Rome Diamond League: Warm temperatures and erratic pacing prevented world records

Women’s 1500m

At the Rome Diamond League meet on Friday, August 30 one of the main events featured Paris Olympic gold medallist Faith Kipyegon of Kenya and silver medallist Jessica Hull of Australia in the 1500-metre event. Kipyegon is the world record holder with her best of 3:49.04 and Hull holds the Australian and Oceania record at 3:50.83.

Kipyegon sat on the pacer, however, she ran erratically and the field was off pace by the time she stepped off the track.

Kipyegon, knowing that a new world record was impossible sat at the front and waited until she needed to unleash her lethal kick. Hull sat on Kiyegon’s shoulder for much of the race, but when the field exited the final turn it was all Kipyegon for the win clocking a 3:52.89. Hull finished fourth as she was overtaken by Freweyni Hailu and Birke Hailum both from Ethiopia. They finished in 3:54.16 and 3:54.79, respectively. It was a new personal best for Hailu.

Women’s 3000m steeplechase

Another attempt at a world record went sideways, but this time it wasn’t due to the inexperience of the pacer, but the sheer pace. Winfred Yavi of Bahrain took the win in a 2024 world-leading time of 8:44.39. It is also a meet record. Yavi, the Paris Olympic champion followed the Tokyo Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai for much of the race, but it was Yavi, who took the lead in the late going and sprinted to the finish to record the second-fastest time ever.

Chemutai set a new Kenyan record with the performance crossing the line in 8:48.43. Taking third was Faith Cherotich in 8:57.65.

The 24-year-old Yavi is also the reigning world champion as she won gold at the 2023 Budapest World Athletics Championships.

Beatrice Chepkoech holds the current world record of 8:44.32 set in 2018 at the Stad Louis II in Monaco.

Men’s 5000m

The field went out fast going after Joshua Cheptegei’s world record but was unable to hold the pace. When it became obvious to the athletes that there would be no world record coming, it became a race, a chase pack that was well back and included Paris Olympic fourth-place finisher Moh Ahmed from Canada, who got back in the race with several others after 10 laps.

Hagos Gebrhiwet took the win in 12:51.07, finishing in second place was Yomif Kejelcha in 12:51.25 and Selemon Barega took third in 12:51.39. It was a podium sweep by Ethiopia.

Eight of 15 men finished under 13 minutes. Ahmed finished in seventh place in 12:54.90. His PB is 12:47.20 from July 2020, which is the national record. Cheptegei’s world record is 12:35.36 from August 2020.

Results

200m Women Wind: +0.4

1500m Women

100m Hurdles Women Wind: -0.4

400m Hurdles Women

3000m Steeplechase Women

Pole Vault Women

MEN’S RESULTS

100m Men wind Wind: +0.3

400m Men

5000m Men

110m Hurdles Men wind: +0.4

Discus Throw Men

Triple Jump Men

Shot Put Men

High Jump Men