Four World Leads the Highlight in Oslo’s Bislett Stadium

The ExxonMobil Bislett Games enjoyed four world leads on a beautiful Wednesday evening as the fifth stage of the 2014 IAAF Diamond League arrived in Oslo for the prestigious athletic event. 

Jamaica’s Novlene Williams-Mills extended her current win streaks to three with a comfortable 50.06 season’s best. Later on she said “I admit it is time to go under 50-seconds now. The big goal is to win the Diamond Race.”

World indoor silver medallist, Martinot-Lagarde added to his victory in the IAAF Eugene Diamond League in May with a swift 13.12 world-leading and lifetime best performance in the 110m hurdles.  

World indoor record holder and Olympic champion, Renaud Lavillenie continued his pole vault dominance with a comfortable 5.77m victory.

Allyson Felix strode home in front in the women’s 200m. Felix looked more like her old self as she pulled gracefully away from the field down the home straight in a modest time of 22.73.

Following 400m hurdles wins in Eugene and Rome, World indoor 400m silver medallist, Kaliese Spencer added another victory to her 2014 campaign with first place 54.94.
The 27-year-old Jamaican - and Olympic fourth placer over the barriers – pipped Bahrain’s Kemi Adekoya in a tight finish, with the 21-year-old Doha IAAF Diamond League winner clocking 54.96.

Carl Lewis was present as Trinidad and Tobago’s Richard Thompson stole the show in the 100m to close the evening’s proceedings winning by 0.02 in 10.02 from Frenchman Jimmy.
The 29-year-old 2008 Olympic silver medallist – who ran 9.95 in Hengelo last weekend – managed to hold off the fast-finishing Jimmy Vicaut, who was timed at 10.04 in the runner-up position.
The 22-year-old Frenchman improved on his third place in Eugene, whilst Great Britain’s Adam Gemili finished third with 10.11. Russia’s world indoor champion, Mariya Kuchina made up for finishing fourth in Eugene by claiming the high jump honours with a 1.98m personal best.
The 21-year-old won on count-back from Croatia’s two-time world indoor and outdoor champion, Blanka Vlasic who opened her outdoor campaign in style and rekindled her fond memories of winning in Oslo on four previous occasions.

Will Claye maintained his impressive winning streak following victories on the IAAF Diamond League circuit in Eugene and Rome with a win over his American counterpart Christian Taylor who put on a battle royale for the crowd, snatching back the triple jump lead in the sixth and final round with a 17.41m leap.

Olympic champion, Taylor registered a best of 17.15m for his third-consecutive runner-up spot.

  
Kenya’s Eunice Sum, who stormed to victory in the 800m in a swift 1:59.02 season’s best.
The 25-year-old world champion – who also finished first in Doha and Rome – came home clear of the USA’s Ajee Wilson, who registered a 1:59.68 season’s best, whilst Great Britain’s 19-year-old Jessica Judd placed third in 1:59.77 lifetime best.

Finally, Olympic and world decathlon champion and world record holder, Ashton Eaton sped to a respectable 49.16 victory in the men’s 400m non-IAAF Diamond League event. The 26-year-old American set a 49.07 lifetime best as he uses the 2014 ‘off season’ as an opportunity to try a new event and revitalise his form before the world championship year.