Another classic men’s 5000m and thrilling performances by Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Femke Bol highlighted the Lausanne Diamond League on Friday. 

In a season that has produced several sensation races at the distance, the men's 5000m once again was a show stopper.

Berihu Aregawi turned in the sixth fastest time in history, clocking 12:40.45 to beat world record holder Joshua Cheptegei, who crossed the line in 12:41.61. Aregawi led the race through 3000 meters in 7:41.50 and sped up from there, running a series of laps in 60 seconds and winnowing the pack behind him until only Cheptegei remained. On several occasions, it looked like Cheptegei might get past Aregawi in the final lap, but Aregawi responded every time. In total, Aregawi ran the final four laps in 3:57 according to the race broadcast. 

The excitement!

Pure grit and determination from Berihu Aregawi 🇪🇹 who runs away from Joshua Cheptegei to take a deserved victory in a new World Lead of 12:40.45 💣

📸 @matthewquine #DiamondLeague 💎 #LausanneDL 🇨🇭 pic.twitter.com/xcRS59u30c

— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) June 30, 2023

The 5000m in Lausanne joins races in Florence and Oslo that hosted incredibly fast and competitive 5000m races. Six men have now run under 12:50 this season.

It was business as usual for Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the men’s 1500m as the Norweigan once again ground down his opponents and got the win in 3:28.72. Ingebrigtsen has never shown a reluctance to lead and in Lausanne, he once again found himself at the front with Josh Kerr and Lamecha Girma right behind him with one lap remaining. 

No matching him 🙅

Jakob Ingebrigtsen 🇳🇴 shows us his kick and continues to prove he is stronger than the rest, as he seals the victory in a meeting record of 3:28.72 in the 1500m.

📸 @chiaramontesan2#DiamondLeague 💎 #LausanneDL 🇨🇭 pic.twitter.com/4e0S3MD08f

— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) June 30, 2023

But the two could never muster the kick to get by Ingebrigtsen who closed in 54.78 seconds for the final 400m. His time is a meet record and the third-fastest 1500m of his career. Girma passed Kerr in the homestretch to break the Ethiopian national record with a time of 3:29.51. Kerr took third in 3:29.64.

Surprise In The Women's 800m, Dominance In The Women's 100m & 400m Hurdles

Mary Moraa got the better of Keely Hodgkinson in the women’s 800m. Moraa ran 1:57.43 to hold off the world-leader Hodgkinson who ran 1:58.37. Moraa grabbed the lead early in the race and Hodgkinson was never able to get by Moraa. Moraa now leads the series 4-3 between the two outdoors, while Hodgkinson has won both meetings indoors.

“It was a very challenging race and I felt completely empty at the end of it,” Moraa said.

In the women’s 100m, Marie-Josee Ta Lou bolstered her case as the top women’s 100m runner in the world. Ta Lou burst from the blocks and gapped the field, crossing the line in 10.88 seconds. It was her sixth wind-legal clocking under 11 seconds this season. Daryll Neita took second in 11.07 and Gina Luckenkemper was third 11.17.

“The conditions weren´t ideal, it was cold for me. But I´m happy at least I ran under the 11 seconds barrier,” Ta Lou said.

Femke Bol dominated again in the women’s 400m hurdles. The Dutch superstar never looked back after an emphatic start and crossed the line in a meet-record time of 52.76. Viivi Lehikoinen was second in 54.67. 

Striding for glory ⭐

Femke Bol is in a league of her own, as she breaks her own meeting record at #LausanneDL 🇨🇭 in the 400m Hurdles in 52.76 seconds ⚡

📸 @matthewquine #DiamondLeague 💎 pic.twitter.com/guL8koKsDp

— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) June 30, 2023

“Today my race plan was to go fast in the first 200, which I did even though I knew that the last 100m would be painful.”

Jasmine Camacho-Quinn won the women’s 100m hurdles in 12.40, while Letsile Tebogo took the men’s 200m in 20.01. Beatrice Chepkoech set the meet record in the women’s steeplechase at 9:05.98 and Shunsuke Izumiya got a narrow victory in the men’s high hurdles over Jason Joseph, 13.22 to 13.23. 

In the field events, Nicola Olyslagers won the high jump, Mackenzie Little took the javelin, Ryan Crouser prevailed in the shot put, Katie Moon vaulted the world lead in the pole vault (4.82m), LaQuan Nairn won the long jump and Neeraj Chopra won the javelin.