And to think that this race didn’t even count towards the Diamond League! The men’s 800 m, entered as an additional event, produced the finest spectacle of the evening. And it almost set a world record! Winner in 1’41”11, Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi (KEN) set the 2nd best performance of all time, on a par with Wilson Kipketer’s former world record. Only David Rudisha has ever run faster (1’40”91).
For Wanyonyi, this is of course the best world performance of the year (MPM). The new star of the double lap was pushed to the limit by world champion Marco Arop (CAN), who ran a very offensive race (2nd in 1’41”72 ), while Frenchman Gabriel Tual finished 3rd in a time – also hot – of 1’42”30.
The incredible Letsile Tebogo dominated the 200 m in 19”64. A fabulous time, given that the Olympic champion from Botswana got up well before the line and, by his own admission, hadn’t trained since winning the title in Paris! Stunningly relaxed, the young sprinter was quick to take selfies with the public as soon as he crossed the finish line. Erriyon Knighton (USA) took 2nd place in 19”78 and 2022 100 m world champion Fred Kerley (USA) 3rd in 19”86. Seventh place for Swiss European champion Timothé Mumenthaler (20”54), ahead of compatriot William Reais (20”75).
Ehammer on the podium
The javelin was, by far, the best competition of the evening. On their 6th attempt, the three finalists challenged each other to such an extent that Grenada’s Anderson Peters finally propelled his javelin to 90m61, the meeting record. India’s Neeraj Chopra, the 2021 Olympic champion, came close to 90m with 89m49 (2nd), while Germany’s Julian Weber finished 3rd with 87m08.
The long jump competition kept the Lausanne public on its toes. Simon Ehammer, with a magnificent final jump well over 8m, looked as if he might win. Unfortunately, the Swiss had bitten off the take-off board by a few centimetres and had to be content with 3rd place, with 7m99. Two-time Olympic champion Miltiadis Tentoglou (GRE), who had been lagging behind for a long time, pulled his head out of the water on his last two jumps to win with 8m06, ahead of Wayne Pinnock (JAM) and his 8m01.
The women’s 800 m was more tactical. World champion Mary Moraa (KEN) emerged on the home straight to win in 1’57”91, ahead of Georgia Bell (GBR), in 1’58”53, and Jemma Reekie (GBR), in 1’58”73. We could have expected better from the Swiss. Audrey Werro finished 7th (1’59”31) and Rachel Pellaud 9th (1’59”89).
Once again, Jakob Ingebrigtsen set a record in Lausanne, this time for the meeting, dominating the 1500 m in 3’27”83. It was a great achievement for the visibly happy Norwegian, who thanked the fans who had supported him throughout the race. Ingebrigtsen took his “little” revenge on Olympic champion Cole Hocker (USA), 2nd in 3’29”85, ahead of Hobbs Kessler (USA), 3rd in 3’30”47. Switzerland’s Dominic Lobalu, the European 10,000 m champion, finished 10th in a personal best 3’34”39.
The crowd went wild for one of its favorites, Mujinga Kambundji. The Swiss sportswoman of the year 2022 finished on the 100 m podium (3rd) in 11”06, ahead only of Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith (10”88, her best time of the season despite a headwind) and Tamari Davis (10”97), world champion with the USA’s 4×100 m relay.
In the 100 m hurdles, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn lived up to her title of 2021 Olympic champion. The Puerto Rican won in 12’36, at the end of another very tight race, ahead of Grace Stark (USA) and Ackera Nugent (JAM), both in 12’38. Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji could do no better than 8th in 12’75.
Femke Bol (NED) delighted the fans with her burst in the home straight of the 400 m hurdles, which enabled her to beat the meeting record of 52’25. Swiss coach Laurent Meuwly’s protégée dominated a trio of Jamaicans, including Rushell Clayton (2nd in 53”32) and Janieve Russell (3rd in 54”48).
Superb Welteji on 3000 m
In a great atmosphere marked by an excellent “ola”, Diribe Welteji shattered the 3000 m meeting record held by Francine Nyonsaba (BDI), winning in 8’21”50. The Ethiopian’s last lap was impressive, allowing her to clearly surpass the “luminous hare” that indicated Niyonsaba’s mark. Kenya’s Janeth Chepngetich took 2nd place in 8’23”48, and Tsigie Gebreselama (ETH) 3rd (8’24”40). Four athletes broke their records in this race.
What a reaction from Chase Jackson! Arch-battled at the Olympics (9th), the American threw 3 meters further than in Paris to win with a throw of 20m64, just cm off the MPM. Olympic champion Yemisi Ogunleye (GER) took 2nd place with 19m55 and Sarah Mitton (CAN) 3rd with 19m52.
A very fine 400 m, marked by the victory of European record-holder and Olympic vice-champion Matthew Hudson-Smith (GBR), in 43”96. He was ahead of Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga (44”06) and Botswana’s Busang Kebinatshipi (44”22).
Jamaican Rasheed Broadbell surprised the American favorites in the 110 m hurdles. The Paris Olympic bronze medallist inflicted a rare defeat on Grant Holloway (2nd in 13”14), while Hansle Parchment took 3rd place (13”23). Switzerland’s Jason Joseph was 8th in 13”78.
Olympic champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR) won a height competition that we would have liked to see go higher, with 1m99. Australians Eleanor Patterson (1m96) and Nicola Olyslagers (1m92) finished 2nd and 3rd.
Among the Paralympians, special mention goes to Germany’s Markus Rehm, winner with a jump of 8m20, with his carbon blades which, according to some studies, do not give him an advantage over able-bodied athletes.
The final event, the women’s 4×100 m, saw Switzerland come very close to the national record, taking 2nd place in 42”16. Salomé Kora, Sarah Atcho-Jaquier, Léonie Pointet and Muijinga Kambundji threatened Great Britain (1st in 42”03, meeting record) right to the end, thanks to Kambundji’s fine final run.
