A nation expected, and just as it had been at the Tokyo Olympics, Karsten Warholm and Jakob Ingebrigtsen delivered. At the Bislett Games, a Wanda Diamond League meeting, in Oslo on Thursday night (15), the Norwegian pair stamped their class, showed their supremacy, blasting to times that make the very idea of defeat this season seem highly improbable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Warholm ripped around the historic old stadium in his typically reckless fashion, smashing his own Diamond League record with a world-leading 46.52 for the 400m hurdles, while Ingebrigtsen utilised his usual, almost imperceptible, wind-it-up approach to slowly suffocate his rivals, coming home in a European 1500m record of 3:27.95. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both might have surrendered their global titles in their specialist events last year, but on this evidence, it will take something seismic to stop either reclaiming them in August, with each producing their best ever performance outside a major championship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Warholm may as well have been racing the 110m hurdles, given the way he rocketed around the first bend, raising a laugh from the stadium commentator at how quickly he\u2019d gobbled up the stagger on the athlete outside him. He was foot-perfect thereafter, reaching slightly into the final barriers before turning on the jets to hit the line in 46.52, the fourth-quickest time in history, and his fourth time under 47 seconds. It means he now holds three of the five fastest times in history. USA\u2019s CJ Allen followed him home in a PB of 47.58, while France\u2019s Wilfried Happio took third with 48.13. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cToday shows in the right circumstances, I can really attack the world record, maybe even this year,\u201d said Warholm. \u201cIt really sucked to be out injured last year and I wanted to make sure I came back with a big boom. I’ve worked really hard to get back to this level.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The experience of running like he did in front of his home fans is one he won\u2019t forget. \u201cWhen you’re on the track, you’re in the bubble, but I really felt the crowd lift me in the home straight,\u201d he said. \u201cThe adrenaline was really pumping.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the men\u2019s 1500m, the talk of a possible world record attempt was off the table long before Ingebrigtsen toed the line. The requested split at 800m was 1:52 (3:30 pace), signalling Ingebrigtsen was likely feeling the effects of his two-mile world best in Paris last week. Though the lesson there \u2013 and here \u2013 was worth remembering: no one can negative split quite like the Norwegian. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In front of packed stands, with a wall of sound following him around the track, Ingebrigtsen passed 800m behind the pacers, who split 1:51.68. Ingebrigtsen was left alone at the front just after 1000m, but instead of pushing things along, he simply maintained, passing 1200m in 2:46.91 and allowing his rivals a sliver of hope as they gathered in his slipstream with 200m to go. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But then he changed gears and, boy, was this impressive, the 22-year-old powering to the line in 3:27.95 to break his own European record. Next in was Spain\u2019s Mohamed Katir (3:28.89), with Yared Nuguse setting a North American record of 3:29.02 in third. Kenya’s 2019 world champion Timothy Cheruiyot was just behind in fourth (3:29.08) in a race where eight men broke 3:30 for the first time in history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe race went as expected: running by myself as usual and the crowd was amazing,\u201d said Ingebrigtsen. \u201cI know that I was able to run fast like in Paris. That’s what it’s all about \u2013 not what you do in training or say you’re going to do but actually running fast in the races. I 100% have more left in me. I just have to keep focused on each race ahead in the build up to Budapest, where it really matters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The men\u2019s 5000m produced a captivating head-to-head clash between Ethiopia\u2019s Yomif Kejelcha and Uganda\u2019s Jacob Kiplimo, with both dipping for the line together after 12 and a half hard-fought laps, and both clocking 12:41.73. Kejelcha got the verdict by three thousandths of a second. His time was a meeting record, world lead and PB. Back in third, Ethiopia\u2019s Telahun Haile Bekele set a PB of 12:46.21.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI expected the finish to be like this, a fight until the end, but I am glad I got it,\u201d said Kejelcha. \u201cIt was always my dream to win this event. Now, my next dream is Monaco, and then to become an Olympic champion one day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marie-Josee Ta Lou turned in a fine performance to win the women\u2019s 100m in a world lead of 10.75, with Anthonique Strachan of The Bahamas setting a PB of 10.92 in second and Jamaica\u2019s Shericka Jackson third in 10.98. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Femke Bol continued her dominance on the circuit with a facile win in the 400m hurdles, her 16th consecutive victory. The Dutch star showed her trademark strength over the last two barriers to leave her rivals trailing, hitting the line in a meeting record and world lead of 52.30, close to her PB of 52.03. Jamaica\u2019s Rushell Clayton was next in with 53.84 while Panama\u2019s Gianna Woodruff took third in 54.46.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen it comes to the technique, I think I had a good execution today,\u201d said Bol, who has switched her stride pattern this year, now running with 14 steps (instead of 15) to hurdle seven. \u201cI think it was really a bit better today. I think I executed the last two hurdles much better than before.