This is Stuart Weir’s feature on day two of the Diamond League Finals in Brussels on 14 September 2024.
Day 2 of the Diamond League Finals
Another cold evening did not help the mood of the second evening of the Diamond League finals. If only track and field were a summer sport. The evening began with a special performance by the Borli brothers. I wonder how many relays have been run for the Belgian over the years?
The highlight of the evening had to be Gianmarco Tamberi, who won the high jump at her third attempt in 2.34 before running a lap in the wrong direction as the women’s 5000m got under way. It was just as well that she chose that direction, as she probably would have passed Beatrice Chebet.
Ryan Kruser threw over 22m five times, but lost to Leonardo Fabbri, who threw 22.98 on his first throw. and then had three fouls and two 21m throws. Cruel world!
Faith Kipyegon winning the 1500m was no surprise. It was a surprise Kipyegon (3:54.75) pushed Diribe Veltej (3:55.25) to the finish. The fact that Kipyegon’s time was 5 seconds slower than his victory in the Paris Diamond League somehow suggested that this was an end-of-season event with athletes past their prime.
Letsile Tebogo won the Jesse Owens Rising Star Award at the Wanda Diamond League final, recognizing him as the best 23-and-under athlete, but Kenneth Bednarek (19.67) spoiled Tebogo’s night by beating him in the 200 in Brussels.
To explain why the Diamond League final felt a little flat, let me use the women’s pole vault. The women’s pole vault final at the Olympics was a classic. 19 athletes and winner Nina Kennedy needed to clear six poles to win. There were only six athletes in Brussels (plus one Belgian added for local interest who went out in 4.40) and Kennedy needed only 4 successful clearances to win. But hey! The Brussels competition fit more easily into 2 hours of TV, most of which was shown.
Then there was the mystery of Sidney McLaughlin-Levron, who was paid handsomely to run two pointless races and schedule them off TV.
It The men’s 800 promised much and certainly delivered, with Olympic champion Emmanuel Vagnoni winning in 1:42.70. The silver and bronze medalists from Paris, Marco Arop and Jamel Sejati, were again in the top three, but this time, Sejati was second and Arop was third.
With Masai Russell not in the 100m hurdles field, the Diamond League final was won by Jasmine Camacho-Quinn from Sirena Samba-Mayela, the Paris bronze and silver medalists.
No one’s fault, but after Paris things seemed a little flat
