Samsung Diamond League: The top ten moments
Tonight the Samsung Diamond League circus moves on to Zurich, the first of the two official finals in the series. Spikesmag.com takes a look back at ten moments, so far, that have made the competiton sparkle.
Doha - Asafa Powell – It seems a way back to the opening Diamond League meeting, but the Jamaican delivered the perfect early statement of the quality of the series by running a windy (+2.6m/s) 9.75 in the heats in Qatar. Powell may not always deliver in championship finals, but is there a more stylish sprinter in full flight than the former world record holder?
Oslo – David Rudisha – The Kenyan has emerged as a genuine challenger to Wilson Kipketer’s world 800m record and his performance in Oslo showed just why. Rudisha held off the challenge of Sudan’s Abubaker Kaki to win a sensational 1:42.04 – within 0.03 of his African record. Later in the summer the tall Kenyan ran 1:41.51 in Heusden to become the second fastest 800m runner in history – within 0.40 of the great Kipketer.
Rome – Lashinda Demus – The US 400m hurdler is a sublime talent as shown by her world leading 52.82 in Rome. When on form and flying there is no finer sight than Demus. This performance wasn’t the quickest in her career, but once again showed just why many believe she could be the one to smash Yuliya Pechenkina’s world record mark of 52.34.
New York – Teddy Tamgho – The French prodigy gave another hint at his electrifying ability by becoming the third furthest triple jumper in history behind Jonathan Edwards and Kenny Harrison. A jaw-dropping fifth round effort of 17.98m cemented his reputation earned from earlier in the year when he set a world indoor record. Sensational.
New York – Veronica Campbell-Brown – The two-time 200m Olympic champion beat the her arch-rival, the three-time 200m world champion, Allyson Felix in a ferocious match up between the world’s leading half-lap sprinters. Jamaica’s Campbell-Brown edged a stride ahead with 50m to beat her US opponent by 0.05 in a world leading 21.98.
Eugene – Walter Dix – A major surprise as the US sprinter and Olympic bronze medallist inflicted defeat on his countryman Tyson Gay in a close run battle. Gay had only recently returned from injury, but this was no hollow victory. Dix ran a sensational 19.72 – to edge Gay by 0.04.
Eugene – Christian Cantwell – The giant American has proved one of the stars of the inaugural Samsung Diamond League series and he gave a clear demonstration of his dominance here with a mighty world leading performance of 22.41m. Cigar smoking and whisky guzzling he may be, but he remains a formidable opponent.
Paris – David Oliver – One of the stars of the 2010 track and field season, gave his finest performance in the French capital. The 110m hurdler raced to an American record time of 12.89 – within 0.02 of Dayron Robles’ world record – and also became the third fastest man in history. It was far from a flawless race, too, as he clipped a couple of hurdles suggesting there is much more to come.
Stockholm – Tyson Gay – Well, it had to end sometime. Jamaican Usain Bolt lost his two-year unbeaten record inside the stadium where he last tasted defeat and it was somewhat appropriate that Tyson Gay, the world silver medallist and his greatest rival, was the man to beat him. Gay made the better start, Bolt was simply never at the races and the US sprinter won by 0.13 in 9.84. Bolt did end his season abruptly after this race and was far from fully fit, but the psychological impact of Gay’s victory should not be underestimated.
London – Tyson Gay – If Gay had laid down a clear marker to Usain Bolt of his intentions in Stockholm he followed it up in style by posting a world leading time at Crystal Palace. The American exploded out of the blocks and even on a chilly night and running into a slight headwind he set a scintillating 9.78.