WRITTEN FOR THE BISLETT GAMES MEDIA TEAM.
The 50th anniversary of the ExxonMobil Bislett Games went off with a bang in Oslo this evening, as the Norwegian capital celebrated in style by showcasing many world-class performances.
The sixth stage of the worldwide IAAF Diamond League welcomed the crème de la crème of the global elite of track and field on a night which marked the event’s prestigious half-century in the Bislett Stadion.
The sole world-leading achievement came from Jamaica’s Olympic and world fourth-placer, Kaliese Spencer, who claimed her third consecutive IAAF Diamond League victory with a swift 54.15 in the 400m hurdles.
The 28-year-old Shanghai and Birmingham Diamond League winner came home clear of USA’s Georganne Moline, who ran a 54.29 season’s best for second place.
The winner said afterwards: “I definitely want the gold medal in Beijing (at the IAAF World Championships in August) so that I’m not only called a Diamond League usual winner.
“This race was definitely better technically than the previous one. I will run the 400m flat at the Jamaican trials.”
Ethiopia’s world indoor 3,000m champion, Genzebe Dibaba missed her sister Tirunesh’s 14:11.15 world record with a 14:21.29 clocking in the 5,000m.
The 24-year-old 2010 world junior champion’s victory follows Tirunesh – the three-time Olympic champion –‘s win in 2008 and their cousin, Meseret Defar – the double Olympic and world 5,000m champion – ‘s 2007 win.
With Genzebe – the world indoor 1500m, 3000m and two-mile record holder – taking the win by 17-seconds, she at least the consolation of a commanding performance on her Bislett debut.
She explained: “I tried hard but the pacemakers could not do what I needed. Of course, also cold and wind played a role but overall, I’m ok with the race, I did my best.
“I’m not sure if I will try to break my sister’s record again. My full concentrate will go towards the 5,000m at the World Championships.”
Doha victor and world leader, Jasmine Stowers of the USA continued her breakthrough rise this season with a narrow 12.84 100m hurdles win over her team-mate and the world champion, Brianna Rollins – who clocked the same time as the 28-year-old.
Stowers revealed afterwards: “We felt the wind, it was a rough race for me. I still need to prove myself at the US trials.”
China’s Zhang Guowei – fourth in the 2012 world indoor final – upset the formbook by taking the high jump honours over his more established counterparts.
The 24-year-old cleared 2.36m to push Qatar’s world indoor champion, Mutaz Essa Barshim – who was intending to attack the 2.45m world record during the competition – into third place (2.33m), whilst world and European champion, Bogdan Bondarenko of Ukraine finished fifth with 2.33m also.
A delighted Guowei – who leapt a 2.38m lifetime best when placing second in Eugene – even attempted 2.40m on three occasions at the end of the battle but to no avail.
Back on the track, Great Britain’s Laura Muir caused a big surprise in taking the 1500m from a strong field.
The 22-year-old was the only athlete to go with the pacemaker and she enjoyed a 50m lead at one point of the race until the chasing pack closed in during the final 200m.
The European under23 bronze medallist just had enough at the end to hold off Kenya’s world fifth placer, Faith Kipyegon with a 4:00.39 season’s best to her rival’s 4:00.94.
Muir recalled: “I heard them coming as the crowd got louder but I managed to keep on running and won my first ever Diamond League.
“This is the biggest win of my career, I wanted to run fast with the pacemaker and the others did not follow. I was aware I was alone but the crowd supported me a lot.”
For the Brit, her superb victory arrives off the back of a fourth place finish in Rome and a recent 2:00.42 800m lifetime best in Birmingham, whilst 21-year-old Kipyegon came to Oslo from taking the 5,000m runner-up position in Eugene.
Another Briton – this time, Olympic champion, Greg Rutherford – continued his fine 2015 campaign by grabbing first place with 8.25m despite passing on his final three attempts.
The 28-year-old European champion enjoyed an impressive 21cm-winning margin – just four days after claiming victory in Birmingham – from the USA’s Mike Hartfield.
Rutherford explained: “I wanted to rest my body after jumping 8.25m as I competed only on Sunday.
