PARIS: Bahrain’s Ruth Jebet, who set last year’s Paris meeting alight by sprinting away for a world record in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase just six days after winning gold in the Rio Olympics, could not repeat that performance in balmy conditions at the Stade Charlety and finished fourth at last night’s Diamond League meet in Paris.
Beatrice Chepkoech led home a Kenyan podium sweep in 9:01.69.
Meanwhile, Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson put on the afterburners in the final 20 metres to rack up a convincing victory
Thompson clocked 10.91 seconds to finish ahead of Ivorian Marie-Josee Ta Lou (10.96sec), with Nigerian Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor claiming third (11.09).
The Jamaican’s time was well short of the world’s leading best of 10.71sec she set at last month’s national championships in Kingston, but she looks in good, understated form going into the August 4-13 world championships in London, where she will focus on the blue riband event.
Joy
There was no joy for 41-year-old Kim Collins in the men’s 100m as he was disqualified for a false start. Ivorian Youssef Meite eventually ran out the winner in 9.99sec.
American Sam Kendricks, bronze medallist at the Rio Games, scored a psychological blow over French rival Renaud Lavillenie with victory in the men’s pole vault.
Qatar’s Mutaz Barshim underlined his credentials as current undisputed world number one by winning the men’s high jump with a best of 2.35m, the Olympic silver medallist beating off competition from Ukraine’s Bohdan Bondarenko (2.32m).
Germany’s Olympic champion Thomas Roehler, with a best of 87.23, was upstaged in the men’s javelin by teammate Johannes Vetter (88.74m), with Czech Jakub Vadlejch in second.
There was a similar upset in the men’s 110m hurdles, Jamaica’s Olympic champion Omar McLeod trailing in last in 13.41sec, teammate Ronald Levy claiming a surprise victory in a personal best of 13.05sec.
There were no such troubles for double Olympic champion Christian Taylor, however, the American winning the triple jump with 17.29m from teammate Will Claye (17.18).
The women’s 1500m saw Ethiopian-born Dutch runner Sifan Hassan notch up her third victory of the season in 3:57.10, Kenyan Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon in second at 0.41sec.