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wayde van Niekerk showed he\u2019s shaping up well for an attempt at his third world title later this summer by winning the men\u2019s 400m in 44.38, holding off the late surge of Zambia\u2019s Muzala Samukonga (44.49) and USA\u2019s Vernon Norwood (44.51), with Norway\u2019s Havard Bentdal Ingvaldsen setting a national record of 44.86 in fourth. Though the effort clearly took a toll on the brilliant South African, who stumbled his way through the mixed zone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don’t think people realise just how hard this event is both physically and mentally \u2013 you can see how long it takes me to recover so that shows I’m still not where I’m meant to be, but I’m getting there,\u201d said Van Niekerk. \u201cI\u2019m just taking it race by race – I try not to think too far ahead but of course, Budapest is a big goal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ethiopia\u2019s Birke Haylom was a class apart in the Dream Mile, the 17-year-old setting a world U20 record of 4:17.13, which took 0.44 off Zola Budd\u2019s previous mark of 4:17.57, set in 1985. Her time was also a world lead and meeting record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Haylom played a patient game behind the pacemakers as 800m was reached in 2:06.61 and 1200m in 3:10.89 before she unleashed a furious kick to dispatch her senior rivals. She was followed home by USA\u2019s Cory Ann McGee, who clocked a PB of 4:18.11, with Australia\u2019s Jessica Hull setting an Oceanian record of 4:18.24 in third.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beatrice Chebet was a highly impressive winner of the women\u2019s 3000m, leading a Kenyan 1-2-3 with her meeting record, PB and world lead of 8:25.01. She was followed home by Lilian Kasait Rengeruk (8:25.90) and Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Erriyon Knighton showed he\u2019s very much a contender to win his first world title this year with a meeting record of 19.77 (0.6m\/s) to win the men\u2019s 200m, with Cuba\u2019s Reynier Mena second with 20.09 and Liberia\u2019s Joseph Fahnbulleh third with 20.23.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m pleased to take the meeting record from Usain Bolt but I want to make a name for myself at the Diamond League,\u201d said Knighton, who said he faced some challenges after putting on muscle this year. \u201cI need to keep my body strong but I don’t want to be too bulky as I am not used to running like that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mondo Duplantis continued his dominance in the men\u2019s pole vault, soaring over 6.01m to take victory, with USA\u2019s Christopher Nilsen second with 5.91m and Ernest John Obiena of the Philippines third with 5.81m. Duplantis went on to take three attempts at a world lead of 6.12m but none were successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI felt really good, I just had some problems to find the rhythm on the runway, choosing which poles to use,\u201d said Duplantis. \u201cSome poles were a little softer than I expected. I know I have got higher jumps in me and I know I am in a good shape. There are just those little things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yulimar Rojas returned to the Diamond League stage with a victory in the women\u2019s triple jump, though the brilliant Venezuelan cut it fine, her opening effort of 14.91m (2.1m\/s) her best on the night, with Cuba\u2019s Leyanis Perez Hernandez second with a PB of 14.87m and Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk of Ukraine third with 14.75m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was good,\u201d said Rojas, whole sole competition of the year was a 14.96m in Madrid last weekend. \u201cIt was a strange event as I wasn\u2019t able to get longer jumps. I had some faults, which I am not happy about. The best part of today was actually being out here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rojas said she had various problems with her health this year, and missed 15 days of training due to a fall recently. \u201cI couldn\u2019t run, I couldn\u2019t jump or train and this reduced my fitness, but now I\u2019m back and happy and ready to prepare to be better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Poland\u2019s Wojciech Nowicki turned in a stunning performance in the men\u2019s hammer, setting a Diamond League record and world lead of 81.92m, which came in the second round. That handed him a clear victory over USA\u2019s Rudy Winkler (79.42m) with Canada\u2019s Ethan Katzberg third (77.93m).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis competition was very important for me because I finally saw I can come with a really good result,\u201d said Nowicki. \u201cIn the next attempts, I was trying to repeat the big throw but nothing worked like it did in the second attempt. But I started to feel good so I hope when the next competition comes, I can repeat this performance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Canada\u2019s Sarah Mitton fared best in the women\u2019s shot put, her 19.54m in the first round enough to hand her victory ahead of USA\u2019s Maggie Ewen (19.52m) and Jamaica\u2019s Danniel Thomas-Dodd (19.44m). USA\u2019s Chase Ealey and Portugal\u2019s Auriol Dongmo also threw 19.44m and were edged out of the top three on countback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI had a few bad meets and a few people stopped believing in (me) but you know what you are working on and you need to trust,\u201d said Mitton. \u201cI have had a lot of really good training and I knew that it would eventually come together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simon Ehammer of Switzerland showed once again that he is far from a jack of all trades, mastering the field in the men\u2019s long jump to win with a season\u2019s best of 8.32m. USA\u2019s Marquis Dendy was second with 8.26m while Greece\u2019s Miltiadis Tentoglou was third with 8.21m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dutch athlete Jorinde van Klinken edged a close battle in the women\u2019s discus, her fifth-round throw of 66.77m enough to beat USA\u2019s Valarie Allman (66.18m) and Croatia\u2019s Sandra Perkovic, who set a season\u2019s best of 65.26. \u201cI definitely don’t feel content, it was a big shame to have a big throw that was a foul,\u201d said Allman. \u201cI feel I have a really big throw in me this season so I just have to be patient.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cathal Dennehy for World Athletics and the Wanda Diamond League<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n