Stockholm DL Recap: Rudisha Loses Again
Stockholm DL Recap: Rudisha Loses Again
David Rudisha lost, The Man Who Beat Mo is back, Genevieve LaCaze ran a huge PR, and more.
On a cool and rainy night in Stockholm, the distance races took center stage. Here are the four biggest developments from the last Diamond League meet before the circuit takes a month break until the July 15 Monaco meet.
FULL RESULTS
1. David Rudisha Loses Again
Though there were numerous issues with the starters throughout the meet, the men's 800 got off to a clean start--unlike Rudisha's last DL race in Shanghai. Perpetual pacemaker Bram Som went through 400 in 50.82 seconds, but the pack of athletes actually competing was at least a second behind him. Rudisha led that pack for the relatively pedestrian first 550 meters, then Frenchman Pierre-Ambroise Bosse jumped on his shoulder. Rudisha held the rail through to the homestretch before his fellow Kenyan Ferguson Rotich jumped the field with 40 meters to go and won in 1:45.07.
Rudisha ran 1:45.69 for a well-beaten fourth place. Add his vulnerability to the list of reasons why Donavan Brazier should leap to the pro ranks right now.
Impress your friends with the fun fact that Rotich changed his first name in tribute to former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.
2. The Man Who Beat Mo is Back?!
Ibrahim Jeilan will probably retire from running best known as the Man Who Beat Mo Farah. The Ethiopian is the last man to beat Farah at a major championship; watch his thrilling kick in the 2011 Daegu world championship 10K:
But after a quiet half-decade--zero races in 2012, four track races in 2013, three in 2014, three in 2015, plus a few unremarkable half-marathons--Jeilan has burst back on the scene in 2016. He broke 27 minutes for the first time ever in May at the Pre 10K, and won his first-ever Diamond League race tonight. The two Scandinavian DLs (Stockholm/Oslo) are supposedly serving as Ethiopian Olympic trials races, and Jeilan made a strong case for his selection to Rio.
With a 55-second last lap, Jeilan beat world indoor 3K champion/three-time DL winner Yomif Kejelcha and Shanghai 5K champ Muktar Edris. It's way too early to call him a potential challenger to Farah--who has looked unbeatable over 5K and trounced Jeilan in a 10K just three weeks ago--but it's the best Jeilan has looked since 2011.
Because we're brutal homers, I'm going to skip discussion of another easy win and meet record for Ruth Jebet. Here are those results:
1 JEBET Ruth 9:08.37 MR
2 KENCHEPKOECH Beatrice 9:22.56
3 LACAZE Genevieve 9:23.19 PB
4 ASSEFA Sofia 9:27.73
5 HILLS Madeline 9:28.75
6 TUNGHRIBI Habiba 9:31.22
7 KENKIRUI Purity 9:31.26
8 BRNGETENT Tigest 9:31.84 SB
9 FINERIKSSON Sandra 9:31.88
10 GARCIA Stephanie 9:35.89
​Results courtesy IAAF
Behind her were major implications for the US steeple team and a huge PR for a former NCAA athlete. Stephanie Garcia was second in the country and ninth in the world last year, but only tenth in this race in 9:35. That's a lot slower than Emma Coburn (9:10), Leah O'Connor (9:18), and Courtney Frerichs (9:24) have already run this season, making those three the presumptive favorites at the Trials. Garcia tweeted as much after the race:
In front of Garcia, former Florida Gator Genevieve LaCaze ran a massive 9:23.19 PB--her first time under 9:30. That mark is only four seconds off the Australian national record.
There was some drama with getting that mark made official--after the race, the results listed LaCaze as a DQ under IAAF Rule 163.3b. That rule states "in all races (or any part of races) not run in lanes, an athlete running on a bend, on the outer half of the track as per Rule 162.10, or on any curved part of the diversion from the track for the steeplechase water jump, shall not step or run on or inside the kerb or line marking the applicable border (the inside of the track, the outer half of the track, or any curved part of the diversion from the track for the steeplechase water jump)."
An official probably flagged LaCaze for cutting in too early before a water jump.
4. Keni Harrison Stays Hot in the Cold
In her second race since nearly breaking the world record in May, Keni Harrison won her third straight Diamond League 100 hurdles. She ran 12.66 in the cold (57 degrees) and rain to smoke a field highlighted by fellow Americans Nia Ali and Queen Harrison. Ali and Harrison went 12.85 and 12.87, respectively.
