of Botswanan youngster Baboloki Thebe, who edged Vernon Norwood to take second, 45.04 to 45.05.
