by Stuart Weir
The event of day 2, the women’s 5000 meters, photo by British Athletics/ Getty Images
The second day of the Muller Anniversary Games was fantastic. In this column, Stuart Weir comments on the highlights of the day!
Day 2 Highlights
Day 2 of the Anniversary Games included 7 Diamond events, 4 non-diamond, 3 Para events and two relays – one serious and one fun in a two and a half hour program preceded by 8 junior relays. The race of the day was the women’s 5000m. Sifan Hassan (Netherlands) who had broken the world mile record in Monaco was probably the favorite. She set a new PR, even a new national and European record of 14:22.12 but finished third!. Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi went into the race with the World Lead and ran five and a half seconds faster – that got her fourth place! Agnes Tirop ran a PR of 14:20.68 for second. In fact, there were 11 PRs among the 20 athletes in the race!
Then there was the imperious Hellen Obiri who is not defending World Champion for nothing. Hassan ran the fastest race of her life but Obiri stayed with her and then, when the time was right, passed her to take the win.
Hellen Obiri, victor at 5000m, WL, photo by British Athletics/ Getty Images
Obiri said afterwards: “I am so happy because this is my favourite track and I have done my best and I ran the way I wanted to. In the last lap I was thinking, work hard and I said to myself when I went past Hassan: ‘let me go and see if you can catch me'”.
Sifan Hassan, 5000m NR, PB, EL, photo by British Athletics/ Getty Images
Hassan said: “There’s a very strong level of competition today, the field was a high standard. Normally it might be slow at the beginning and then pick up, but it was particularly fast today. I went out fast but I’m still very tired from the mile in Monaco last week, both physically and emotionally. But I still ran a PB, so I’m happy”.
Women’s 100 meters, photo by British Athletics/ Getty Images
The women’s 100m was another cracker, with two prelims to set up a final an hour and a half later. The wind was swirling. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce won heat one in 10.95, running into the wind. Local heroine Dina Asher-Smith took the second in 10.91 but this time running with the wind. Marie Josee Ta Lou was also sub 11 in the prelim.
The women’s 100m, photo by British Athletics/ Getty Images
The same three ladies went sub 11 in the final, confirming that you need a surname in two parts to prosper in the women’s sprints.
Fraser-Pryce 10.78
Asher-Smith 10.92
Ta Lou 10.98
The 100m, photo by British Athletics/ Getty Images
Fraser-Pryce, who always starts well, got a flyer with everyone else struggling in her wake, and finished equally impressively to register her third time in the ten seventies in the last month. She said of her performance: “I was a bit put off by the false start [Dafne Schippers] but I was glad I was able to go back and reset myself. It was a quality field today and I must say that every time I race in London, the field is always fantastic so a well done to all the ladies that raced today. I was really happy to come away with a win. It’s a long season and I’ve been training and training. To come out here and run 10.78 is a fabulous time”.
Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce and Dina Asher-Smith, photo by British Athletics/ Getty Images
Dina Asher-Smith was reflective and analytical in her comments: “I love running at the Anniversary Games. I made my senior debut back in 2013 and since then I’ve made so many great memories here. I did my first sub-11 second 100m here and obviously today I ran two sub-11s against the World and Olympic Champion which was amazing. I am in really good shape – I wanted to go 10.8 today, so my time in the final was a bit frustrating. But I really can’t be disappointed with two 10.9s and I’ll definitely look to push to faster times as the season progresses”.
Elaine Thompson, photo by British Athletics/ Getty Images
The competition in the event through the Diamond League final to the World Championships promises to be enthralling. To the three on the podium, we can add Elaine Thompson who chose to run the 200 in London and there were a few fast Americans who were missing this week.
Majd Eddin Ghazai, winner, HJ at 2.30m, photo by British Athletics/ Getty Images
As far as men’s events were concerned, the mile is subject to a separate post. In the High Jump, Majd Eddin Ghazal won with 2:30 but the real highlight was seeing Mutaz Essa Barshim, back from injury and jumping 2:27.
Mutaz Essa Barshim, He’s baack!, second in HJ in 2.27m, photo by British Athletics/ Getty Images
In the serious relay GB men’s 4 by 100, the defending world champions, set a World lead (37.60). In the Legends Relays some recently (and not so recently) retired athletes thrilled the crowds.
GB takes 4 x 100m in WL 37.60! photo by British Athletics/ Getty Images
