by Larry Eder
Justin Gatlin, Eugene, photo by PhotoRun.net
Updated 10 July with pictures, time updates
A fantastic meet on a cool and blustery night in Lausanne, Switzerland. Athletissima, in it’s 40th year, was something to behold; fantastic crowd, great races and huge support.
At the last minute, I took the train from Paris down to the meet!
I am sure glad that I did!
More to come later on this meet, time to catch a bus, and head to Lille, France tomorrow for the French national champs!
Tyson Gay, Asafa Powell, in Lausanne, photo by PhotoRun.net
Lausanne Athletissima
July 9, 2015
First thoughts….
What a beautiful track! The facility has great lighting, and the crowd is growing as the
meet gets closer and closer to the Big stuff, which starts about 7.30 PM local time.
The Lausanne Athletissima is now in its 40th year!
Discus: Yaimi Perez over Sandra Perkovic
Yaimi Perez threw a personal best in round 5, of 67.13m, after her 67.06m from round two.
Sandra Perkovic, the European champion, World Champion, discus studdette, was relegated to
second with a throw of 67.06 meters. Denia Caallero’s 66.04 meters put the second Cuban
in the top three.
All I can say is watch out for Beijing as Cuba has two fine athletes in top three. Dani
Sameuls, the 2009 WC from the land down under (Australia, for those not born in the 80s
or 90s), was fourth in 64.59 meters!
Shot Put
David Storl opened it up in round one with his 21.64m. Tom Walsh moved into second with
a 20.86m. Christian Cantwell moved in front of Walsh in round two with his 20.87 meters.
In round two, Joe Kovacs threw 21.71m to take the lead. Reese Hoffa opened round 4 with
21.30 meters. Storl responds with 22.20 meters! Now, in round 4, Storl, Kovacs, Hoffa,
Cantwell.
Storl’s 22.20 meters holds on as the German works to fulfill his dream of another World
Champs win, this time in Beijing! Kovacs will be a huge factor there.
Lausanne, Shot Put, Men, 1. David Storl, GER, 22.20m, 2. Joe Kovacs, USA, 21.71m,
3. Reese Hoffa, USA, 21.30m, SB, ‪#‎lausanne‬
100m hurdles B race
LoLo Jones, with a look of intensity, took the B race in 12.88. Her hurdling is looking
better, but most importantly, her racing is more focused. She did not finish the 100m
hurdles in Eugene, from some viewers, because an official impacted her way and view.
C’est dommage.
Long Jump
Tianna Bartoletta is the longest jumper of the year, with her 7.12m at the US champs.
Tianna took the lead from Blessing Okagbare in round 2, with her 6.86m leap over Blessing’s
6.66 meter leap.
In round 3, Shara Proctor leaps 6.79m to move into second. Blessig Okagbare in 6.66m.
In the final round, Christabel Netty of Canada leaps 6.68m, to just nip Blessing
Okagbare for third, by .02 centimeters!
Lausanne, LJ, Women, 1. Tianna Bartoletta, USA, 6.86m, 2. Shara Proctor, GBR, 6.79m,
3. Christabel Nettey, 6.68m, ‪#‎lausanne‬
Women’s 800 meters
Selina Buchel and Molly Ludlow were the class of the field, as both ran PBs last weekend
in Paris. Buchel and Ludlow, up front the entire way, hit the 400m in 59.51 and battled
with Latavia Thomas to the finish.
To the delight of the Swiss crowd, Selina Buchel won in 2:00.68. Molly Ludlow gallantly
held on for second in 2:01.68. Latavia Thomas finished third in 2:03.21. And in fourth,
doing some speed work was Shannon Rowbury, who ran 2:03.53.
Lausanne, 800m, Women, 1. Selina Buchel, SUI, 2:00.68, 2. Molly Ludlow, USA, 2:02.08,
3. Latavia Thomas, USA, 2:03.21, 4. Shannon Rowbury, USA, 2:03.53, ‪#‎lausanne‬,
Women’s 400 meters
Shaunae Miller, Bahamas, made short work of this fine field, as she tore through the
first 200 meters and had a sizable lead by 300 meters, cruising with her long,
elegant stride down the final fifty meters. Don’t tell Shaunae about rigging out
over the last stretch. You are seeing the future of the 400 meters here! Miller
ran a pb in 49.92.
