In front of his home crowd in Oslo, Karsten Warholm erased the world record in the 400m hurdles held by Kevin Young since 1992 during the Norwegian stage of the Diamond League. An evening which saw Armand Duplantis once again pass six meters in the pole vault and Femke Bol shine in the women’s 400m hurdles.
Karsten Warholm had been chasing him for so long. The Norwegian, a specialist in the 400m hurdles, saw his quest for the world record come to an end on his home soil, during the Bislett Games in Oslo. Indeed, during the last race of the Norwegian stage of the Diamond League, the native of Ulsteinvik erased from the shelves the 46”78 established by Kevin Young during the Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992. Winner in 46 ‘ ’70, Karsten Warholm settled on top of the world and sent a clear message to the competition just before the Tokyo Olympics. “I knew I had a quick time in me. I feel like it’s been there for a long time but you never know when the right time will come. Besides, it’s one thing to know but it’s another to go and get there, he said after his race. Getting there in Oslo in front of a huge audience, my friends and family, is really special. It’s my first 400m hurdles of the season so I think I still have some in me. I could break the world record again at the Olympics. There will be a lot of very high level athletes and gold medal contenders. I am happy to face such adversity. But, for the moment, I have broken the world record and I am so happy! The Norwegian won ahead of the Brazilian Alison dos Santos, who broke the South American record in 47”38, and the Turkish Yasmani Copello (48”86).
400M HURDLES WORLD RECORD ‼️
46.70 ‼️@kwarholm closes his home-#DiamondLeague in style.
There’s just something about lane 7… pic.twitter.com/4g3mMvzpjL
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) July 1, 2021
Duplantis in very good shape
An evening that also smiled on the Dutchwoman Femke Bol at the same distance. Indeed, the latter broke her national record with a victory in 53”33 ahead of the Ukrainian Anna Ryzhykova (54”15) and Viktoriya Tkachuk (54”62). The women’s double lap, for her part, saw the American Kate Grace break her personal best in 1’57”60 to go for the victory ahead of the Ugandan Halimah Nakaayi (’58”70) and the Swiss Lore Hoffmann (1’59”06). A few weeks before the Olympics, Armand Duplantis confirms that he will be the man to beat in the pole vault competition. The Swede once again exceeded six meters during the Oslo competition with a bar of 6.01m passed on the first try, like all his bars so far. The world record holder even offered himself three attempts at 6.19m but without success. “I felt good. We really could feel the energy there was in the stadium. I had the feeling of having six meters in the legs but, of course, it is never easy, commented the Swede after the contest. I really think I could break the world record soon, it will come this season. But, right now, I feel good, one month away from the most important competition of my life. I am in good shape, I run well and I manage to keep the pace. »Armand Duplantis beat Sam Kendricks (5.91m) and Renaud Lavillenie (5.81m), who remained on a failure at the French championships.
A valiant attempt to clear 6.19m from @mondohoss600, but he has to make do with an #OsloDL meeting record of 6.01m.
Not a bad day’s work. #DiamondLeague
? @matthewquine pic.twitter.com/cgkVGJj5yG— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) July 1, 2021
Ta Lou and de Grasse at the rendezvous
The sprint was also at the rendezvous of these Bislett Games with the women’s 100m. Marie-Josée Ta Lou went for the victory in 10”91, her best time of the season, ahead of Briton Daryll Neita (11”06) and Ajla del Ponte (11”16). “When you start a season, you just hope you don’t get injured, have good training and be ready to compete,” said the Ivorian shortly after her race. I’m happy to be 10”9, I’m fine and in good shape. I’m aiming for the podium in Tokyo, of course. The men, meanwhile, had an appointment in the 200m and André de Grasse took the best over his compatriot Aaron Brown (20”09 against 20”38) while the representative of Botswana Isaac Makwala completed the podium (20”61). Before Karsten Warholm’s world record, Australian Stewart McSwein made a strong impression, breaking the Oceania mile record in 3’48”37. He won ahead of Marcin Lewandowski, author of a new Polish record (3’49”11) and Jye Edwards (3’49”27) `. The discus throw saw Daniel Stahl win on the last decisive try with 65.72m ahead of Kristjan Ceh (65.72m) and Likas Weisshaidinger (61.03m). For his part, Yasser Mohamed Triki won the men’s triple jump without a fight. With a mark of 17.23m on the last try, the Algerian saw Andy Diaz and Tiago Pereira both go to the fault and give him the victory.
20.09!@ De6rasse storms to victory in the men’s 200m. #OsloDL #DiamondLeague
? @matthewquine pic.twitter.com/k7ThD149mb— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) July 1, 2021
Kejelcha sends a message over 3000m
If the distance is not Olympic, the 3000m saw Yomif Kejelcha win insolently. The Ethiopian left the competition behind and won in 7’26”25, best world performance of the year and meeting record. ” I’m working hard to be ready for the Olympics but it will be very difficult there because there is a lot of competition., said Yomif Kejelcha shortly after his victory. I won’t line up until Tokyo anymore so I’m just going to train hard. While, at home, Filip Ingebrigtsen took only fifth place (7’34”00), Kenyans Jacob Krop (7’30”07) and Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli (7’31”33) complete the podium. The women’s 5000m, for its part, saw Helen Obiri be hooked but the Kenyan won in 14’26”38, ahead of Fantu Worku (14’26”80) and Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi (14’28”55). “I still have a lot of work to do before the Olympics because I will double 5000 and 10000m. I still have to work on my speed after studying my endurance a lot, the Kenyan admitted after her race. Now I have to concentrate on the last 300 meters. It will be difficult at the Olympics because there are a lot of fit athletes. The faster the pace there, the better it will be for me. A race which also saw the Briton Eilish McColgan break her national record (14’28”55). Malaika Mihambo had the last word in women’s length with 6.82m on the final deciding try when Christin Hussong won in the javelin with 60.95m.
