Day 2 at the Diamond League final

This is Stuart Weir’s feature on the second day of the Diamond League Final, which was held in Brussels on September 14, 2024.

Day 2 at the Diamond League final

Another cold evening did not help the mood at the second evening of the Diamond League final.  If only track and field was a summer sport. The evening began with a special presentation to the Borlee brothers.  I wonder how many relays they have run for Belgian over the years.

The highlight of the evening had to be Gianmarco Tamberi winning the high jump with his third attempt at 2.34 and then running a lap of the track in the wrong direction as the women’s 5000 m was in progress! It just as well that he chose that direction, as he would probably have overtaken Beatrice Chebet!

Ryan Crouser had five throws of over 22m but lost out to Leonardo Fabbri, who threw 22.98 with his first throw and then had three fouls and two 21m throws. Cruel world!

That Faith Kipyegon won the 1500m was no surprise.  What was a surprise was that  Kipyegon (3:54.75) was pushed all the way by Diribe Welteji (3:55.25). That Kipyegon’s time was 5 seconds slower than her winning time in the Paris Diamond League somehow left one thinking this was an end-of-season event with athletes beyond their peak.

Letsile Tebogo was awarded the Jesse Owens Rising Star Award at the Wanda Diamond League Final, recognizing him as the top male athlete aged 23 or under, but Kenneth Bednarek (19.67) spoilt Tebogo’s night by beating him in the 200 in Brussels.

To explain why the Diamond League Final felt a bit flat, let me use the women’s pole vault.  The Olympic women’s pole vault final was a classic.  19 athletes, and the winner, Nina Kennedy, needed to clear six bars to win.  In Brussels, there were just six athletes (plus a Belgian added for local interest, who exited on 4.40), and Kennedy only needed 4 successful clearances to win.  But, hey,  the Brussels competition fitted more easily into the 2-hour TV window – not much of it was shown.

Then there was the mystery of Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone being paid handsomely to run two meaningless races – and scheduling them outside the TV window.