By T. Jayani, JadeTimes News
British athletes Laura Muir and Jemma Reekie claimed victories at the Stockholm Diamond League, while Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis narrowly missed setting another world record on home ground.
Olympic silver medalist Laura Muir, 31, demonstrated a powerful finish, surging ahead in the final 200 meters to win the women's 1500m with a time of 3:57.99. Reflecting on her performance, Muir said, "Running like this now, with a couple more months of training before the Olympics, is very promising. The focus this year is on August, when I need to be at my peak."
Though not an official Diamond League race, meaning no points were awarded for qualification towards September's final, Muir's compatriot Jemma Reekie, 26, dominated the women's 800m, winning in 1:57.79. Meanwhile, Olympic and world champion Armand Duplantis attempted to break the men's pole vault world record for the ninth time, energized by the support of his home crowd. Duplantis was the only competitor to clear 6.00m but narrowly missed clearing 6.25m after three attempts.
In other events, British world bronze medalist Ben Pattison finished fourth in the men's 800m with a season's best of 1:44.44. Fellow Britons Elliot Giles and Jake Wightman placed sixth and eighth, respectively, with Wightman continuing his comeback from an injury plagued 2023.
Revee Walcott Nolan achieved a personal best of 4:00.77, finishing sixth in the women's 1500m. Jamaica's world champion Shericka Jackson ran a season's best of 22.69 seconds to win the women's 200m, with Britain's Amy Hunt finishing third in 22.92 seconds. Dutch world 400m hurdles champion Femke Bol recorded her fastest ever season opener with a time of 53.07 seconds.
The Journey of the 2024 Diamond League
The Stockholm meet marked the halfway point in the Diamond League series, with the final scheduled for 13-14 September in Brussels. Only three Diamond League events remain before the Paris 2024 Olympics in August Paris, Monaco, and London, offering crucial preparation opportunities for athletes.
The series commenced in April with events in China, where Duplantis began his season by breaking the pole vault world record in Xiamen. British sprinter Daryll Neita had a strong start, defeating world 100m champion Sha Carri Richardson in the 200m in Suzhou.
In Doha, British hopeful Molly Caudery showcased her Olympic potential by defeating reigning pole vault world champion Nina Kennedy. Neita continued her winning streak by triumphing in the 100m.
Significant performances at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene included British athletes Josh Kerr setting a British mile record and Keely Hodgkinson securing a commanding 800m victory. In Oslo, Matt Hudson Smith set a European record in the 400m, and Jakob Ingebrigtsen dramatically won the mile. Before the next Diamond League event in Paris on 7 July, athletes will compete in the European Athletics Championships in Rome from 7-12 June.