Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Danielle Williams Win Sprint Battles in Birmingham

By Adam Kopet

The Diamond League returned to action Sunday in Birmingham on a blustery day that saw two meet records in the distance events.

RESULTS

Germany's Konstanze Klosterhalfen, who trains with the Nike Oregon Project, won the Millicent Fawcett Mile in a meet-record 4:21.11. That was also a German national outdoor record, her sixth all-time best German mark on the year. Klosterhalfen ran the fastest mile time in German history Feb. 9 when she won the women's Wanamaker Mile at the 112th NYRR Millrose Games in 4:19.98.

Canada's Gabriela DeBues-Stafford gave chase to Klosterhalfen and finished second in 4:22.47, with Great Britain's Eilish McColgan placing third in a personal-best 4:24.71. Former Oregon standout Jessica Hull, another Nike Oregon Project athlete, ran a personal-best 4:24.93 to finish fifth behind fellow Australian Linden Hall (4:24.72).

Elinor Purrier was the top American in the race, finishing seventh in 4:30.30.

The women's 3,000-meter steeplechase saw Kenya's Beatrice Chepkoech give up a fast early pace, but still earn the win in a meet-record 9:05.55. That was 10 seconds off her season's best and 21 seconds off her world-record performance from last year.

Three other women finished within two seconds of the Chepkoech. Celliphine Chespol of Kenya was second in 9:06.76, Winfred Mutile Yavi of Bahrain was third in 9:07.23 and Hyvin Kiyeng of Kenya was fourth in 9:07.25.

The women's sprints, specifically the 200 meters and the 100-meter hurdles, were two of the highlight races of the meet. Shaunae Miller-Uibo of The Bahamas won the 200 in 22.24. Behind her were Dina Asher-Smith of Great Britain in 22.36 and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica in 22.50. The reigning world champion Dafne Schippers of The Netherlands continues to look for the form necessary to defend her world title. She was fourth in 22.81.

In the hurdles, world record holder Keni Harrison nearly failed to advance out of the first round, finishing fourth in her heat in 12.93. Danielle Williams of Jamaica was the top qualifier in the first round, running 12.53.

The final saw those two athletes compete head-to-head. Williams took the victory in 12.46, equaling the meet record. Harrison was second in 12.66. Nigeria's Tobi Amusan finished third in 12.71.

On the men's side of the program, Taiwan's Chao-Tsun Cheng came away the victor in a javelin competition that included five men who had previously bettered 90 meters. That distance was not to be Sunday, but Cheng won with a throw of 287-10 (87.75m). Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic finished second with a throw of 281-5 (85.78m). World leader Magnus Kirt of Estonia was third with a throw of 279-10 (85.29m).

Also on the field, Nafissatou Thiam of Belgium made an impression in the long jump. The reigning world champion in the heptathlon won the individual long jump with a national record 22-6.25 (6.86m). It was a close competition with Ivana Spanovic of Serbia and Katarina Johnson-Thompson finished second and third, respectively, with best jumps of 22-5.75 (6.85m).