The Weekend Recovery: London Lives Up to the Hype
· Yahoo Sports
Ever since Josh Kerr announced his Mile World Record attempt , the London Diamond League has been one of the most anticipated meets of the season. The event more than delivered, producing breakout performances and memorable historic moments, so it’s no surprise that the top moments of the weekend came straight from London Stadium.
Here are the top five stories from the weekend.
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5. Karsten Warholm Runs 400mH World Lead
Third time was the charm for Karsten Warholm! After two runner-up finishes in the 400m Hurdles this season, Warholm returned to the top of the podium in London, clocking a world lead of 46.61. The Norwegian looked in top form, taking early control of the race and extending his lead into the home stretch.
Warholm also bested his own meeting record of 47.12, which he set seven years ago. With this statement victory, the 2020 Olympic champion heads into the rest of the season with lots of momentum.
4. Ja’Kobe Tharp Runs Fifth Straight Sub-13
Running under 13 seconds in the 110m Hurdles is no normal feat, but Ja’Kobe Tharp is making it look easy.
The American won his first Diamond League event in London, breaking the meeting record with a 12.89 (+0.3). This marks his fifth consecutive sub 13 performance after running 12.75 and 12.90 at the NCAA Championships, 12.91 at the Prefontaine Classic, and 12.85 in Budapest at Gyulai István Memorial.
Tharp’s five performances all rank among the top 19 all-time in the event, with his name appearing the most within this list.
3. Brandon Miller Beats Olympic Champion, Rises to U.S. #5 All-Time
Brandon Miller was given a last-minute opportunity to compete in London, and he made the most out of it. Many eyes were on Emmanuel Wanyonyi and the 800m world record, but Miller showed that he should always be in the conversation.
Miller’s iconic kick was on full display as he surged down the home stretch to claim victory in a shiny personal best of 1:42.19. This marks his first time running under 1:43, making him U.S #5 All-Time and current World #4 this year.
2. Cierra Jackson Throws U.S. #2 All-Time Discus Mark
They say to save the best for last, and Cierra Jackson certainly delivered. Entering the meet with a personal best of 67.82m, Jackson took the lead in round two with a solid 67.07m throw. However, her biggest moment came on her final attempt.
Jackson threw a monster 71.72m throw, improving her personal best by nearly four meters. Her throw took down reigning Olympic Champion Valerie Sion, who has been undefeated in the event since April. This was Jackson’s first time throwing above 70 meters and launched her into the U.S. #2 All-Time spot behind Sion. Jackson’s mark is also a new Diamond League record.
1. Josh Kerr Breaks 27 Year-Old Mile World Record
When Josh Kerr announced Project 222 in April, he made his intentions clear: he was going to break the Mile World Record in Britain.
With a personal best of 3:45.34, Kerr had an ambitious task ahead of him, and many thought that dropping three seconds was out of the question. He answered emphatically.
Kerr stayed on perfect pace, coming through 800 meters at 1:51.1 and 3:27.7 for 1500 meters. The crowd roared for Kerr, who ultimately clocked a 3:42.66 to beat the former 27 year-old world record of 3:43.13.
Britain has a rich history with the mile, dating back to 1954 when Sir Roger Bannister became the first man to break the 4 minute barrier. Six British runners have previously held the event’s world record, including Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett. Now, Josh Kerr is among those greats.
The race produced a string of fast times behind Kerr. Yared Nuguse ran a season’s best, while Jake Heyward, Robert Farken, Nathan Green, and Arlo Ludewick all set personal bests. Farken’s time of 3:46.82 also established a new national record for Germany.