Stockholm Diamond League gives us a taste of what's to come in Daegu

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Women's 800m

Kenia Sinclair

Kenia Sinclair was ready to go, making the rabbit work to get ahead of her and being the only woman who decided to stay with the rabbit, hitting the half-way mark at 56.86 with the rest of the field a full second behind. She didn't let up, powering home in a season’s best 1:58.21, over a second and a half ahead of second-place finisher Malika Akkaoui (MAR, 1:59.75).

American Alice Schmidt (2008 Olympian) finished a solid 4th, while 2011 U.S. Champion Alysia Montano had an off day, finishing in 6^th. Even more puzzling (or maybe not, with all the recent controversy?) was Caster Semenya’s second-to-last place finish, causing her to relinquish her Diamond League lead to Sinclair.

Women's 100m

The ladies powered into a 2.4 m/s wind, and Carmelita Jeter came out the victor in 11.15, a very impressive time considering the conditions. Women Talk Sports member Marshevet Myers was not far behind in 11.21, holding off Kerron Stewart of Jamaica (11.27). This victory allowed Jeter to break her tie with Veronica Campbell-Brown (JAM) for the Diamond League lead in the 100m. Campbell-Brown did not compete at Stockholm today.

Women's 400m Hurdles

Kaliese Spencer

Kaliese Spencer, who was fourth at the 2009 World Championships, threw herself into medal contention today, beating fellow Jamaican Melaine Walker, who is the reigning World and Olympic Champion, Olympic record holder and the second-fastest 400m hurdler of all time.

Spencer's final burst of speed following the tenth hurdle put her countrywoman away, and she crossed the line in a meet record 53.74, just outside the 2011 world best.

Women's 5000m

Kenya's Vivan Cheruiyot sent a message to her rivals today, putting on a one-woman show in the 5000m. Cheruiyot was the only woman to follow the rabbit, who was running just off world record pace, and by 2400m had a lead of about 50 meters. She continued to extend her lead, reducing the race behind her to a race for second place.

Cheruiyot, the defending World Champion, powered home to a 2011 world leader and personal best 14:20.89. Her 66-second final lap looked fast but under control; there definitely seemed to be something left in the tank, to be used when challenged by the Ethiopians in the closing meters of the 5000m final at the World Championships in Daegu in a month.

Meanwhile, back in the chase pack, Shalane Flanagan and Sally Kipyego switched leads, as we've seen them do since their college days, with Kipyego taking the lead from Flanagan for the last time with one lap to go, and putting several seconds on her in the final 400 meters to run 14:43.87. Flanagan faded just a bit and was passed by Kenya's Sylvia Kibet for third. Flanagan's 14:46.80 was her third 5K this season that has been within a handful of seconds of the American Record (14:44.76, held by Molly Huddle).

Shout out to Women Talk Sports member Lauren Fleshman for running a season's best 15:27.30, as she continues to fight her way back to the top after dealing with an injury this spring.

Women's Pole Vault

Russia's Yelena Isinbayeva insisted she was going to prove she is still the best vaulter in the world today, and she did, though it wasn't pretty. Isinbayeva made her second attempt at 4.64 meters with some luck, hitting the bar and causing it to wobble pretty good before settling back in place. American record holder Jenn Suhr was visibly frustrated when she missed her final attempt at 4.76 meters, leaving Isinbayeva to take the win in a relatively unimpressive fashion (her PR and World Record is 5.06m). Nonetheless, it was certainly a happy day for the world record holder, who no-heighted in Lignano and two days later had to pull out of Lucerne because of a hand injury she refused to give details about other than to say, "I hurt my hand by falling."

For complete results of today's meet, CLICK HERE.

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• Track & Field
• Sports

This post is related to events on our Calendar:

• IAAF World Track and Field Championships - Daegu, Korea
• Diamond League - Stockholm

This post is related to an ongoing story:

• Road to Daegu 2011

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