23 old Coleman had his usual rocket start in the men’s 100m, but the 21 year old Lyles came steaming through over the last 30m. In the 400m Hurdles Samba (23) and Benjamin (21) are considered to have the potential to break the World Record (46.78) on the distance in the near future. Therefore their first head to head duel was one of the most expected events in Shanghai. Samba proved to be the strongest in the final straight and took victory in 47.27, clearly ahead of Benjamin in 47.80.
More World Leading Performances were set by Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) in the 5000m (13.04.16), by German Andreas Hofmann in the Javelin Throw (87.55m), by Rababe Arafi in the Women’s 1500m in 4.01.15 and by Beatrice Chepkoech from Kenya in the 3000m Steeplechase in 9.04.53.
ROAD TO THE FINAL
In the Road to the Final in Brussels athletes could earn points in the Women’s 100m and Pole Vault and in the Men’s 400m and 110m Hurdles.
Katerina Stefanidi won the Pole Vault on countback with a 4.72m effort. Her compatriot Nicoleta Kiriakopoulou came in second and Chinese Li Ling third. Sandy Morris in fourth also cleared the winning height of 4.72m. For the Chinese this was a new Area record. Aleia Hobbs dominated the 100m in 11.03, ahead of Blessing Okagbare and Elaine Thompson.
The Men’s 110m Hurdles was grabbed by Jamaican Omar McLeod, while Chinese Xie Wenjun settled for second in a new personal best. Sergey Shubenkov came in third. In the Men’s 400m American Fred Kerley made it a gun to tape victory in 44.81. His compatriots Michael Cherry and Nathan Strother were second and third.
The next leg of the IAAF Diamond League will be held in Stockholm on May, 30th. The AG Memorial Van Damme is the closing leg of the circuit on September, 6th as the big final.
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