By Maddie Lang
Athletes gave fans an all-around show Sunday night at the Silesia Diamond League meeting. Sha’Carri Richardson produced an electric finish in the women’s 100-meter dash, Jakob Ingebrigtsen lit up the track with a new world leading time in the 1,500 meters, and Mutaz Essa Barshim came out with a new world lead in the men’s high jump that was filled with season bests.
In the women’s 100 meters, Richardson won her eighth consecutive race, including the heats at last weekend’s USATF Outdoor Championships, in a time of 10.76. The U.S. champion beat out a field including Tokyo Bronze medalist and reigning world 200-meter champion Shericka Jackson, who finished in 10.78.
“The 10.76 - I love the time,” Richardson said. “I put a great race together. This was a great competition – it was amazing.”
Poland’s Ewa Swoboda took an early lead with a strong first three steps out of the blocks. At the 50-meter mark, Jackson took the lead with Richardson right on her shoulder. Richardson quickly reached her top speed, though, and took the lead from Jackson.
She came across the finish line first, .02 ahead of Jackson. Third place went to Swoboda, who ran her first sub-11 time of 10.94.
“I have waited for this for a long time, and I finally got it,” Swoboda said. “The reaction time was good.”
After just two Diamond League appearances this season, Richardson now has 16 points, good for third in the qualification standings to determine the field for the Diamond League Final, which will be held at the Pre Classic at Hayward Field on Sept. 16-17. She is behind Marie-Josée Ta Lou of Ivory Coast, who has 24 points, and Jackson, who now has 20 points. On the edge of qualifying for the final is the Bahamas’ Anthonique Strachan with 10 points, who finished sixth in a time of 11.05.
In the men’s 1,500 meters, Tokyo Olympian and reigning Diamond League and world champion Ingebrigtsen gave the fans a show once again, finishing in 3:27.14, a new personal best by .81 seconds that inched him closer to Hicham el Guerrouj’s world record of 3:26.00, which has stood since 1998.
“Today I wanted a fast race, and I wanted to run another sub-3:28,” Ingebrigtsen said. “I knew if I could do that, there was a big risk of setting another PB.”
The Norwegian led after the first lap of the race several paces behind the pacemakers. He decided not to go with them at the start but made up the distance with 600 meters to go.
At the sound of the bell, Ingebrigtsen picked up his pace even more. With 150 meters to go, he kicked it into high gear and cruised through the final stretch. He finished 1.97 seconds ahead of runner-up Abel Kipsang of Kenya.
Ingebrigtsen now has 32 points toward the final and further solidifies his first-place position in the rankings. Kipsang moves into third place in the rankings with 11 points. Between the two sits Yared Nuguse, the U.S. champion, with 13 points.
“I’ve been working very hard for this race, so I’m very happy with the result,” Ingebrigtsen said.
The men’s high jump competition was full of season bests and a new world lead. Barshim took the win with a jump of 2.36, a new world lead and meet record.
Barshim cleared each jump on his first try until the bar jumped to 2.34. He missed the first two jumps, then opted to wait until 2.36. Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi and Germany’s Tobias Potye both cleared 2.34 on their second attempt, giving Tamberi a season best and Potye a personal best. The bar then moved up to 2.36m.
Barshim cleared the height on his first attempt. Tamberi and Potye were unable to clear the height, giving Barshim the win.
“I am happy about today´s result, but I am not happy that until 2.36 I struggled with my technique,” Gianmarco said. “I have to be more confident and learn that I must not be too close to the bar.”
Barshim is now second in the qualification rankings with 14 points. He is sitting behind U.S. champion and Tokyo Olympian JuVaughn Harrison, who has 16 points.
“I’m really happy with today’s result,” Barshim said. “I’m back on track.”
The men’s 100-meter dash featured a four-man photo finish. Cravont Charleston, the U.S. champion, came out strong and led for the first 80m, but the final 20 meters were where all the excitement lay.
South African and Tokyo Olympian Akani Simbine, American and Tokyo silver medalist Fred Kerley, and Cameroonian Emmanuel Eseme closed hard and crossed the finish line alongside Charleston. The runners stared down the readerboard, eagerly awaiting the final results and places.
Simbine got the win in 9.97, followed by Kerley in 9.98, Eseme in 9.98 and Charleston in 9.99.
“I was not sure getting to the line that I won,” Simbine said. “But then I heard my name. I came in here for the win, so I am most happy.”
Simbine now sits in first in the qualification standings with 28 points. Right behind him is Kerley with 23 points. After his first Diamond League this season, Eseme sits in ninth with six points. He has two more chances in Monaco and Shenzhen to earn enough points to qualify for the Final.
