Two sprint queens and three world leading performances

Traditionally the AG Insurance Memorial Van Damme hosts the season finale of the IAAF Diamond League, a tour of the 14 biggest athletics events in the world. Last week 16 winners were crowned in Zürich, on Friday night another 16 joined them in Brussels.

Some of those Diamond Races provided closely fought battles. Except for the women’s discus (Sandra Perkovic) and triple jump (Caterine Ibarguen) there were multiple contenders in the remaining disciplines. Both Perkovic and Ibarguen rounded off their successful Diamond Race campaign with a victory in Brussels.

The women's 200 metres was the centrepiece of this year's AG Insurance Memorial Van Damme, pitching world champion Dafne Schippers against 400 metre champion Allyson Felix. Felix seemed on course for victory, but with a strong final push Schippers blew by the American. The Dutch sprinting phenom clocked 22.12, with a 22.22 for Felix. Elaine Thompson took the final podium spot with a time of 22.26. Felix’s second place was enough to secure her Diamond Race victory. Brussels generously applauded its two sprint queens. 

That makes Justin Gatlin the sprint king. The world championship runner-up won the 100 metres in a relatively average 9.98 by his lofty standards. A finish photo was needed as Qatari Femi Ogunode was second in 0.005 of a second. France’s Jimmy Vicaut was third in 9.99. Gatlin clinched the Diamond Race, but had to withdraw from the 200 metres later that night. That race was won by Ogunode in 19.97, a new Asian record. Wayde Van Niekerk, world champion over 400 metres, only managed fourth. 

Gatlin explained his absence in the 200 metres. "After 75 metres in the 100 I felt something in my right quad. I still went for the warming up of the 200 metres but my muscles still felt hard so my coach advised not to start." Justin Gatlin said. "Next season is very important so I wouldn´t risk an injury. Normally I should compete in Rieiti, but this was my last competition of the year. I don´t travel to Italy." Gatlin also suggested some innovative ideas to the new IAAF president Seb Coe. "Why not organise a duel against Usain Bolt on a Mondo carpet on the Las Vegas strip? It would create a lot of publicity for our sport in the USA and attract young people. 

The knowledgable Brussels crowd of the AG Insurance Memorial Van Damme also witnessed three world leading performances. Tunisian Habiba Grhibi ran an incredible steeple (9:05.36), Kenya's Faith Kipyegon won the mile (4:16.71) and Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha took home the 5000 metres (12:53.98). Kejelcha also won the Diamond Race. 

Another highlight, quite literally, was Renaud Lavillenie’s pole vault victory. Air Lavillenie cleared 5m95 to better Canadian world champion Shawn Barber by 10 cm. Since the introduction of the Diamond Race in 2010 the Frenchman remarkably won every single time.

Mariya Kuchina won the high jump competition with a leap over 2m01. She beat her Russian compatriot Anna Chicherova (1m97) and Spain's Ruth Beitia (1m93), who won the Diamond Race. The Belgian crowd cheered on local Nafi Thiam to a sixth place (1m90). 

Other Belgian fan favourite Kevin Borlée (45.43) was beaten on the 400m by Trinidadian Renny Quoz (45.29). His twin brother Jonathan Borlée was seventh on the 200 metres.