In the Birmingham DL Meeting, which ended on June 5, 2016, 8 stadium records and 6 world-leads were achieved. The spectators were treated to a great run by their own Mo Farah, who broke a 34-year old British record in the non-DL 3000m race. In the same event, a 32-year old Scottish record was also broken by Andrew Butchart despite finishing fourth. In a rarely conducted 600m event, David Rudisha smashed his own stadium record but missed out on world record. However, the Meeting disappointment to Colombian triple-jump queen Caterine Ibarguen and celebrated shot putter Valerie Adams of New Zealand. While Ibarguen’s 34 competition unbeaten streak was broken by close-rival Olga Rypakova, Adams was overtaken by USA’s Tia Brooks. Kenya’s Asbel Kiprop created a new world-lead in 1500m and also broke the meeting record. Another stadium record fell in women’s 100m hurdles with US sensation Kendra Harrison clocking 12.26s. However, she narrowly missed her own world-lead time of 12.24 clocked at Eugene two weeks ago. Another Meet record was broken by Kenyan Conseslus Kipruto in men’s 3000m steeplechase but the Kenyan couldn’t breach the sub-8 minute barrier.
The British king of middle and long-distance running, Mo Farah delighted spectators with a record-breaking run in 3000m. Farah dug deep in last two laps before eclipsing David Moorcroft’s 1982 British record of 7.32.79. Farah knocked off 0.17 seconds from Moorcroft’s record to finish in 7.32.62. Kenya’s Mathew Kiptanui finished second in 7.44.16, and another Kenyan Hillary Kipkorir was third in 7.44.99. Scotland’s Andrew Butchart clocked 7.45.00 for the fourth place but still broke J Robson’s 32-year old Scottish record. In another non-DL event, Kenya’s David Rudisha broke 600m meeting record in 1.13.10. Frenchman Pierre-Ambroise Bosse was second in 1.13.21 but still created the European record in an event that is not so popular in world athletics agenda.
Another Meet record fell in men’s 1500m with Kenya’s world champion Asbel Kiprop also dipping his own world-lead by clocking 3.29.33. Kiprop finished almost 4 seconds clear of Morocco’s second-placed Abdelaati Iguider, who clocked 3.33.10. New Zealand’s Nick Wills was third in 3.34.29. Women’s 100m hurdles was an American 1-2-3 with Kendra Harrison clocking 12.46 after her world-lead time of 12.24 at Eugene. Harrison’s compatriots Brianna Rollins and Kristi Castlin finished second and third in 12.57 and 12.75 respectively. In another stellar performance, Kenya’s Conseslus Kipruto set a new meeting record in men’s 3000m steeplechase. Kipruto clocked 8.00.12 that was tantalizingly close to dipping the sub-8 minute time. Already the Diamond Race leader this season, Kipruto broke away from the pack and improved his own world-lead time. In the event, where Kenya won the top six places, Paul Kipsiele Koech finished second in 8.10.19 while Barnabas Kipyego was third in 8.14.74.
In women’s 100m sprint USA’s English Gardner defeated favorite Dutchwoman Dafne Schippers. Gardner finished in 11.02 to Schippers’ 11.09. Another American Tianna Bartoletta was third in 11.11. In men’s 200m sprint, Canadian Andre de Grasse posted 20.16 to win ahead of Panama’s Alonso Edward, who clocked 20.17. Sean McLean of USA was third in 20.24. Men’s 100m was a non-DL event at Birmingham but it ended in a spectacular photo-finish with 40-year old Kim Collins of St Kitts &Nevis edging out USA’s Mike Rodgers in 10.11. GBR’s Chijindu Ujah was third in 10.12. In women’s 800m, Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba ran dominantly and broke Kelly Holmes’ 20-year old stadium record by clocking 1.56.92. Frenchwoman Renelle Lamote was second in 1.58.01 and Canada’s Melissa Bishop finished third in 1.58.48.
In men’s 400m, Grenada’s Kirani James set a new meet record by clocking 44.23. Botswana’s Isaac Makwala was second in 44.97 while USA’s Vernon Norwood finished third in 45.08. In women’s 400m hurdles, USA’s Cassandra Tate beat GBR’s European champion Eilidh Doyle in a 54.57 second photo-finish. USA’s Georganne Moline finished third in 54.63. Women’s 5000m had a remarkable finish with two Kenyans running neck-to-neck before Vivian Cheruiyot edged out compatriot Mercy Cherono. Cheruiyot clocked 15.12.79 to Cherono’s 15.12.85. Another Kenyan Janet Kisa was third in a distant 15.19.48.
In women’s Pole-Vault, Cuba’s Yarisley Silva broke the DL record with a clearance of 4.84m. Diamond Race leader Katerina Stefanidi of Greece finished second with 4.77m and Switzerland’s Nicole Buchler was third on count-back with the same 4.77m. For the first time this season, Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim won the high jump with the world-lead of 2.37m. USA’s Erik Kynard was second in 2.35 while China’s Guowei Zhang finished third with 2.32m.
Champion long-jumper Greg Rutherford suffered disappointment in losing out at Birmingham. In a 1-2 for USA, Marquise Goodwin won with a leap of 8.42m while Michael Hartfield ended second in 8.29. Australia’s Fabrice Lapierre was third in 8.21. In women’s javelin, Latvia’s Madara Palameika took the Diamond Race lead with the season’s best throw of 65.68m. Australia’s Kathryn Mitchell was second in 63.93 and Germany’s Linda Stahl third in 61.62. Men’s discus was won by Poland’s Piotr Malachowski with a throw of 67.50m. Germany’s Robert Harting was second in 65.97 and another Pole Robert Urbanek third in 64.12.