Lausanne, 400m women, 1. Shaunae Miller, BAH, 49.92 PB, 2. Sanya Richards-Ross, 51.12,
3. Novlene Williams-Mills, JAM, 51.15, ‪#‎lausanne‬
Women’ steeplechase
Emma Coburn has run 9:15.59 this year, and her pb is 9:11.42. Can she get the AR
tonight?
In slightly breezy conditions, the pace went through 3:06.52 for the first 1000 meters,
and 6:17.73 for 2000 meters.
And this is where the race got interesting.
Emma Coburn, Hiwot Ayalew, Virginia Nyambura, Ruth Jebet were all together. Virginia
Nyambura, who put a bee in Hiwott’s bonnet so to speak in Doha, were battling. Emma
Coburn, who looked a race or two short of AR, was in third.
The bell was hit in 8:08 and was just too much.
Hiwott Ayalew took off and lead with 200 meters to go, when Virgina Nyambura took the lead,
and just did not quit, winning in a meet record of 9:16.99. Hiwyott Ayalew ran 9:17.22,
and Emma Coburn was third in 9:20.67. In fourth, Ruth Jebet came to a complete stop, and
leaped over the final barrier, to take fourth in 9:26.87!
Lausanne, Steeplechase, Women, 1. Virginia Nyambura, KEN, 9:16.99 MR, 2. Hiwott Ayalew,
ETH, 9:17.22, 3. Emma Coburn, USA,9:20.67, ‪#‎lausanne‬
Men’s 200 meters
In the men’s 200 meters, the young and promising Zharnel Hughes, GBR, ran a pb of
20.13 to nip Anasa Jobodwana at the tape, who ran 20.21. Isiah Young, USA, was third
in 20.27.
What was interesting was the Alonso Edwards (20.48-fifth) and Nickel Ashmeade (20.96-
eighth) were not a factor today.
Lausanne, 200m, Men, 1. Zharnel Hughes, GBR, 20.13 PB, 2. Anaso Jaobodwana, RSA,
20.21, 3. Isiah Young, USA, 20.27, #lausanne
Women’s high jump
Anna Chicherova is a sight to behold when she jumps. A strong run up does not indicate
the power she uses to get herself over the bar. Her 2.03 meter clearance gives
Anna the hold on the world leader. She shares that height with no one tonight!
Lausanne, High Jump, Women, 1.Anna Chicherova, RUS, 2.03m WL, 2. Ruth Beitia,
ESP, 1.94m, 3. Erika Kinsey, SWE, 1.94m, #lausanne
Women’s 400m hurdles
Last week, in Paris, Sara Petersen of Denmark broke 54 seconds for the first time,
running 53.99. Her coach told her that breaking 54 seconds was a career dream. This week,
she wins the 400m hurdles in 55.01, with Wenda Theron Nel in 55.78. Lauren Wells was
third.
Women’s 200 meters
Allyson Felix and Dafne Schippers come off the turn. Schippers pours it on. Allyson Felix
and Schippers duel down the straight, and with 20 meters to go, Felix shows her Allyson
gear, and the party is over. Ms. Felix wins in 22.09!
Men’s 100 meter
This was one of the highlights of the night.
It did not disappoint. Justin Gatlin just ran his butt off.
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As if he were the only person in the race, and he won in 9.75. Asafa Powell, he of 87 sub
ten second 100 meters, was second in 9.92, and Tyson Gay was third in 9.92. Mike
Rodgers was fourth in 10.03.
Gatlin is relentless. His start was adequate, but his running to the finish was tremendous,
and he is at the top of his game.
Looking forward to Beijing.
Lausanne, 100m Men, 1. Justin Gatlin, USA, 9.75, 2. Asafa Powell, JAM, 9.92,
3. Tyson Gay, USA, 9.92, ‪#‎lausanne‬,
Men’s Triple Jump
Pedro Pichardo has been getting most of the noise in this event. So tonight,
Christian Taylor wanted to remind people of his talent. He starts at 17.33 meters,
Pichardo answers in 17.85m.
