Stephanie Garcia hung with the best in the world to finish fourth in the Birmingham DL

Not just because I had to wake up at 7:30am to tune into the Birmingham Diamond League, but the meet in all actuality started off a bit like a snooze-fest. This could have been at 7:30pm and I wouldn’t change my mind. But the excitement built throughout the event and here are some of the biggest takeaways.

Mo Farah dropped out of the 1500m so the meet schedule changed 
Amidst NOP drug allegations, Mo Farah has obviously been having a stressful week. His coach Alberto Salazar is under fire and his training partner Galen Rupp is being questioned. Farah’s just out here trying to race a fast 1500m. The race was supposed to be the final event of the program, purposely scheduled there to highlight the Olympic hero. Farah scratched, the meet program switched up the events and placed the men’s 1500 in the middle of the program. All because one athlete scratched? Seems extreme, but Birmingham obviously felt strongly about Farah’s race keeping audiences on the edge of their seats throughout the program.

Fair enough to Mo pulling out, he's obviously having a tough week, but moving the men's 1500m just because he isn't in it is a disgrace

— Tom Farrell (@farrell_osu) June 7, 2015

Regardless, it was tactical and not exciting. The rabbit went out and no one went with him. That pace was probably Pre-Mo-Dropping-Out. Biggest piece of news? Bernard Lagat nabbed ANOTHER 40+ world record, running 3:41.87. Ageless wonder, indeed.

Dorian Ulrey struggled and finished 10th in 3:43. Still, he's fit. Just gotta get in the right race: 



Stephanie Garcia is Real Good
American Stephanie Garcia has been on fire this season and it showed in Birmingham. Garcia finished fourth in 9:27.92, a huge season best (Previous was 9:37) and just off her 9:24 PB. She was only three-seconds within first place Virginia Nyambura, proving that she can hang with some of the world’s best. Garcia told FloTrack earlier this week that she thinks Emma Coburn is the only “lock” for the U.S. team in August, but after this performance we can imagine Garcia hanging with Coburn just fine.

.@steph_steeples finishes 4th in #BirminghamGP 3K steeple in SB 9:27.92 - Looks GOOD, too!

— FloTrack (@FloTrack) June 7, 2015

No. 8 World All-Time Throw in Javelin, ALMOST Didn’t Count
Kenyan Julius Yego threw 91.39m to win the javelin throw in first 90m throw ice 2007. On his sixth and final attempt, Yego appeared to have fouled, as the javelin landed almost exactly on the perimeter line. It was eventually ruled a legal mark, a new Kenyan record, and the No. 8 all-time throw in the world.

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG Yego's throw has been confirmed as legal!!!! THAT'S A HUGE 91.39m WL NL PB SB AR DLR!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/OM4Tc5tqap

— SPIKES (@spikesmag) June 7, 2015

Tarmoh and Felix With the Tie
In the highly anticipated 200m final, Allyson Felix was not victorious. Fellow American Jeneba Tarmoh used Felix’s weak start to her advantage, winning in 22.29. Felix also ran 22.29, but Tarmoh was declared the winner. Remember the last time these two tied? The 2012 Olympic Trials where Felix was awarded the third and final spot on the U.S. 100m squad after they both finished third.

You guys aren't going to believe this. #Tarmohgeddon pic.twitter.com/bTk3WoQPZe

— Nick Zaccardi (@nzaccardi) June 7, 2015