The third Diamond League 2014 meeting in Eugene was spread over two days on May 30 and 31, 2014 with 23 combined athletic events in men’s and women’s categories. Men’s events were 100m, 400m, 800m, 1 mile, Bowerman mile, 5000m, 10000m, 110m hurdles, Pole Vault, Triple jump, shot put and javelin. Women’s events included; 200m, 400m, 1500m, 2 miles, 3000m steeplechase, 400m hurdles, high jump, long jump and discus. Justin Gatlin of US repeated his Shanghai win in Eugene and so did the Jamaican woman Novlene Williams-Mills in 400m. Kenya’s Hellen Obiri won the women’s 1500m race with the fastest time in 2014 and Croatia’s Sandra Perkovic continued her dominance in discus. But the most impressive performance came from American Galen Rupp, whose memorable run in 10000m in 26:44.36 helped him break his own US record.
The Eugene meet began with women’s Discus on Saturday. Sandra Perkovic demonstrated her superiority in making several impressive throws, many of which could have given her the top spot. However, her sixth attempt of 69.32m was the best with which she broke her own 2012 meeting record. Germany’s Shanice Craft was second with 65.38m and American Gia Lewis-Smallwood third at 64.98m. In women’s long jump, Serbian Ivana Spanovic set a world lead and finished first with 6.88m. Russia’s Darya Klishna also jumped 6.88 but technicalities placed her at the second spot. Frenchwoman Eloyse Lesueur was third with 6.87m. Justine Fedronic of France won women’s 800m sprint in 2:01.50, ahead of Britain’s Jessica Judd. Canada’s Diane Cummins finished third. In men’s 800m, Kenyan Job Kinyor won in 1:44.70, ahead of two Americans, Elijah Greer, who clocked 1:45.30 and Erik Sowinski at 1:45.64. In men’s shot put, Americans took the first four places with Reese Hoffa winning with a throw of 21.64m. Joe Kovacs was second at 21.46 and Christian Cantwell third with 21.38. In Men’s 10000m, USA’s Galen Rupp had a phenomenal run, winning with a world-lead in 26:44.36 minutes, way ahead of Kenyan duo of Paul Kipngetich Tanui and Bedan Karoki, who clocked 26:49.41 and 26:52.36 respectively.
Sunday’s events began with men’s triple jump. USA’s Will Claye finished on top with 17.66m, followed by compatriot Christian Taylor at 17.42m and Russia’s Lyukman Adams at 17.29m. In men’s Pole Vault, France’s world record holder and Shanghai DL winner, Renaud Lavillenie was first at 5.80m. Augusto Dutra of Brazil was second in 5.63 and Jan Kudlicka, third also in 5.63m. In men’s one-miler, USA’s Leonel Manzano clocked the world-lead time of 3:52.41, ahead of compatriots Jordan McNamara and Evan Jager. The women’s 2-mile event was won by Kenyan, Mercy Cherono in 9:13.27 minutes, ahead of countrywoman Viola Jelagat Kibiwot and Bahrain’s Mimi Belete. In women’s high-jump, Russia’s Anna Chicherova cleared a world-lead height of 2.01m with Poland’s Justyna Kasprzycka at second place with 1.99. Spain’s Ruth Beitia finished third. Women’s 400m hurdles was taken by Jamaican Kaliese Spencer with world-lead time of 54.29s. Kori Carter and Tiffany Williams, both from US, were placed second and third respectively. Sofia Assefa of Ethiopia was brilliant in women’s 3000m steeplechase in creating a meet record and winning with a world-lead time of 9:11.39 minutes. Compatriot Hiwot Ayalew was second in 9:12.89 and America’s Emma Coburn, third in 9:17.84
In women’s 400m, Jamaica’s Novlene Williams-Mills won in 50.40 seconds. USA’s Francena McCorory was second in 50.53 and Jamaica’s Stephanie Ann McPherson third in 50.63. In men’s 100m, American Justin Gatlin dashed home in 9.76 seconds. Compatriot Michael Rodgers was second in 9.80 and Frenchman Jimmy Vicaut third in 9.89. In men’s Javlin, Vitezslav Vesely of Czech Republic hurled at 83.75m. Norwegian Andreas Thorkildsen was second with 80.52 and Russian Dmitriy Tarabin, third at 80.28m. Men’s 400m at Eugene was a classic duel between Kirani James of Grenada and LaShawn Merritt of US. Both athletes completed the sprint in 43.97 but Kirani won the photo-finish. Youssef Ahmed Masrahi of Saudi Arabia was third in 44.77.
Women’s 1500m was lit up by Kenyan Hellen Obiri’s superb performance. She won with a meet record and a world-lead time of 3:57.05, ahead of Sweden’s world champion Abeba Aregawi, who took 3:57.57 minutes. Faith Chepngetich Kipyegon of Kenya was third in 3:58.01. In men’s 110m hurdles, Frenchman Pascal Martinot-Lagarde’s superlative effort resulted in the world-lead time of 13.13 seconds. Jamaica’s Hansie Parchment was second in 13.20 and David Oliver third in 13.21.
Women’s 200m was won by USA’s Tori Bowie in a world-lead time of 22.18. Nigerian star Blessing Okagbare was second in 22.23 and USA super-star Allyson Felix came third in 22.44. In men’s 5000m, Kenya’s Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku was first with a world-lead time of 13:01.71. Ethiopian Yenew Alamirew was second in 13:02.91 and Kenya’s Edwin Cheruiyot Soi third in 13:04.92.
In men’s 800m, Botswana’s Nijel Amos won with a meet record and world-lead time of 1:43.63. World champion Mohammed Aman of Ethiopia was second in 1:43.99, while Abubaker Kaki of Sudan was third in 1:44.09. Olympic champion and a world record holder, David Rudisha finished seventh. In men’s Bowerman mile, Djibouti’s Ayanleh Souleiman’s superb run in 3:47.32 accounted for the meet record world-lead time and DL record. Kenya’s Silas Kiplagat of was second in 3:47.88 and Ethiopian Aman Wote, third in 3:48.60
