19-year old Bahraini Ruth Jebet shattered Gulnara Galkina’s 8-year old world record with an eye-catching performance in women’s 3000m steeplechase on Saturday night’s Paris Diamond League. Jebet’s phenomenal run took away more than 6 seconds from the Russian’s previous world mark that was set up during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Another big performance of the 12th DL meeting came in men’s 3000m, where Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha created a new U-20 world record in men’s 3000m. Many of the distance events saw impressive performances in Paris, where other winners included; Kenya’s Alfred Kipketer in men’s 800m with the third fastest time of the year; Great Britain’s Laura Muir in women’s 1500m to set a new British record; Kenyan Nicholas Bett took men’s 400m hurdles and USA’s Natasha Hastings topped women’s 400m. Besides, Netherlands’ Rio silver medalist Dafne Schippers won the women’s 200m to take a commanding lead in Diamond Race standings, Spain’s Rio gold medalist woman high jumper Ruth Beitia topped the event at Paris, Ivory Coast’s Ben Youssef Meite won men’s 100m and Kendra Harrison won yet another women’s 100m hurdles.
Another teenager won the men’s 3000m at Paris by breaking the U-20 world record. Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha clocked 7:28.19 to replace the earlier record of Kenya’s Augustine Choge, who had run the race in 7:28.78 in 2005 at Doha. The race had begun with Morocco’s Abdelaati Iguidir opening up a big lead even as he crossed 2000 meters. But the initial pace took its toll on Iguidir, who had to slow down and it was here that the tall Kejelcha closed the gap. In the final 150 meters, the 19-year old Ethiopian went into the lead and never looked back. With the world mark assuredly broken, Kejelcha collapsed after the finish line. lguidir finished second in 7:30.09 and another Ethipian Hagos Gebrhiwet third in 7:30.45. It was a fantastic race, where 9 runners recorded their Personal Bests including the 14th placed Kenyan Paul Kipngetic Tanui.
Netherlands’ Rio silver medalist Dafne Schippers took a commanding lead in this year’s Diamond Race standings by winning women’s 200m in 22.13, ahead of GBR’s Desiree Henry, who clocked 22.46. USA’s Jenna Prandini finished third in 22.48. In men’s 100m, Ben Youssef Meite set a new Ivory Coast national record by winning in 9.96. Meite’s was the only sub-10 second time with South African Akani Simbine finishing second in 10.00, while Netherlands’ European champion Martina Churandy was third in 10.01. Kendra Harrison of USA topped women’s 100m hurdles by clocking 12.44 ahead of compatriot Dawn Harper Nelson, who took 12.65 seconds. GBR’s Cindy Ofili finished third in 12.66.
Other notable winners at Paris were; Spain’s Rio gold medalist Ruth Beitia in women’s high jump, New Zealand’s Tomas Walsh in men’s shot put, Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie in men’s pole-vault, Serbian Ivana Spanovic in women’s long jump, USA’s Chris Carter in men’s triple jump, Sandra Perkovic in women’s discus and Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch in men’s javelin.