Diamond League London - Day 1 Recap

The Aviva Grand Prix (aka Diamond League London) brings us two days of action from the world's greatest athletes. The Crystal Palace has sold out for Saturday's session.

Here's a quick recap of Day 1's (Friday's) events:

Women's Discus 

 Diamond League leader Yarelis Barrios (Cuba) threw far enough (65.62m) with her first attempt to clinch the win before the storms came in.

Men's Pole Vault

Favorites Renaud Lavillenie and Steve Hooker both no-heighted in the stormy conditions, as Poland's Lukasz Michalski came through with a big PB of 5.71m to win. American Derek Miles was second in 5.61m

Women's Long Jump

Russians Darya Klishina and Lyudmila Kochanova tied for the best jump of the day, but Klishina's second best jump was further than Kochanova's, earning her the victory. American Hyleas Fountain was third in 6.57m

Men's 3000m

This race was not aired but Bernard Lagat edged out Britain's Mo Farah 7:40.36 to 7:40.75.

Women's Shot Put

Nadezdha Ostapchuk heaved a final effort of 20.27m to put the nail in the coffin after getting a bit of a scare when Olympic and World Champ Valerie Adams-Vill came within 12cm of her previous lead through of 19.95m.

Women's Javelin

Barbora Spotakova threw 63.50m to beat American Record holder and Women Talk Sports member Kara Patterson by just 9 centimeters after the event was delayed due to a storm. The slippery surface caused American Rachel Yurkovich to slip and fall on her second attempt, but thankfully she was uninjured.

Men's 400m Hurdles

Puerto Rico's Javier Culson made it interesting today, leading Bershawn "Batman" Jackson by 2 meters until the final hurdle, where Jackson pushed forward for a 0.05 sec win (48.12).

Women's High Jump

 While American Record holder Chaunte Lowe had an off day (finishing 6th), Blanka Vlasic put on a show in the rain for the crowd, winning with a best jump of 2.01m

“The weather was so bad tonight,” Vlasic said. “When I came to the stadium, I thought ‘Oh no’. It’s not easy to jump in these cold conditions, but these people helped me tonight and I am very happy. I have won all of my Diamond League competitions so far, and I know that when the conditions are better I will be able to fly away.”

Men's Steeplechase

When Olympic Champion Brimin Kipruto stumbled on the penultimate water barrier, Paul Koech saw an opportunity to avenge his loss to Kipruto in Paris in the final stretch. Koech was frantic in the final lap, looking over his shoulder even as he navigated the final barrier. He won in 8:17.70 with Ezekiel Kempoi in second an d Kipruto in third. The next competitor was almost 10 seconds behind.

Men's Triple Jump

Christian Olsson bounded 17.47m beat France’s World Leader Teddy Tamgho after years of injuries and setbacks. The former Olympic and World Champion sat out of the European Championships a couple weeks ago due to injury but seems to be quickly regaining form now.

Women's 1500m

Diamond League leader Nancy Langat continues to favor victory over fast times, and it is serving her well. She (as well as the rest of the field) allowed the first lap to go as slow as 72 seconds, ensuring a fast finish and mediocre overall time. Langat powered away from Russia's World Leader Anna Alminova in the final 200m and crossed the line in 4:07.60. behind Alminova, Britain's Lisa Dobriskey had sneaked by Shannon Rowbury in the homestretch for 3rd as Erin Donohue snuck by Rowbury on the outside in the final 30 meters for 4th.

Men's 800m 

With a smooth exit from the pacesetter this week, the ball was in Abubaker Kaki's court to bring home the win and a fast time. Though his time wasn't the most impressive, he did bring home the win (1:44.38). It was not easy however, as he started bobbing his head from side to side at the start of the homestretch, and American Andrew Wheating threatened to overtake him in the final meters as he set a PR 1:44.56.

Women's 100m Hurdles

It looked like Australia's Sally Pearson was going to repeat her victory last week in Stockholm, with her strong start. But Canada's Priscilla Lopes-Shliep stormed through the final barriers to overtake first Lolo Jones and then Pearson for the in in a world-leading time of 12.52. Pearson was 2nd in 12.61 while Jones was 3rd in 12.66. Lopes-Shliep and Jones are now tied for the Diamond League lead.

Watch the race below:

Women's 200m 

Women Talk Sports Member Allyson Felix cruised to an easy win in 22.37. Her competition will challenge her more tomorrow in the 400m as she tries to complete the double victory.

Women's 5,000m

World Record holder Tirunesh Dibaba played opossum until the final 600m, where she reassured us that she is still one of the best distance runners of all time, finishing the final lap in 59 seconds to beat Vivian Cheruiyot, 14:36.41 to 14:38.17.

Former Texas Tech standout Sally Kipyego and Portugal's Jessica Augusto switched leads after the pacesetter left the track, with Kipyego often gesturing for Augusto or another competitor to come up and take the league. Kipyego, arguably the best distance runner the NCAA has ever seen, ended up setting a PR of 14:41.94 for fourth place.

American Molly Huddle broke 15 minutes for the second time this season and in her career and Lauren Fleshman continued her excellent comeback with a season-best 15:13.08.

Men's 100m Final

Usain Who? OK we're not quite there yet, but Tyson Gay is doing a great job making us forget we'll go without Bolt or Asafa Powell for the rest of 2010 (both are out with injuries). 

Gay ran what analyst Ato Bolden called the best race of his career, blazing to a 9.78 second win into a slight headwind on a cool and wet evening. Keep in mind that prior to Usain Bolt's first world record setting run in 2008, this time would have been a world record. Gay grabbed his hamstring/groin after the finish line, showing he is still nursing the nagging injury, though he is not letting it slow him down.

Walter Dix pulled up halfway down the track and limped to the finish in 12.46 seconds.

Saturday's highlights will include the men's shot put, men's and women's 400m, men's long jump, women's 800m and steeplechase, men's 110m hurdles and men's mile. Check out how to follow it all below.

How to watch the meet:

• Live Schedule/Results
• Watch Live Online
• Follow me on Twitter: @anngaff
• Follow these journalists on twitter: @RunBlogRun @flashesofpanic
• Check out Flotrack's interviews with the athletes
• Check out RunnerSpace's videos in case you can't catch the meet live

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