Australia’s Linden Hall has one of her career-best performances, winning the women’s 3000m after a titanic struggle with Uganda’s Sarah Chelangat on the final lap.
Hall’s only other ever Diamond League victory came in Stockholm over 1500m three years ago and there must be something in the Swedish air as she broke clear in the finishing straight to win in a personal best of 8:30.01.
Chelengat was rewarded with a national record of 8:31.27 in second. Third went to fast finishing British athlete Innes Fitzgerald. The 19-year-old clocked a huge personal best of 8:32.90.
“I ran a big 5km PB recently so I was hoping that would translate into a good 3km,” said Hall.
“I didn’t feel too good in the early stages of the race but luckily, I came good at the end. I did a lot of the work mostly by myself in the last kilometre, so it was really encouraging to get a 10-second personal best.
“It’s been a good season so far and a nice confidence-booster. I’m racing the 1500m in the Paris Diamond League on Friday, which is actually on my birthday so that will be a great way to celebrate and I’m really proud of myself for still running so well at this stage of my career.”
Germany’s European bronze medallist Karl Bebendorf was a surprise winner of the men’s 3000m steeplechase. Olympic fourth placer Getnet Wale of Ethiopian led at the bell, but faded badly over the final lap, eventually placing fifth.
The gleeful Bebendorf gratefully took advantage for his first ever Diamon League victory, running clear to win in a personal best of 8:11.81. New Zealand’s Georgie Beamish outsprinted Morocco’s Faid El Mostafa, taking second by 0.18 in 8:13.86.