by Alfonz Juck
This is the results for the first day of the IAAF Continental Cup, from Ostrava…
Americas with 12 points over Europe overnight
OSTRAVA (CZE, Sep 8): Americas lead the IAAF Continental Cup overnight with 135 points ahead of second-placed Europe’s 123, with Asia-Pacific on 89 and Africa on 74. Sifan Hassan’s world lead in the 3000m (also meet record) with devil-take-the-hindmost format and another fast time for Abderrahman Samba were the highlights (equaled the meet record), while Sandra Perkovic and Anita Wlodarczyk suffered surprise defeats during the “knockout” innovation in the throws. In total meet records in four events, Czech All-Comers records in 4 events and stadium records in 7 events were the statistical highlights. From 8 jokers six were placed with success, only two not (Africa´s men steeple and Asia-Pacific women discus).
Event by event
Men
200m: Americas’ Alonso Edward surprised Europe’s Ramil Guliyev 20.19 (-1.4) to 20.28 as Americas’ Alex Quinonez was third with 20.36.
800m: African Emmanuel Korir led home in 1:46.50 as Americas’ Clayton Murphy was second in 1:46.77 – the same time as Africas’ Nijel Amos, difference 0.003.
3000m steeplechase: Conseslus Kipruto (8:22.55) was a class apart, celebrating well before the line as Americas’ Matthew Hughes was second 8:29.70. There was no African one-two as Souffiane El Bakkali withdrew after falling. Americas’ Evan Jager was a DNF.
400m hurdles: Asia Pacific’s Aberrahman Samba produced his ninth sub-48 of the season with 47.37 (equaled Moses´s meet record from 1981, also Czech All-comers and stadium record) – a long way in front of Jamaica’s Anssert Whyte (48.46 in lane 1) as Europe’s Karsten Warholm was just third in 48.56.
High jump: Americas’ Donald Thomas outjumped in-form Brandon Starc of Oceania-Pacific as both recorded 2.30m. Europe’s Maksim Nedasekau was third with 2.27m.
Long jump: Africa’s Ruswahl Samaai jumped 8.16m in the second round for the best of the day and also won the final with 810 over European champion Miltiadis Tentoglou 72 (also 800 in the semifinal).
Shot: The format led to a shock as Darlani Romani came out on top, throwing 21.68m to the 21.43m (best overall) of Thomas Walsh in the last round. Americas’ Ryan Crouser was second best of the competition with 21.63m as he was eliminated as second best of his team and overall fifth. Top throw of the day Romani 21.89 in qualification.
Discus: Americas joker was placed here succesfully as Fedrick Dacres came up trumps in easily winning the final round with 67.97m over Asia-Pacific’s Matthew Denny’s 54.53m, while Andrius Gudzius of Europe was third with 66.95 as his long effort in semifinal was a foul.
4x100m: Americas in 38.05 (two US Rodgers and Lyles and two Jamaicans Blake and Tracey) Czech all-comers and stadium record, ahead of Europe’s Turkey quartet (38.96).
Women
100m: Marie-Josee Ta Lou won the battle of the co-world leaders in holding off Dina Asher-Smith 11.14 (-0.4) to 11.16, competing for Americas and Europe respectively. Americas’ Jenna Prandini was third in 11.21 and Dafne Schippers 11.23 as fourth.
400m: Asia-Pacific’s Salwa Eid Naser showed strong end-of-season form in winning with 49.32 stadium record, her second fastest ever, but more notable was Olympic 800m champion Caster Semenya closing down on her with 49.62, a South African record. Americas’ Stephenie Ann-McPherson was a long way back in third with 50.82.
1500m: A 56.2-second final lap by Winny Chebet, representing Africa, put her 0.35 ahead of Americas’ Shelby Houlihan, clocking 4:16.01. Africa’s Rababe Arafi was third in 4:17.19.
3000m: A championship record, world lead and Dutch record (Czech All-Comers and stadium record) of 8:27.50 by Sifan Hassan came with a last lap of 60.09. Senbere Teberi of Africa was second with a PB of 8:32.49. Third Hellen Obiri struggling with health issues third 8:36.20 over Konstanze Klosterhalfen 8:38.04.
100m hurdles: An Americas one-two was led by Danielle Williams, who narrowly missed her PB with 12.49 (-0.1). Kendra Harrison was second with 12.52 as Europe’s Pamela Dutkiewicz was third with 12.82.
Pole vault: The top three broke the cup record with 4.85m as Europe’s Anzhelika Sidorova led Ekaterini Stefanidi and Sandi Morris in that order. Also Czech All-Comers outdoor best and stadium record for all three.
Triple jump: The format failed to produce a surprise as Americas’ Catherine Ibarguen leaped 14.54m in the final to knock out Europe’s Olga Rypakova (foul in the final, best 14.26 in the semifinal). Ibarguen had four jumps over 14m, including the leading 14.76m in the semifinal.
Discus: A rare second consecutive defeat for Europe’s Sandra Perkovic came as she had a long no-throw in the last round despite the best effort of the competition of 68.44m. Americas’ Yaime Perez won with 65.30m, her best overall, in the last round.
Hammer: Americas’ DeAnna Price beat Anita Wlodarczyk with a cup record of 75.46m in the final round, which was also the best of the competition. It was the defending champion’s third loss of the season.
4x100m: Americas’ mixed team linked up for a win in 42.11 (Tenorio, Miller-Uibo, Prandini, Rosa) ahead of Europe’s British squad, who clocked 42.55.
