LONDON – Jamaica’s Oblique Seville stunned the crowd at the London Diamond League meet on Saturday, blazing to a dominant 100m win in 9.86 seconds, leaving Olympic champion Noah Lyles trailing. Seville exploded out of the blocks and established a commanding lead within the first 20 meters, never looking back as Lyles finished second in 10.00.
A sold-out crowd of 60,000, undeterred by earlier storms, witnessed a day of standout performances as athletes gear up for September’s World Championships in Tokyo.
Julien Alfred of St. Lucia impressed with a personal best and meet record of 21.71 in the women’s 200m, pulling away late from Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith (22.25) and Amy Hunt (22.31). Meanwhile, Britain’s Charlie Dobson shocked the field in the men’s 400m, coming from behind to post a PB of 44.14, overtaking favorite Matt Hudson-Smith (44.27) at the line.
Kenya’s 18-year-old Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech stunned in the men’s 1,500m, surging past world champ Josh Kerr with 200m to go to win in 3:28.82. His compatriot Emmanuel Wanyoni followed up with a win in the 800m, overtaking Canada’s Marco Arop in the home stretch to finish in 1:42.00.
In the women’s 5,000m, Ethiopia’s Medina Eisa edged out Fantaye Belayneh in a thrilling sprint finish, clocking 14:30.97 to Belayneh’s PB of 14:30.90. Despite missing star Keely Hodgkinson, the home crowd had reason to cheer as Georgia Hunter Bell claimed the women’s 800m in 1:56.74, holding off American Addison Wiley.
Lithuanian Mykolas Alekna capped the meet with a huge 71.70m discus throw – a Diamond League record despite rainy conditions, just shy of his own world record set earlier this year in the U.S.
As always, the 100 meters was the headline event, with Lyles – returning from an ankle issue and sporting a bold mauve kit – unable to match Seville’s explosive start. Still, he remained positive, calling it possibly his best-ever season opener. Seville, meanwhile, took pride in being the only sub-10 runner of the day and said he’s building momentum toward a major championship breakthrough.
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