Usain Bolt continues to deliver as expected. The triple Olympic champion and world record holder won his 50th sub-10 race in 9.95, at tonight’s Diamond League meet, in Monaco.
His 50th sub-10 second race is no mean feat, but Bolt appeared race rusty only week’s away from the World Championships. USA’s Isiah Young pushed him all the way, who to finish second in 9.98.
South Africa’s Akani Simbine finished third in 10.02, just hundredths of a second ahead of GB’s Cj Ujah, also in 10.02.
The headline race of the night gained wide interest earlier this week, with Canada’s De Grasse claiming Bolt has blocked his participation in the event. De Grasse instead raced in Monaco as part of the Canadian 4x100m relay team in an unofficial Diamond League race.
In the women’s 3000m Hellen Obiri’s goal was clear from the start – she wasn’t going to be beat. The Kenyan dominated a strong field that included Britian’s Laura Muir to win in 8:23.14, a world lead time.
Obiri’s early fast pace encouraged a string of PB’s from her challengers, including personal best times for Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech in 8:28.26, followed by Britian’s Laura Muir and Eilish McColgan, in 8:30.64 and 8:31.39 respectively. McColgan has now surpassed her mother Liz’s personal best of 8:38.23.
Olympic champion Wayde van Niekerk was challenged throughout the men’s 400m, but his strength told over the last 50m as he pulled away to claim the win in 43.73, a meet record. Botswana’s Isaac Makwala finished closely behind in 43.84.
In the women’s 400m, USA’s Kori Carter took the victory in 53.36, with Britian’s Eilidh Doyle finishing fourth in 54.75.
In the men’s 1500m, Kenya’s Elijah Manangoi took the win in 3:28.80, followed by compatriots Timothy Cheruiyot in 3:29.10 and Ronald Kwemoi in 3:32.34.
Chris O’Hare finished 7th in 3:33.61, a new personal best for the British athlete. Rio Olympic champion, Matthew Centrowitz of the USA finished 9th in 3:34.43
In a strong women’s 800m field, numerous records were broken, beginning with Olympic champion Caster Semenya setting a new South African record, winning in 1:55.27. National records were also broken by second placed Francine Nyonsaba of Burundi, and third placed Ajee Wilson of the USA in 1:55.61.
GB’s Lynsey Sharp finished 6th in 1:58.01, a season best time.
In the women’s 200m Ivorian Marie-Josee Ta Lou won in 22.25. Britian’s Dina Asher-Smith continued her return from injury to finish strongly in 22.89, to take third place.
Kenya’s Emmanuel Korir won the men’s 800m in 1:43.10, with Britian’s Ellliot Giles in 9th in 1:46.10.
In the women’s 110m hurdles, Kendra Harrison pipped her fellow American Sharika Nelvis, to win in 12.51. Jamaica’s Danielle Williams completed the top three.
Poland’s Piotr Lisek won the pole vault, with a winning vault of 5.82m.
In the final event of the night, USA’s Evan Jager dominated the 3000m steeplechase field to win in 8:01.31.