With fast times a-plenty, James Rhodes runs through the racing action from last night’s Lausanne Diamond League.

The first big competition after a major championship is always interesting. There can be many unknowns; will the peak performance have passed after focusing so long on the race just gone, or does the upward trajectory continue. Lausanne, the first post-Olympics Diamond League for the third consecutive time (after 2016 and 2021) provided a mixture of both.

So Close, So Far

After two laps of the Lausanne track, Emmanuel Wanyonyi moved one step closer to the history books. The Olympic Champion is now just 0.2s away from becoming the fastest there has ever been. With his 1:41.11, he has moved to the joint-second fastest athlete in history, sitting alongside Wilson Kipketer’s once World Record. Afterwards, he said he was “so happy to have run that crazy time”. Four races, four PBs (excluding the rounds in Paris).

Marco Arop sat behind the pacer, completing the first lap in 49.26, considerably faster than he did in Paris where he ran 1:41.20. However, the Canadian found himself on the outside of lane two on the penultimate bend to pass. He finished second in 1:41.72, the second fastest of his career behind Paris.

Such is the change in the landscape of men’s 800m running this year, 1:42.30 and 1:42.63 for third and fourth seem “slow”. A time not seen all that too often in recent years, yet it is only the 23rd fastest time of the year.

Pieter Sisk, who has acted as a pacemaker at a number of meetings this season, was given a chance to compete himself. He improved his PB to 1:43.48.

Many, Wanyonyi included, go again on Sunday. A second World Record attempt of the week incoming.

Jakob’s Back

If there is one person who loves a Diamond League, it is Jakob Ingebrigtsen. He took to the track for his first 1500m since finishing fourth in Paris, joined by Olympic Champion Cole Hocker.

The pair, plus Hobbs Kessler, sat just off the pacemakers, who – with the support of wavelights – were tasked with bettering Jakob’s World Lead (and European Record) of 3:26.73. The trio were together midway into the final lap. However, Ingebrigtsen did what he does best to move away and finish in 3:27.83 (Meeting Record). That is his third fastest and the 22nd fastest in history.

Hocker was rewarded with his fastest time outside of the Olympics (3:29.85) and he was happy with his performance.

“Considering the overwhelming past two weeks, it was a solid race. Physically I felt comfortable, but mentally, it’s a new challenge being announced as Olympic Champion. I felt the pressure but I’m excited about how things are shaping up”.

Jochem Vermeulen improved the Belgian Record to 3:31.74, finishing sixth, whilst home athlete Dominic Lobalu improved his PB to 3:34.39. George Mills finished thirteenth in 3:36.80.

Ingebrigtsen and Hocker, plus Josh Kerr and Yared Nuguse, are due to race at the Zurich Diamond League (5 September). Ingebrigtsen will race 3000m in Silesia on Sunday.

Photo: James Rhodes

Diribe Delivers

Much attention was focused on Wanyonyi and Ingebrigtsen, but they were not the only ones delivering fast times. Diribe Welteji moved to fourteenth on the all-time list for 3000m, with 8:21.50. Welteji was just three seconds shy of Sifan Hassan’s 8:18.49, the fastest non-1990s-Chinese time on that list.

“I’m very happy with my time. It’s incredible. The conditions here in Lausanne were perfect, truly great to be here. The crowd was big and I heard it a lot when I raced. I was happy at the end”.

It was a good race too, with Tsigie Gebreselama leading for much of it. She finished third (8:24.40 PB) with Janeth Chepngetich second (8:23.48).

Four in the field set PBs, including Revee Walcott-Nolan (8:44.26) who recorded a 17 second improvement.

Photo: James Rhodes

Marvellous Mary

Mary Moraa returned to Lausanne in winning form, taking the 800m in 1:57.91 after a 56.84 first lap for pacemaker Aneta Lemiesz. Nine in the field ran sub-two, including a British two-three. That came thanks to Georgia Bell (1:58.53) and Jemma Reekie (1:58.73). Georgia, whilst noting on social media she had hoped to run faster, continues her fine season. That time is the second fastest 800m of her career, a good continuation after a whirlwind period since winning Olympic bronze. She returns to her specialist 1500m on Sunday.

Photo: James Rhodes

Jemma too noted she was hoping to be faster, but is looking forward to bouncing back from a disappointing Olympics.

“The race was a bit rusty, and I ran slower than I wanted, but it was the first one [post-Olympics] so it was always going to be the hardest. It was tough, but I’m happy to be back. I’m aiming to get closer to my PB from London at as the season wraps up, and I’m excited for what’s ahead”.

She too races in Poland, but over 1000m, where she will be joined by Moraa.

Elsewhere & Looking Forward

Matthew Hudson-Smith won the 400m in 43.96. With a third sub-44 clocking, he now holds the five fastest times in European history. Dina Asher-Smith made a welcome return to form after what she called a disappointing Olympics. She won the 100m in 10.88, only 0.05s shy of her British Record.

The Diamond League continues in Silesia on Sunday afternoon.