Silesia Diamond League -Kamila Skolimowska Memorial Recap
Two world records, by Jacob Ingebrigsten and Armand Duplantis were set at the WANDA Silesia Diamond League, the 2024 Kamila Skolimowska Memorial, on Sunday, August 25.
Men's 3000:
Two-time Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen broke the 3000 metres world record with 7:17.55 improving Daniel Komen’s previous time by more three seconds. Komen set the previous world record of 7:20.67 in Rieti in 1996. Berihu Aregawi finished second setting the Ethiopian record and the third fastest time in history with 7:21.28. Yomif Kejelcha took third place with 7:28.44 ahead of Telahun Haile Bekele (7:30.97), Ronald Kwemoi (7:31.57).
Ingebrigtsen ran the final 1000 metres in 2:22.34 and the last last lap in 55.47
Jakob Ingebrigtsen: “It feels special, amazing. I was hoping to challenge the world record, but based on my training, I can never predict exactly what kind of time I am am capable of. I would not have imagined I could run 7:17, though. At the beginning the pace felt really fast, but then I started to feel my way into the race. After 4-5 laps you feel the lactic acid, but you need to get going. The conditions were very difficult with the heat, but it is the same for everyone, I have a good team We use ice vests, we make sure I stayed hydrated and I am prepared."
Men’s pole vault:
Armand Mondo Duplantis broke his own world record adding one cm to his previous mark with 6.26m. Duplantis set the 10th world record of his career.
Duplantis has set the world record for the third time this year and for the second time in the Diamond League circuit.
Duplantis had a clean sheet at 5.62m, 5.92m and 6.00m in his first attempt before clearing the world record mark of 6.26m at the second time of asking.
Armand Duplantis: “It almost feels weird and unnatural to get so much love and support from the crowd when I compete. I see that especially in Poland. The energy in this stadium just keeps getting better every year. My first world record also came in Poland, indoors in Poland, so I have great memories from here. The track here is wonderful, the conditions were perfect. Everything just came together to allow me to do this. I know a lot of people came here to see me jump, so I wanted to put in a good show for them. This year I focused on the Olympics. The records just came naturally because I was in good shape. So I am not surprised with the record today, but I am thankful."
Olympic silver medallist Sam Kendricks cleared 6.00m reaching this height for the first time since 2020. Kendricks cleared all heights until 5.82m in his first attempt before jumping 5.92m and 6.00m in his second attempt. The US vaulter failed three attempts at the US record height of 6.08m.
A few minutes later Emmanouil Karalis cleared the 6.00 metres height for the first time in his career in his third attempt. KC Lightfoot improved his seasonal best to 5.92m in his first attempt to finish fourth. Ernest John Obiena took fifth place with 5.82m.
For the first time in history three athletes cleared the 6.00m barrier in the same competition.
Women’s 400 metres hurdles:
Femke Bol won her fourth Diamond League race this season improving Viktoriya Tkachuk’s meeting record with 52.13. Bol set two more meeting records during this Diamond League season in London with 51.30 and Lausanne with 52.25.
Olympic silver medallist Anna Cockrell finished second in 52.88 ahead of Jamaican hurdlers Rushell Clayton (53.11), Shiann Salmon (53.15), Janieve Russell (53.59) and Andrenette Knight (53.68).
Femke Bol: “The meeting is amazing. The crowd is so loud. I love coming here. The Olympics were tough, but I was able to come back to training afterwards and I still feel pretty good. I would have liked to run a 51 time today, but it is a win and a meeting record, so I have to be happy with the race. The hot weather today did not bother me too much. It was actually not as back on the track as it is here in the stands. It also meant I did not need as much warm-up as usual. I have two more races to go before the end of the season, then it is time for a vacation. We will also reflect on the season with my coach and decide on what to do to improve this year."
Men’s 200 metres:
Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo won his third Diamond League race of the season in 19.83 three days after his victory in Lausanne in 19.64. Alexander Ogando from Dominican Republic pulled away from Tebogo in the first half of the race. Tebogo had to dig deep to clinch the win on the finish-line. Ogando improved his national record by 0.05 to 19.86 to finish second. Olympic silver medallist Kenneth Bednarek took third place with 2.00m ahead of Erriyon Knighton (20.07) and Kyree King (20.27).
Letsile Tebogo: “My momentum was bad. That is something I have to work on. At the finish I did not even think I won the race, but it is a good victory. In the Diamond League finals I need to fire on all cylinders. Overall the season has been amazing. After the Olympics I wanted to just have fun in the remaining meetings."
Men’s 100 metres:
Olympic bronze medallist Fred Kerley won the men’s 100 metres equalling Ronnie Baker’s previous meeting record with 9.87 in a non-Diamond League scoring event. Kerley edged African record holder Ferdinand Omanyala, who set his second fastest time this season with 9.88. World indoor bronze medallist Ackeem Blake finished third in 9.89 beating 2021 Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs (9.93).
