Thompson eclipses Lyles and Hodgkinson makes stellar comeback
A host of world and Olympic champions headlined by the likes of Karsten Warholm – with an incredible performance in the 400m hurdles – Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis, Faith Kipyegon and Femke Bol shone in hot and humid conditions in front of more than 40,000 fans in the Polish city of Chorzow.
In their first meeting since Lyles won Olympic gold by just five-thousandths of a second in Paris last year, Thompson made an electric start and led from gun to tape for victory in 9.87sec.
"My job is to get the job done," said Thompson.
"I enjoyed competition against Noah today... nobody is perfect, but I am working on improving my strengths and improving on my weaknesses.
"Paris last year was a big learning factor. I learned it is me against myself."
Lyles had to be content with second in 9.90sec as the athletes fine-tune preparations for the September 13-21 world championships in Tokyo.
"It makes me really excited for not only today, but also for next week and Tokyo," the American said.
"The more I run, the better I am getting. I get more excited each day and it is working. I need to keep competing."
There was a timely return for Hodgkinson as the 23-year-old Briton showed no sign of the lingering hamstring problems that had sidelined her for months as she clocked 1min 54.74sec, the fastest in the world this year.
"I was just happy to step on the track after more than a year," Hodgkinson said.
"I planned to run a fast time because I don't have five races anymore before Tokyo, I only have today and the meeting in Lausanne next week. So it had to be fast and I'm happy that it worked."
Kenya's serial world record breaker Kipyegon missed out on the long-standing world record in the women's 3,000m.
Six weeks after improving her own world 1,500m record in Eugene, Kipyegon clocked 8:07.04 over the non-Olympic distance, falling just short of the 8:06.11 world record set by China's Wang Junxia in 1993.
"I am so happy. I wanted to run a longer distance," Kipyegon said. "It is all about Tokyo now, but Tokyo is a championship race, so anything can happen!"
Warholm looked in astonishing form in the 400m hurdles after a two-month training block at home in Norway, timing a world-leading time of 46.28sec.
It was the third fastest time ever run over the distance, topped only by the Norwegian's own world record of 45.94sec and American Rai Benjamin's 46.19sec.
"That race was great! I had great rhythm and speed throughout," said Warholm.
Dutch star Femke Bol comfortably extended her six-race win streak in the women's 400m hurdles this year with victory in 51.91sec – another world-leading time.
Duplantis, fresh from setting his 13th pole vault world record with 6.29m in Budapest on Tuesday, failed to hit those heights but secured victory in 6.10m, having failed three attempts at 6.20.
World leader Melissa Jefferson-Wooden equalled Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce's meet record when she clocked 10.66sec for an impressive victory in the women's 100m.
World champion Sha'Carri Richardson could only finish sixth after a troubled few weeks following her arrest for a violent altercation with her partner.
Jamaica's two-time world champion Shericka Jackson claimed the honours in the 200m in 22.17sec as she powers back to form.
Cordell Tinch left it late, but the in-form American powered past three-time world champion Grant Holloway for a third victory this season in the 110m hurdles in 13.03sec.
Olympic champion Masai Russell came out on top of a stacked field in the 100m hurdles in a Diamond League record of 12.19sec ahead of American teammate Tonea Marshall.
"This win is very important to me because these are the women I'm going to be racing against at the world champs," said Russell.
Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic edged Bahrain's Salwa Eid Naser for victory in 49.18sec in the women's 400m and Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay outpaced Kenya's Beatrice Chebet for the win in the women's 1500m in 3:50.62. — AFP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Malaysia's world title charge is 'well and alive'
KUALA LUMPUR: National men's doubles head coach Herry IP has declared that Malaysia's title charge is "well and alive" ahead of the Paris World Championships from August 25–31. Herry believes in what the Malaysian shuttlers are capable of, having guided Indonesia to five men's doubles world titles. "I am hopeful that our players can rise to the occasion and overcome the challenges ahead. There is a chance (to win a second world title)," said Herry. "Although the draw is tough, especially with three Malaysian pairs stacked in the same half and potential early clashes between our pairs, we can still progress." However, they face a tricky third-round clash against compatriots Wan Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King before a projected quarter-final meeting with either Aaron-Wooi Yik could run into compatriots and world No. 3 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzudin Rumsani in the semi-finals, World No. 7 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun also face a major test, with a likely quarter-final against South Korea's world No. 1 Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae. Meanwhile, former world No. 1 Tan Boon Heong has backed Aaron-Wooi Yik to go all the way, citing their strong track record at major events, including their bronze at the 2024 Olympics, held at the same Adidas Arena where the World Championships will be staged. He believes that Aaron-Wooi Yik's main threats, Olympic silver medallists Wei Keng-Wang Chang are not in good form. "It's definitely possible for Aaron–Wooi Yik to win a second world title. In major tournaments, they play with more confidence. And they've already won two Olympic medals. They can handle that kind of pressure," said Boon Heong. "The China pair's form has declined, and even the Indian pair aren't at their strongest right now. "I still consider it a favourable draw. But when the draw looks easy, it can play tricks and it's easy to lose focus. Mistakes will happen, they just have to stay sharp." Aaron-Wooi Yik have been on a good run, winning three titles: the Asian Championships, Thailand and Singapore Opens. With the legendary Herry guiding them, things are falling in place for Aaron-Wooi Yik to nail the world title on Merdeka Day.
