David Rudisha, Ajee Wilson Steal Show As Usain Bolt Returns to New York Diamond League

The seventh Diamond League meeting, a part of Adidas Grand Prix in New York, saw the return of world record holders Usain Bolt and David Rudisha. Both superstar athletes won the events in which they participated. Other highlights included Ajee Wilson’s great win in women’s 800m and the arrival of another American Boris Berian at world stage in men’s 800m. New York DL meeting was not short of other stellar performances from established athletes like USA’s Francena McCorory, who won women’s 400 meters; Canadian long jumper Christabel Nettey, who leapt 6.92m to clinch the first place; women’s high jumpers Ruth Beita of Spain and Croatia’s Blanka Vlasic cleared 1.97m though Beita was the winner on fewer errors. David Oliver won men’s 110m hurdles; Sharika Nelvis took women’s 100m hurdles; Tori Bowie won in 200m, Tyson Gay was first in men’s 100m and Cuba’s Pedro Pablo Pichardo remained undefeated in men’s triple jump. Joe Kovacs took top spot in men’s shot put, Vitezslav Vesely won men’s javelin, Hiwot Ayalew won women’s 3000m steeplechase, Fabiana Murer led the field in women’s pole vault and Sandra Perkovic remained unbeatable in women’s discus.

On June 13, 2015 Usain Bolt’s comeback after May 2008 was the most talked about subject at New York’s Randall’s Island, a venue, where he broke his first 100m world record by running in 9.72s. That night of May 31, 2008 in New York took Usain Bolt ahead in 100 and 200m sprints and he won six Olympic gold medals afterwards. Besides, he improved his 100m and 200m timings further to 9.58 and 19.19 respectively. On Saturday, June 13, 2015 Bolt won in 200m in the DL race but he was more than 1 second slower than his personal best and the world record. The champion sprinter has been out of competitive tournaments since he picked up an injury in 2014. However, he still won 200m in 20.29 at New York DL despite sluggish start off the blocks.

The other super athlete, who attracted attention in New York was Kenya’s David Rudisha, who came back to run 800m for the first time this season. The reigning Olympic champion and world record holder was closely challenged by USA’s Boris Berian and Frenchman Pierre-Ambroise Bosse. Rudisha broke away in the final lap and when he reached the final bend, he was more than four steps ahead of the second placed Berian. Rudisha finished on top in 1:43.58 followed by an amazing run by USA’s Boris Berian in 1:43.84. France’s Bosse was third in1:43.88. But the best performance of the day came from USA’s Ajee Wilson in women’s 800m. In controlling the race, Wilson demonstrated her superiority over other competitors as she broke away in the last 100m to finish in 1:58.83. The 2007 world champion Janeth Jepkosgei was second with 1:59.37.

In other results at New York DL, men’s triple jump was won once again by Cuba’s 21-year old Pedro Pablo Pichardo, who has remained undefeated this season and leapt 17.56m; USA’s Francena McCorory won women’s 400m with a world-leading time of 49.86; Canadian Christabel Nettey won women’s long jump in 6.92m; Spain’s Ruth Beita cleared 1.97m in women’s high jump and although Croatia’s Blanka Vlasic also cleared 1.97m, Beita still won by virtue of fewer misses. In men’s 110m hurdles, USA’s David Oliver won by clocking 13.19s; compatriot Sharika Nelvis took women’s 100m hurdles in 12.65s; USA’s Tori Bowie won 200m in 22.23s while another American Tyson Gay won men’s 100m in 10.12s in the absence of compatriot Justin Gatlin.

In another impressive DL meet performance, America’s Ben True emerged winner in 5000m, in a rich field of celebrated Kenyan runners. True broke away from others with 600m remaining and widened his lead with every step to finally finish in13:29.48. True’s win was creditable because the race also had names like Kenya’s Thomas Longosiwa and Nixon Chepseba. In addition, New Zealand’s Olympic silver medalist Nick Willis and Eritrea’s Nguse Amlosom also ran the 5000m.

Women’s 3000m steeplechase was won by Ethiopia’s Hiwot Ayalew in 9:25.26 but there were no surprises in USA’s Joe Kovacs winning in men’s Shot Put, Czech Vitezslav Vesely topping the field in men’s javelin, Fabiana Murer of Brazil taking first place in women’s pole vault, Portugal’s Javier Culson winning men’s 400m hurdles and Croatia’s Sandra Perkovic emerging victorious in women’s discus.