Fred Kerley: “I really cannot complain. I had some ups and downs this year. Winning that bronze medal in Paris really means a gold for me. Up to the next one. The 100m is very competitive and I love all these guys. It is definitely one of the most competitive events. The venue is nice. I came here and the conditions are even better now and I came out with the win. I hope to end a season with a PB."
Women’s 100 metres:
Twenty-year-old Jamaican sprinter Tia Clayton won a close neck and neck women’s 100 metres race in 10.83 beating Marie Josée Ta Lou from Ivory Coast with the the same time. Tamari Davis took third place in 10.84 ahead of Daryll Neita (11.01) and Patrizia Van der Weken and Ewa Swoboda, who clocked the same time of 11.03.
Tia Clayton: “Going into this race, I just wanted to try my best, without any specific expectations. After the Olympics I trained even harder than before. I did not go back home, I am staying in Lignano (Italy). I am still in good shape and I intend to race a couple more times before the season is over."
Men’s 400 metres hurdles:
World record holder Karsten Warholm won the non-Diamond League scoring men’s 400 metres hurdles race setting the meeting record with 46.95 in a race where five men broke the 48 seconds barrier. The previous meeting record was set by Alison Dos Santos with 47.80 in 2022.
Clement Ducos from France, fourth at the Olympic Games in Paris, finished second improving his PB to 47.42. Abderrahman Samba from Qatar took third place in 47.69 ahead of Roshawn Clarke (47.74) and Rasmus Magi (47.97).
Karsten Warholm: “I wanted to do this race well before the Diamond League final, so it feels nice to come out and to see the momentum going after the Olympics. It has been tough getting up after such a big competition, but today I felt good. After the Olympics it is even worse if you get gold medal. I have done that before as well. So many things happen afterwards, but I am starting to get used to it."
Women’s 100 metres hurdles:
This year’s Jamaican champion Ackera Nugent won the women’s 100 metres hurdles in 12.29, 0.01 seconds faster than the meeting record she set in the heats with 12.30. The 22-year-old Jamaican hurdler beat NCAA champion Grace Stark (12.37), world champion Danielle Williams and Olympic gold medallist Masai Russell, who shared the same time of 12.40. Alaysha Johnson finished fifth in 12.42 beating Olympic silver medallist Cyrena Samba Mayela (12.47), Nadine Visser (12.49), Kendra Harrison (12.52) and Tonea Marshall (12.76).
Ackera Nugent: “This is my first year of competing as a professional. I feel grateful to just be able to compete against the great ladies. I am just getting used to running on the circuit. Coming here to compete against all the best in the best athletes in the world, on one hand I did not expect to win, on the other I knew I just have to execute well and do everything that is under my control. I do not know what is to come for me next season."
Men’s 110 metres hurdles:
Olympic champion Grant Holloway avenged his defeat to Rasheed Broadbell in Lausanne with a close win in the men’s 110 metres hurdles in 13.04. Holloway held off Broadbell (13.05). Daniel Roberts took third place in 13.24 ahead of Cordell Tinch (13.29).
Grant Holloway: “The pressure is off my shoulders, now that I am the Olympic champion. I just want to go out there and have fun. I had a better race than I did in Lausanne. I got some feedback after that race and I know what I have to work on. It has been a long season, but I think I can attack the world record."
Men’s 800 metres:
World champion and Olympic silver medallist Marco Arop won the men’s 800 metres breaking the meeting record with 1:41.86. Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi finished second in 1:43.23 ahead of world indoor champion Bryce Hoppel (1:43.32), Belgium’s Elliot Crestan (1:43.48), Wyclffe Kinyamal (1:43.54) and European champion Gabriel Tual from France and Max Burgin from Great Britain, who finished sixth and seventh with 1:43.73.
Marco Arop: “Finally I got the win. I think it is my first win over Wanyonyi since last year at the World Championships, so it a good race. It was a fast track and an amazing atmosphere. I managed to run fast. I just wanted to see how fast I could go. The pacing was perfect. I stayed in lane 1 this time, so that helped a little bit. I am just glad I am able to step on the line and to be able to compete. It was not hard. I ran the best race of my life. I am going to run the 1000m in Zagreb and I want to try to break the world record. I will be back to Brussels for the Diamond League finals. The world record is definitely going to go."
Women’s 400 metres:
Olympic and world champion Marileidy Paulino remained undefeated in the Diamond League this season by winning her fifth consecutive women’s 400 metres race with a meeting record with 48.66. Oympic silver medallist Selwa Naser finished second with 49.23 ahead of European champion Natalia Kacmarek (49.95) and Rhasidat Adeleke (50.00).
