by Alfonz Juck
MONACO (MON, Jul 12): The 38th edition of the EBS Herculis Meeting met expectations in the usual great summer weather. The 1500 m paradise was again confirmed by Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who improved his European 1500 m record, and Djamel Sedjati improved over 800 m again. In rarely contested 2000 m, Jessica Hull substantially improved the World record. The great depth of women PV and TJ was something special. Surprise WL by Quincy Hall in the 400 m, and Rai Benjamin won the 400 m hurdles clash of titans. Four World leads + best outdoor mark in women’s triple jump, 2 DL records (800 m, 2000 m), and 2 meet records (800 m, 2000 m). Also, four area records.
Short reviews
Women
100m: Alfred is clearly 10.85 (-1.0) ahead of Davis (10.99), Asher-Smith (10.99), and van der Weken (11.02). The event was presented with a light show and top entertainment style.
400m: Adeleke secured her first-ever DL victory in 49.17 ahead of Klaver, who was rewarded with a personal best (49.64) for her fast first 200m.
2000m: New world record !!! After excellent pacing (Martín, Guerrero / 2:39.88 at 1000m, and Maclean until 1500m), Jessica Hull clocked 5:19.70 and lowered by 1.86sec. The previous best of Niyonsaba (5:21.56 from 2021). Courtney-Bryant finished second (5:26.08 NR) ahead of Jebitok (5:26.09 NR). Also, North American and South American records.
5000m: Akidor in a PB of 14:39.49 over Amebaw (14:40.44), Battocletti fifth as best European (14:41.06). 4th km slowed down the 14:22 pace.
Pole vault: Kennedy cleared 488 (SB) on her first attempt to decide a very interesting competition ahead of Moser, who twice improved NR by 10 cm in total (483 and 488 on third), and Caudery (483); all three tried at 493, Moon cleared 466 and finished fifth.
Triple jump: Quite unexpectedly, very good-quality competition with frequent changes in leadership resulted in victory for Pérez Hernández with 14.96 (1.7) in outdoor WL, ahead of Lafond with 14.87 (1.3) and Bekh-Romanchuk with 14.81 (2.0) in her season debut, season bests for all.
Javelin: Kitaguchi’s masterclass with a winning final attempt and a season-best (65.21, moved to third in the season list) ahead of Little (64.74 SB), who led from the first series.
Men
200m: Tebogo, easing up in the last meters, won 19.87 (0.6) from Ogando (20.02).
400m: Hall surprised with a fast 43.80 WL/PB, the first sub-44 of the season, winning over Norwood (44.34 SB).
800m: Sedjati outperformed the rest of the field in WL/NR/DLR of 1:41.46 (seventh best time ever, 4 by Rudisha and 2 by W. Kipketer). Behind him a close battle for DL points with Attaoui finishing second (1:42.04 NR) ahead of Tual (1:42.10), Kemei (1:42.13), Pattison (1:42.27 PB), early leader Arop (1:42.93 SB) fading hardly in the final stretch, and Kramer (1:43.13 NR), all (10) finishers under 1:44. Hoppel was a late withdrawal.
1500m: Jakob confirmed his shape by improving his European record by 0.41sec. to 3:26.73, also a world lead and sixth fastest time ever. T.Cheruiyot finished second (3:28.71 PB) ahead of Komen (3:28.80 PB), Nuguse (3:29.13 SB) and Gourley (3:30.65 SB).
110m hurdles: Holloway won again in 13.01 (-0.7) over Simonelli (13.08); Broadbell withdrew.
400m hurdles: Benjamin (46.67) narrowly defeated Warholm (46.73) by acceleration after the last hurdle, with Dos Santos third by a slight margin (47.18). All eight were under 48.5.
High jump: Kerr cleared 233 (=PB) on the third attempt, surpassing the previously leading McEwen (231 SB).
