Both athletes who train under Andy Young run under 2 minutes, leading four of the top six outdoor marks in the world this year; Fellow British standout Pozzi produces another strong effort in 110-meter hurdles to achieve top male performance following withdrawal of van Niekerk as a result of Coronavirus

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Six months later, training and living together through a global pandemic, Jemma Reekie has still maintained her edge on Laura Muir.

Although Reekie’s performance Saturday at the 13th International Triveneto Meeting didn’t result in another British record like their last 800-meter showdown indoors Feb. 1 in Scotland, the rising 22-year-old talent still showcased enough strength to hold off the 27-year-old Muir in their outdoor opener at Grezar Stadium in Trieste, Italy.

After both of coach Andy Young’s athletes were paced through the first lap in 59.90 seconds, Reekie surged in front with 200 meters remaining, then held off an impressive kick from Muir in the final 75 meters to prevail in an outdoor personal-best 1:59.52, leading four of the top six performances in the world this year.

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Reekie, who achieved the British national indoor record by running a world-leading 1:57.91 to Muir’s 1:58.44 in Glasgow, elevated to the No. 2 outdoor performer, trailing only the 1:58.92 produced in March by Cuba’s Rose Mary Almanza.

Muir’s rally came up one step short, as she clocked 1:59.54 for No. 3 in the world, with Norway’s Hedda Hynne (1:59.94) and Switzerland’s Selina Buchel (1:59.97) ascending to Nos. 5 and 6 globally. Hynne just missed her 2017 personal best of 1:59.87 and Buchel dipped under 2 minutes for the first time in three years.

Reekie elevated to the No. 15 all-time British outdoor performer, lowering her previous best of 2:01.45 from last year in Germany. Muir remains No. 6 in British outdoor history after clocking 1:58.42 last year.

Without the presence of South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk, who tested positive for Coronavirus three days prior to the meet, the top male performance on the track went to Great Britain’s Andrew Pozzi and his wind-legal 13.36 effort in the 110-meter hurdles. Pozzi already posted a world-leading 13.30 at a July 16 meet in Savona, Italy.

Following the positive test, van Niekerk then tested negative Friday and had another COVID-19 test administered Saturday, but the results weren’t available in time in order for the world record holder to compete in the 400 meters.

In van Niekerk’s absence, Italy’s Edoardo Scotti prevailed in 45.85, emerging victorious despite a late surge from Slovenia’s Luka Janezic (45.88).

Slovenia’s Anita Horvat won the women’s 400 in 52.98, with Italian athletes sweeping the remaining three track events.

Luminosa Boglioli clocked 12.91 in the women’s 100-meter hurdles and Anna Bongiorni prevailed in the 100-meter dash in 11.44. Lamont Marcell Jacobs triumphed in the men’s 100 in 10.10.

In the field events, Italy added three more victories, including Filippo Randazzo in the men’s long jump with a second-round leap of 26-1 (7.95m) into a slight headwind, as well as Leonardo Fabbri with a second-round effort of 67-10.25 (20.68m) in the shot put.

Elena Vallortigara edged fellow countrywoman Desiree Rossit based on fewer attempts in the high jump, with both athletes clearing 6-0.75 (1.85m). Vallortigara cleared the height on her second try, versus Rossit needing all three attempts to extend the competition.

Spain’s Pablo Torrijos was victorious in the men’s triple jump with a fifth-round performance of 55-3.75 (16.86m) and Olympic gold medalist Thiago Braz da Silva of Brazil cleared 18-0.50 (5.50m) on his third attempt to win the men’s pole vault.