In round 3, Pichardo leaps 17.99m a new MR. Taylor fouls in round 4.
Then, it happens.
18.02 meters in round five!
Pichardo goes 15.33m.
Then, Taylor leaps 18.06m his pb and Pichardo responds again in 17.99m.
Lausanne, Triple Jump, 1. Christian Taylor, USA, 18.06m PB!, 2. Pedro Pichardo, CUB,
17.99m, 3. Omar Craddock, USA, 17.30m, ‪#‎lausanne‬
Men’s 5000 meters
Well, Mo Farah has had a fairly bad time for the past six weeks. After six weeks of no
racing, Mo Farah had to contend with a field that left nothing to imagination. The goal
was not a fast race, but to kick Mo’s butt.
And just about everyone was here!
The pacers were running a very different race, as Mo Farah, Yomif Kejelcha, Edwin
Soi, Yasin Haji and Muktar Edris were in the pack.
First 1000m in 2:44, second hit in 5:22 (approx) and 3k in 8:05.2.
Mo Farah was running up front, as is his want, but he was playing, dodging and looking.
The 4000 meters was hit in 10:45 as the pack of five (Farah, Kejelcha, Soi, Haji,
Edris were all there.
The pace began to slow down instead of pick up.
Mo Farah and Kejelcha hit the bell in 12:17.5, with the race beginning with 300 meters.
The key to defeating Mo Farah, well, hell, I am not telling anyone. But, let us put
it this way.
Nothing was done in this race to stop Mo from running his race.
World Junior and Pre champ, Yomif Kejelcha has some moxie. He took off with about 280
meters to go, giving Mo a breather.
Kejelcha lead just as long as Farah wanted, which, for tonight, was about until the 80
meter line, when Mo Farah went by like a freight train.
Mo Farah used a lap just over 53 seconds and a final 200 meters in 25 second range to
win 13:11.77 to 13:12.59.
He let his running do the speaking and did not spend time in the mixed zone after
the race.
Would you expect him to?
Lausanne, 5000m, Men, 1. Mo Farah, GBR, 13;11.77, 2. Yomif Kejelcha, ETH, 13:12.59,
3. Edwin Soi, KEN, 13:17.17, #lausanne
Women’s 1,500 meters
Well, some competition here!
On a cool, blustery night, just too windy for records, Sifan Hassan, Jenny Simpson and
Faith Kipyegon gave us one hell of a race.
Good pacing, 61.6 for 400m, 2:08.7 for 800 meters and 3:15 for 1200 meters, as
the race got hot.
Bell hit in 3:03.1.
Sifan Hassan, still stinging from Pre, was not going to let that happen and charged away
on the back stretch, and kept Simpson at bay.
Jenny Simpson made a game attempt, but wore herself out and Faith Kipyegon went by near
the finish.
The summer of racing is on!
Lausanne, 1. Sifan Hassan, NED, 4:02.36, 2. Faith Kipyegon, KEN, 4:03.38, 3. Jenny
Simpson, USA, 4:03.54, #lausanne
Men’s 800 meters
David Rudisha is rounding into shape. He is not there as of yet. Hitting the 400m in 49.92,
Rudisha held the lead through 600m in 1:16.35 with Nijel Amos on his shoulder. Amos
runs like a man possessed. His movements, arms flailing, head rolling back, hide that
this guy is hauling.
And this what he did, as he went by Rudisha, winning in 1:43.27. Rudisha in 1:43.78 and
Ferguson Cheruiyot in 1:44.44.
Matt Centrowitz had his typical first race in Europe sucks, and it did, as he ran
1:49.20 for last in the 800 meters.
For Centro next race in Monaco. Should be fun!
Men’s Javelin
Well, Keshorn Walcott is sure back.
The 2012 Olympic champion just chucked the spear 90.16 meters, a MR, and NR! In
near perfect conditions, he lead Vitezlav Vesely, European champion, with his 87.97m, and
Tero Pitkamaki, with his 87.44m. Julius Yego in fourth in 85.50m (Julius threw 91.39m in
Birmingham).
