Merritt earns Brussels a World Record

After the ace athletes from the Olympics toured the stadium in open cars, the first event, the discus, was won by the Estonian Gerd Kanter. With 66m84 at his third attempt he advanced the German Martin Wierig (66m05) and the Lithuanian Virgilijus Alekna (65m78). ‘Two years ago, I was close but I didn’t have a good final. But today I had my best performance of 2012.’

In the long jump Aleksandr Menkov managed 8m29, a personal best. He also won the diamond league in the event. Another Russian, Sergey Morgunov, claimed second (8m04), only just eclipsing the South African Godfrey Mokoena (8m03).

Even though the crowd went really wild for the first time for former Olympic champion Tia Hellebaut mainly and slightly less for the current Olympic champion Chicherova, the Belgian could not maintain that order. In the end she claimed a shared third with 1m92, the same as the Estonian Eleriin Haas. Chicherova ended second, 1m95, behind Svetlana Shkolina, 2m. The Diamond league was reeled in by the American Chaunte Lowe here.

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GEARING UP FOR ACE PERFORMANCES

The Kenyan Kipkemei won the 10000 meters in 26:51.16, a world year best. In a field of 14, no less than half the athletes ran a personal best or a season’s best. Vincent Kiprop Chepkok claimed second in 26:51.68. Kenneth Kipkemoi was third in 26:52.65.

In the 400m hurdles the Jamaican Kaliese Spencer set the tone for a Jamaican night with a win in 53.69. It also landed her the Diamond. The British Perri Shakes-Drayton was second in 53.89, the Czech Zuzana Hejnováthird in 54.09.

The Kenyan Silas Kiplagat won the 1500 meters in 3:31.98, ahead of the Ethiopian Mekonnen Gebremedhin (3:32.10) and another Kenyan, Bethwell Birgen (3:32.24). Kiplagat also claimed the Diamond.

WORLD RECORD FOR MERRITT

The American Aries Merritt, who seemed to be on a row of consistent 12.92s and 12.93s in the past weeks set the evening alight by knocking off a serious margin of the world record: he ran an astonishing 12.80, a fabulous world record added to the crown of the Memorial. Merritt also earned the Diamond league. Another American Jason Richardson claimed second in 13.05, the Jamaican Hansle Parchment third in 13.14.

In the meantime the triple jump for women was concluded by Olga Rypakova (Kaz, 14m72), ahead of Olha Saladukha (Ukr, 14m40) and Marija Sestak (Slo, 14m10). Rypakova also claimed the Diamond. In the 800m Francine Nyonsaba was a surprise winner in 1:56.59, a national record for Burundi. She beat the Kenyan Pamela Jelimo, 1:57.24, who still won the Diamond league, and the Russian Mariya Savinova, 1:59.05.

With the appearance of Usain Bolt, the crowds went really wild again. He claimed the 100m in 9.86 and takes the Diamond home to Jamaica. Two other Jamaicans, Nesta Carter (9.96) and Kernar Bailey Cole (9.97) completed the top three. In the subsequent 200m there was no stopping Yohan Blake, who won the event in 19.54, ahead of his compatriot Jason Young in 19.92 and the French Christophe Lemaitre in 20.17.

In the javelin for women the Czech Barbora Spotakova (66m91) advanced Sunette Viljoen (65m33) and Vira Rebryk (64m52). In the 3000m steeplechase men six Kenyan athletes occupied the first places. The event was won by Birmin Kipruto in 8:03.11, ahead of his namesake Conselus Kipruto and Paul Koech.

The 400m men was another highlight of the evening with the Belgian twin brothers Borlée claiming first and second. Kevin (44.75) beat Jonathan (45.02) and also claimed the Diamond. Lalonde Gordon was third in 45.13.

The 200m women was won by the French Myriam Soumare in 22.63, ahead of the Jamaican Anneisha McLaughlin (22.70) and American Charonda Williams (22.74). The concluding event, the 5000m women, was won by the Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot in 14:46.01. She also reels in a Diamond. Mercy Cherono and Viola Kibiwot came in second and third.