Marileidy Paulino: “This season, I worked really hard for the Olympic Games, but I still want to win every race until the end of the season. I really did not have much time to recover after the Olympics, but the conditions are good and the crowd is amazing."
Men’s shot put:
Olympic silver medallist Joe Kovacs won his second Diamond League competition of the season with 22.14m following his victory in Eugene with a world seasonal lead of 23.13m. Three-time Olympic champion Ryan Crouser produced a throw of 22.12m in the fifth round, but Kovacs responded with 22.14m a few minutes later. There were no changes in the Final 3. Crouser threw again beyond the 22 metres barrier with 22.08m in the sixth round, but it was not enough to snatch the win.
Kovacs, who won the Diamond League Trophy last year in Eugene, produced four more throws of 21.51m, 22.06m, 21.54m and 21.90m.
Joe Kovacs: “This is one of my favourite meets especially because the Polish people know the throws. There is such a history here. It is really one of the best places to throw because when the ball lands on the 22 metres, people in the stands know what it means thanks to the history. I am glad I got the 22 metres throw, pushed Crouser back and forth. I have my family here, with my twin babies. They are going to be two years in October, so it is certainly challenging but it just makes me feel it is worth it. We are going to stay here one extra day and then heading to the Rome Diamond League."
Leonardo Fabbri threw 22.03 in the fourth round to take third place. Fabbri produced two more valid throws of 21.38m and 21.64m.
Payton Otterdahl finished fourth with 20.95m ahead of Cornell Chukwebuka (20.93m).
Women’s 1500 metres:
Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji followed her win in the 3000 metres win in Lausanne with a victory in the 1500m in 3:57.08 ahead of Freweyni Hailu (3:57.88), Olympic bronze medallist Georgia Bell from Great Britain (3:58.11), Melissa Courtney Bryant from Great Britain (3:59.55), Sarah Healy from Ireland (3:59.65), Claudia Kazimierska from Poland (3:59.95) and Susan Ejore (3:59.97).
Men’s 3000 metres steeplechase:
Double Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali won his second men’s 3000 metres steeplechase race of the season with a seasonal best of 8:04.29. El Bakkali edged Amos Serem with the same time in a very close photo-finish. Samuel Firewu took third place setting a PB of 8:04.34. Abraham Kibiwot took fourth place in 8:08.21 ahead of Daniel Arce from Spain (8:08.45).
Men’s high jump:
Gianmarco Tamberi bounced back from his Olympic disappointment due to physical issues by winning the men’s high jump with 2.31m. Tamberi needed three attempts at his opening height at 2.18m before clearing 2.22m in his first attempt and 2.26m in the second time of asking. He failed his first attempt at 2.29m and decided to skip directly to 2.31m which he cleared at the second time of asking. Tamberi made two attempts at 2.38m before raising the bar to 2.40m for his final attempt. He was not able to clear this height, but he won his first Diamond League competition of the season. Jamaica’s Romaine Beckford finished second with 2.29m beating Oleh Doroshchuk from the Ukraine and Sanghyeok Woo on countback. Olympic champion Hamish Kerr cleared 2.18m in his first attempt but he failed three times at 2.22m and finished ninth.
Gianmarco Tamberi: “After the Olympics I felt destroyed. I was like losing somebody dear. For three years I put everything I could into defending my title, only to lose the chance. At least I showed up, even though I was not at my best, I tried my best. It will take time to find myself again after Paris. The fans will help me. They helped me with their warmth and support. In five days Rome is coming up."
Men’s hammer throw:
World and Olympic champion Ethan Katzberg won the men’s hammer throw with 80.03m in the second attempt. Katzberg came close to the 80 metres barrier against with 79.98m in the sixth round. Mykhaylo Kokhan took second place with 79.85m ahead of Wojech Nowicki (78.05m).
Women’s hammer throw:
Double world champion Brooke Andersen claimed the win in the women’s hammer throw with 76.19m in the third round beating Hanna Skydan (71.82m), Janee Kassanavoid (70.55m), Annette Echikunwoke (70.52m) and Sara Fantini (70.39m).
Women’s javelin throw:
European silver medallist Adriana Vilagos from Serbia won her first ever Diamond League competition with a national record of 65.60m in the first round. Vilagos backed up this result with a second best mark of 65.07m. Olympic silver medallist Jo-Ane Van Dyk took second place with 62.81m ahead of Nikola Ogrodnikova (61.84m).
Women’s triple jump:
Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts claimed the win with a first-round jump of 14.50m. Leyanis Perez Hernandez took second place with 14.42m in the second round. Olympic finalist Dariya Derkach from Italy leapt to 14.02m to take the third place ahead of Olympic bronze medallist Jasmine Moore (13.84) and Ackelia Smith (13.78m).
