5 September 2014

Brussels ensured the Diamond League season drew to a close on a high, with plenty of world class performances, including six world leads despite being at the tail end of a long season.

Eilidh Child (coach: Malcolm Arnold) got the evening off to a fantastic start completing a great season on the Diamond league circuit. She took third behind Diamond League winner Kaliese Spencer, and the European champion’s strong last 100m secured her second place in the Diamond race. Child’s 54.76 clocking was very good considering her new stride pattern and the difficult conditions; she now returns to the UK to run over 500m at the Great CityGames in Newcastle tomorrow.

European 100m champion James Dasaolu (Steve Fudge) clocked a season’s best of 10.00 to finish fifth in a high quality field at the Memorial Van Damme. Reflecting on the race, the 9.91 man commented:

“I got left at the start but I’m happy with a season’s best.”

Lynsey Sharp (Rana Reider) continued her excellent form that has seen her win Commonwealth Games and European Championship 800m silver with a second place finish in the Belgian capital. Coming off the bend in fourth, Sharp moved wide before powering up the straight to snatch second in 1.58.94, just behind winner Brenda Martinez. That run means Sharp takes third overall in the Diamond race, and afterwards she commented:

“To run sub 1.59 twice this season is amazing – I know I’m in good shape. I’m running in Newcastle tomorrow and then I’ve got Marrakech [the Continental Cup] next week, where hopefully it’ll be quick.”

In a loaded 110mH race, William Sharman (Jerzy Maciukiewicz) had to settle for sixth in a race won by Diamond race winner Pascal Martinot-Lagarde. Despite finishing sixth, European silver medallist Sharman stopped the clock at 13.31.

Allyson Felix showed why she’s the Olympic champion, winning the women’s 200m in a world leading 22.02. In eighth was Jodie Williams (Christine Bowmaker) clocking 22.92 after winning medals at both the Commonwealth Games and European Championships. Afterwards she admitted she was exhausted after a long season, but heads to Newcastle for the Great CityGames tomorrow.

In the men’s 400m, Conrad Williams (Linford Christie) took fifth in 45.64 in a race won by Renny Quow in 45.37.

The only British athlete in field event action was Luke Cutts (Trevor Fox) and he finished eighth in the pole vault after clearing 5.55m with his second attempt. World record holder Renauld Lavillenie took victory to inevitably wrap up the Diamond race.

Earlier in the programme Mel Nicholls (Job King), finished third in the T34 400m with a 65.01 performance, just outside her personal best set this year. Like Child, Sharp and Williams, Nicholls now heads to Newcastle, where she’ll make her half marathon debut at the Great North Run.