18th July 2014

Judd Sub Two Again In Monaco

18 July 2014

If you’re looking for world class performances, the women’s 800m never disappoints and that was certainly the case as the Diamond League reached Monaco for the Meeting Herculis.

Hitting the bell in 57.65, Diamond Race leader Eunice Sum of Kenya was two strides clear of the main pack, which contained GB & NI’s Jess Judd (coach: Rob Denmark). However coming down the home straight the IAAF World Champion started to face and young American Ajee Wilson pounced to take victory in 1.57.76 a new world lead.

Despite never really getting in the race and finishing eighth, Jess Judd crossed the line in 1.59.99 to go sub two for the second time this season and show she is in the kind of shape that will be required to win a medal at both the Commonwealth Games and the European Championships. Post-race she commented:

“I wanted to use this as a run out before the Commonwealths. I always race to win so that was pretty rubbish, but I’m being consistent. I felt pretty rubbish, so if I can feel rubbish and still run under two minutes it’s pretty promising!”

The men’s 800m also saw a truly world class line-up, with six of the eight finalists from London 2012 in the field, including Great Britain & Northern Ireland’s Andrew Osagie (Craig Winrow). The pace was predictably hot from the start, with the pacemaker taking the field through 400m in 49.41, with David Rudisha right on his tail. However coming into the home straight the Olympic champion started to fade, and Nijel Amos took full advantage, fighting all the way to the line. The man from Botswana’s winning time was 1.42.46, which was both a meeting and national record, as well as a world lead.

Andrew Osagie finished eighth in 1.45.68, which is just outside his season’s best and afterwards he added:

“I’ve had a bit of a nightmare the last couple of weeks, so that race was ok. I’m looking forward to the champs now!”

In the men’s 400m Conrad Williams (Linford Christie) went two places better than his compatriot to finish sixth from the outside lane. Williams, who set a season’s best of 45.46 last weekend at the Sainsbury’s Glasgow Grand Prix crossed the line in 45.52, showing he is in good shape as he heads to Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games and Zurich for the European Championships.

There were fireworks in the men’s 1500m as Silas Kiplagat broke the Diamond League record and the world lead to upset Olympic champion and favourite Absel Kiprop, stopping the clock in 3.27.64. There were seven men inside 3.30, with no less than four national or area records.

Despite a quality field, the men’s long jump turned out to be quite a subdued affair with just two men over eight metres. It took China’s Jinzhe Li until the sixth and final round to achieve that feat and take the win with 8.09m, with GB & NI’s Chris Tomlinson finishing fourth with a second round effort of 7.94m.

Tomlinson now turns his attention to the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games at Horse Guards Parade on Sunday. Tickets for that event are still available here.