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Barred Russians spar with pro shuttlers led by Wee Kiong
Russian national coach Victor Malyutin. PETALING JAYA: Nearly three years without competitive action has not dampened the spirit of the Russian national badminton players, who have chosen Malaysia as their training base. A total of 12 players began training in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, with the doubles shuttlers based in Sri Petaling, sparring with professional players under the guidance of Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallist Tan Wee Kiong. The singles players, meanwhile, are training at Sports Affairs in Cheras alongside para badminton star Cheah Liek Hou and former world junior champion Goh Jin Wei. For Russia's national coach Victor Malyutin, the stint is part of efforts to keep his players fit and motivated as they are still barred from competing internationally following the Badminton World Federation's (BWF) suspension of Russia in 2023. The ban came in the wake of the political crisis triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. 'Malaysia is a great badminton country with players of a very high level. We also have good contacts here, so it is comfortable and convenient for us to come. 'We chose to train here because we are unable to compete in international tournaments at the moment. For us, this is a valuable experience and good practice. 'We brought eight players, including singles and four doubles players. Among them are Alina Davletova, the 2021 European mixed doubles champion, and Evgenia Kosetskaya, the 2019 European Championships women's singles silver medallist," said Mlyutin when met at Sri Petaling, Kuala Lumpur on Monday (18 Aug). He also sees the opportunity for his players to spar with several professionals as a good test of their abilities after being out of the international circuit for so long. During the ban, only domestic tournaments in Russia have served as their platform to hone their skills. So far, only two players – Rodion Alimov and Maksim Ogloblin – were cleared in June to compete in BWF-sanctioned tournaments as individual neutral athletes pada Jun lalu. 'I hope all these issues can be resolved so that our Russian players will be able to return to international tournaments. 'For our training here, we have Tan Wee Kiong, an Olympic medallist, and others. They are great players and very strong, so we are trying to do our best. 'Wee Kiong is also helping me run the training sessions, which is a big plus. It's very good for us and we are trying to make the most of this opportunity,' added Malutin.
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Can Zii Jia survive early rounds in Paris?
KUALA LUMPUR: The straight-talking Tan Boon Heong has raised questions over Lee Zii Jia's competitiveness at the Paris World Championships from Aug 25-31. Boon Heong, a former world No.1 doubles with Koo Kien Keat, said: "Men's singles... that's a question mark. A big question mark. "We don't really know what Zii Jia's form is like right now." The unseeded Zii Jia is unpredictable and is known for crashing out in the early rounds of tournaments on the World Tour. However, Boon Heong also said that the enigmatic Zii Jia is capable of delivering something special if he shows no signs of rustiness in his first two matches in Paris. The independent shuttler is now ranked world No 52 after dropping out of the top 10 after he was sidelined for several months by injury. Zii Jia faces South Korea's world No. 38 Jeon Hyeok Jin in the first round, and if the Malaysian advances, he is likely to meet China's world No. 4 Li Shi Feng in the second round. "He hasn't competed in quite a while, so he definitely needs to regain that match feeling. That's why the first and second round matches will be very important. "If he can get a breakthrough there, then maybe he can go far, he can deliver something special," said Boon Heong. Zii Jia, who won an Olympic bronze medal at the same Paris venue last year, holds a 3-1 head-to-head record against Hyeok Jin but trails 4-2 against Shi Feng. Zii Jia has often proved critics wrong when his back is against the wall, and he looks capable of beating the inconsistent Shi Feng in their projected second round. Zii Jia, whose , could face another Chinese challenger, world No. 11 Lu Guang Zu, in the third round. A win there could spark a dream run for Zii Jia, leading to a potential quarter-final showdown with Japan's world No. 8 Kodai Naraoka, and closer to medal range. Zii Jia has not won a worlds medal, with a quarter-final finish in Huelva, Spain in 2021 being his best showing to date.
