English
It was around 15 degrees all afternoon and evening and apart from a short shower around 5 pm the weather was dry and calm – good conditions for athletics.
The women’s 100m, the final event of the evening, came closest to producing a stadium record. With long plaits and flowers in her hair, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce started in lane five and led all the way even if USA’s Tori Bowie matched her stride in the first 50 metres. Her winning time of 10.93 was only three hundredths of a second from Irina Privalova’s 21 year old stadium record. Bowie finished 0.12 behind.
– I’m happy with the race. The time maybe wasn’t the best but I’m satified anyway considering the conditions, said the ever-smiling Shelly-Ann, who was world’s number one last year with 10.74.
Pole vault record threatened by Silva The strong field in the women’s pole vault was headed by world leader Yarisley Silver, who confirmed her status with a clearance of 4.81 in a shaky first attempt. She then had two attempts at 4.86, one cm higher than Yelena Isinbayeva’s seven year old stadium record. Fabiana Murer also had a go at 4.86 but remained at 4.71 for a third place behind Kiriakopoulos in second with 4.76.
Greg Rutherford began his long jump with 7.94 but then demonstrated why he is Olympic champion by following up with 8.34 and 8.32 for a clear victory.
Almgren half a second from the Swedish record
Qatar’s Musaeb Balla was the clear victor of the 800m with Andreas Almgren from Stockholm club, Tureberg 4th in 1:45.99, half a second from Rizak Dirsches Swedish record.
Further top-class performances came in the men’s 200m with Alonso Edward’s 20.04 and Piotr Malachowski’s 65.95 in still conditions for the discus. Only 27cm separated positions two to seven in which the crowd were happy to see two Swedes, Axel Härsted and Daniel Ståhl.
Fantastic matches
The men’s 110m hurdles included the best in the world and it was tight all the way with only 0.06 separating the top three. Orlando Ortega won in 13.18 in front of Sergey Shubenkov 13.22 and David Oliver 13.24.
– It was not my day today but it’s always great to compete here in Stockholm in front the enthusiastic and knowledgeable crowd, commented David Oliver, the reigning World Champion who won here last time his event was on the programme in 2013.
The men’s 3000m steeplechase saw Brahim Taleb in control leading into the final straight but compatriot, Hicham Sigueni had not given up and managed to pass him just before the finish line to win by 0.02 and a personal best time of 8:16.54.
Zusana Hejnova led the women’s 400m hurdles from half way but Denmark’s Sara Petersen closed in on her and finished in 54.42, 0.05 behind Hejnova’s 54.42.
Surprise victory for Duffield
The world’s leading high jumper Mutaz Barshim went out at 2.29 and surprise win of the evening went to Jacorian Duffield who was the only one to clear 2.32.
BAUHAUS Galan saw three national records. Betlhem Desalegn from UAE ran 8:53.75 in the 3000m, Ismail Ibrahim Mohamed broke the Djibouti 3000m steeplechase record with 8:53.75 and Jakub Holusa ran 3.34.26 in the 1500m to break the 32 year old Czech record.
– It was fantastic to finally break the record. I stayed in the pack until the last 200m and then managed to pull off a strong finish, said Holusa who became European 1500m Champion this year in his hometown of Prague.
Next year BAUHAUS Galan will move to a new date – Thursday 16 June.
Jonas Hedman
