The experiment of taking athletics out on the streets on the first day of the final round of the Diamond League was a success. Sechseläuten Square on the shores of Lake Zurich hosted the first seven finals of 2021 with a sensational battle in the women’s high jump and a thrilling 5,000 men’s that left spectacular images with the Swiss city’s Opera House presiding over athletic achievements.
The Russian Mariya Lasitskene took the Diamond with a best jump of 2.05 after beating the athlete who is the future of this specialty, the Ukrainian Yaroslava Mahuchikh (2.03), and Australian ‘writer’ Nicola McDermott (2.01). Street athletics also shone in two 5,000-meter races with a strange and novel 560-meter track. that crowned Francine Niyonsaba (Burundi) in the female category with 14: 28.98 and the 20-year-old Ethiopian Berihu Aregawi (12: 58.65).
The shot put confirmed that American Ryan Crouser is the best pitcher in history and no one coughed at him. 22.67 for the Portland giant who launches the projectile, equivalent to an empty butane cylinder, above 22 meters with astonishing ease. The record of 23.37 this time was not in jeopardy. In the female category, the precious trophy went to her compatriot Maggie Ewen (19.41). The last two competitions of the day, the length in the two categories were for the Swede Thobias Montler (8.17) and the Serbian Ivaba Spanovic (6.96).
25 FINALS WITH SPECTACULAR QUALITY
The world athletics festival will close with the distribution of 25 more diamonds. This time in a stadium in use, the Letzigrund of the Swiss city itself (Movistar Deportes, 7:00 p.m.). To unravel names is to cite the majority of the best athletes in the world who seek to pocket the 30,000 dollars (25,000 euros) that is awarded by being crowned champion of the Diamond, in addition to taking home the coveted ‘Diamond Trophy’, a 4.8 kilogram, 35 centimeter high masterpiece designed and produced by Swiss jeweler Beyer.
Among all the applicants, three Spaniards. All in 1,500 meters. Mohamed Katir and Ignacio Fontes among the men and Marta Pérez fighting in the female category. Jakob Ingebrigtsen (who finally did not run the 5,000), the Kenyan Thimoty Cheruiyot and the Australian Stewart McSewyn appear as big favorites in the men’s, while the Dutch Sifan Hassan and the Kenyan Faith Kipyegon must fight to take the diamond home.
Two tests of the highest level that will share a track with names like Yulimar Rojas, Armand Duplantis, Karsten Warholm, Elaine Thompson-Herah, Femke Bol, Johannes Vetter, Trayvon Bromell, Emmanuel Korir … A true constellation of stars.