“Now, I have three good weeks of training in front of me. So far, I must say I’m very satisfied with my season.”
In the famous Dream Mile which concluded the meeting as tradition, Kenya’s world outdoor 1500m champion, Asbel Kiprop stride to his fourth four-lap win in Oslo over his fellow countryman, Silas Kiplagat – the 2011 world outdoor runner-up – in 3:51.45 to Kiplagat’s 3:51.72.
Kiprop, the 25-year-old 2008 Olympic 1500m champion, revealed: “I feel at home here, it’s excellent for me.
“Now, I will go back home to train and compete at the Kenyan trials, and in Europe, my next race will be in Monaco.”
World 100m and 200m silver medallist and 2012 Oslo 200m winner, Murielle Ahoure of the Ivory Coast strode ahead to capture the 100m in a fast 11.03 from Jamaica’s double Olympic 200m champion and four-time world champion, Veronica Campbell-Brown (11.08 season’s best).
The 27-year-old recorded a fine 10.81 lifetime best in Eugene last month and said: “It was too chilly and windy to get a fast time, though I was happy with my execution of the race.”
On the in-field, Germany’s European indoor and outdoor champion, Christina Schwanitz followed up her win in Birmingham four days earlier with another shot put victory.
The 29-year-old’s best effort was 20.14m and was almost metre further than the rest of the field.
Schwanitz revealed: “I missed the meeting record by just 12cm, I wanted it. It was a nice competition in an excellent stadium and atmosphere. We just lost our rhythm when we were stopped for 20minutes.
“I need more pressure from the others and I’m trying to prepare for when Valerie (Adams) returns.”
Steven Gardiner of the Bahamas caused a stir in the 400m with an impressive 44.64 lifetime best to cross the line first and by a comfortable margin.
The 19-year-old – who only began competing in 2013 – is enjoying a steep progression curve this summer and his performance in Oslo represented his IAAF Diamond League debut.
The young star divulged: “I’m excited – this is my first time in Europe and in the series, everything is awesome here.
“I did not expect to run such a fast time, I still consider myself a newcomer. Next, I hope to qualify for the world championships.”
Colombia’s Caterine Ibarguen extended her winning streak to 25 competitions, in claiming the top spot in the triple jump.
The 31-year-old world champion leapt 14.68m to continue her fine form which has also recently captured wins in Shanghai and Eugene for the Olympic silver medallist.
The winner revealed: “Now I have 25 wins in a row and I want to continue that for as long as possible. Today, it was difficult with the wind but I am happy because this was my first meet in Europe this season.
“Next, I will compete in Paris and I hope to win the Diamond League series and the World Championships.”
In the 3,000m steeplechase, 22-year-old African champion, Jarius Kipchoge Birech replicated his win from Shanghai with a comfortable 8:05.63 victory with a six-second winning-margin.
He later said: “I wanted to run under 8-minutes but the wind was too tough and the pacemakers slow.
“My main goal this season is to confirm my place as world number one and also run under 8-minutes.”
European silver medallist, Christophe Lemaitre celebrated his 25th birthday in style by claiming the 200m in a 20.21 season’s best.
The Frenchman – who was the runner-up in Rome – revealed: “I could have run faster but it was cold and I felt the wind.
“You should see the best of me in Beijing – I want to win a medal there and I will try in both sprints.”
Israel’s Marharyta Dorozhon produced a shock performance in claiming the javelin with a 64.56m national record.
The 27-year-old improved her 63.85m best from her win in Ostrava last month and won by 20cm in Oslo.
She exclaimed: “It’s very special to win here – I still don’t consider myself as a world championship favourite after my recent food performances – I must confirm it more times.
In the discus, Poland’s European bronze medallist, Robert Urbanek went one place better than he did in Shanghai and Eugene, with a 63.85m victory. The 28-year-old was in dominant form, taking the win by over a metre and a half.
Urbanek saidd: “I was hoping throw 66-67m but the wind did not help at all. It waved in circles and it was tough to find the best way to help the discus fly. I can think now about a medal in Beijing.”