FULL RESULTS
FULL RESULTS
1. David Rudisha Loses Again
Though there were numerous issues with the starters throughout the meet, the men's 800 got off to a clean start--unlike Rudisha's last DL race in Shanghai. Perpetual pacemaker Bram Som went through 400 in 50.82 seconds, but the pack of athletes actually competing was at least a second behind him. Rudisha led that pack for the relatively pedestrian first 550 meters, then Frenchman Pierre-Ambroise Bosse jumped on his shoulder. Rudisha held the rail through to the homestretch before his fellow Kenyan Ferguson Rotich jumped the field with 40 meters to go and won in 1:45.07.
Rudisha ran 1:45.69 for a well-beaten fourth place. Add his vulnerability to the list of reasons why Donavan Brazier should leap to the pro ranks right now.
Kenyan Ferguson Cheruiyot Rotich wins the #StockholmDL 800 concluding the running events for the meet. pic.twitter.com/HDvgMP0YEg
— FloTrack (@FloTrack) June 16, 2016
Impress your friends with the fun fact that Rotich changed his first name in tribute to former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.
2. The Man Who Beat Mo is Back?!
Ibrahim Jeilan will probably retire from running best known as the Man Who Beat Mo Farah. The Ethiopian is the last man to beat Farah at a major championship; watch his thrilling kick in the 2011 Daegu world championship 10K:
But after a quiet half-decade--zero races in 2012, four track races in 2013, three in 2014, three in 2015, plus a few unremarkable half-marathons--Jeilan has burst back on the scene in 2016. He broke 27 minutes for the first time ever in May at the Pre 10K, and won his first-ever Diamond League race tonight. The two Scandinavian DLs (Stockholm/Oslo) are supposedly serving as Ethiopian Olympic trials races, and Jeilan made a strong case for his selection to Rio.
With a 55-second last lap, Jeilan beat world indoor 3K champion/three-time DL winner Yomif Kejelcha and Shanghai 5K champ Muktar Edris. It's way too early to call him a potential challenger to Farah--who has looked unbeatable over 5K and trounced Jeilan in a 10K just three weeks ago--but it's the best Jeilan has looked since 2011.
Ethiopians sweep the 5k. Its Jeilan in 13:03.22 with a strong kick FTW #StockholmDL pic.twitter.com/fzQtjNDkQB
— FloTrack (@FloTrack) June 16, 2016
3. The American Steeple Plot Thickens
Because we're brutal homers, I'm going to skip discussion of another easy win and meet record for Ruth Jebet. Here are those results:
1 JEBET Ruth 9:08.37 MR
2 KENCHEPKOECH Beatrice 9:22.56
3 LACAZE Genevieve 9:23.19 PB
4 ASSEFA Sofia 9:27.73
5 HILLS Madeline 9:28.75
6 TUNGHRIBI Habiba 9:31.22
7 KENKIRUI Purity 9:31.26
8 BRNGETENT Tigest 9:31.84 SB
9 FINERIKSSON Sandra 9:31.88
10 GARCIA Stephanie 9:35.89
​Results courtesy IAAF
Behind her were major implications for the US steeple team and a huge PR for a former NCAA athlete. Stephanie Garcia was second in the country and ninth in the world last year, but only tenth in this race in 9:35. That's a lot slower than Emma Coburn (9:10), Leah O'Connor (9:18), and Courtney Frerichs (9:24) have already run this season, making those three the presumptive favorites at the Trials. Garcia tweeted as much after the race:
Absolutely confident in our plan and excited to be an underdog heading into the Trials! Time to get back to work.
— Stephanie Garcia (@steph_steeples) June 16, 2016
In front of Garcia, former Florida Gator Genevieve LaCaze ran a massive 9:23.19 PB--her first time under 9:30. That mark is only four seconds off the Australian national record.
There was some drama with getting that mark made official--after the race, the results listed LaCaze as a DQ under IAAF Rule 163.3b. That rule states "in all races (or any part of races) not run in lanes, an athlete running on a bend, on the outer half of the track as per Rule 162.10, or on any curved part of the diversion from the track for the steeplechase water jump, shall not step or run on or inside the kerb or line marking the applicable border (the inside of the track, the outer half of the track, or any curved part of the diversion from the track for the steeplechase water jump)."
An official probably flagged LaCaze for cutting in too early before a water jump.