Unstoppable Noah Lyles wins 100m at the ISTAF Berlin 2022 - Results
World Champions Grant Holloway, Tobi Amusan, Karsten Warholm, and Malaika Mihambo also produced leading performances on Sunday at the German track and field athletics meeting.
Athletics
Reigning world champions ruled the day at the ISTAF Berlin 2022, a World Athletics Continental Tour Silver event, with Noah Lyles, Malaika Mihambo, Grant Holloway and Tobi Amusan all dominant at the Olympiastadion on Sunday, September 4.
There were also clear victories for Tokyo Olympic gold medallists Karsten Warholm and Valerie Allman who put on strong performances in the men’s 400ms hurdles and the women’s discus respectively.
Lyles stepped down to the men's 100m, racing to his season best of 9.95 seconds, while Great Britain’s Daryll Neita won the women’s race in 11.00.
100m sprint wins produce top Berlin performances
Fresh from extending his unbeaten 200m season at the Diamond League meet in Lausanne on August 26, the two-time world gold medallist Lyles was strong of the blocks for his fastest 100m of the season.
Lyles produced yet another blazing run for his second win in the dash this season. He held off a charging Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya who quickly closed in for second in 10.11 with Britain’s Jeremiah Azu, third in 10.16.
Neita headlined the women’s 100m race edging out the American pair of Celera Barnes and Jenna Prandini, who were second and third in 11.10 and 11.16 in that order.
Grant Holloway was quick of the blocks of the men's 110m hurdles and despite slowing down after the last barrier, he still managed to hold on for an easy 13.05 win ahead of compatriots Freddie Crittenden (13.07) and Daniel Roberts (13.25).
In the women’s race, Nigeria’s world record holder hurdled home fast and first in 12.45, ahead of American Tia Jones (12.58) and Megan Tapper of Jamaica who timed 12.66 for third.
Warholm wins, thrilled to be coming back strong after injury
The men’s 400m hurdles was all about Karsten Warholm. The Norwegian world record holder led from start to finish for an easy 47.24 win. His closest challengers were Frenchman Ludvy Vaillant and Germany’s Joshua Abuaku who both raced to personal bests of 48.55 and 48.85 respectively.
Warholm was thrilled to win again after defending his European title last month (August) in the German capital.
"It was difficult because after winning the Olympics everything changes, you have to find motivation. Of course, injury was tough but its part of being an athlete, but I also want to be the best also at coming back from injury…and show that I can still run fast times,” said the double world champion who failed to defend his title in Oregon due to lack of fitness after hamstring injury.
READ MORE: Karsten Warholm on his ego and losing. "I can also handle defeats, even though I'm not used to it."
Beatrice Chebet continued her fine run of form in the women’s 5000m.
After taking command of the race from pacer Selah Busienei at 3000m point, the Kenyan who won silver at the 2022 World Championships and clinched the 2022 Commonwealth Games title, crossed the line nearly eight seconds ahead of Elly Henes of the U.S who ran a personal best of 14:52.87.
Her compatriot Busienei opted to finish her race after her pacing duties finishing third in 15:10.14. South Africa's double Olympic 1500m champion Caster Semenya was 10th in the race in 16:13.14.
Another Kenyan Reynold Cheruiyot also ruled the day in the men's 1500m in 3:35.04.
European champ medallists Mihambo and Weber dominant
The reigning Olympic and world champ Malaika Mihambo thrilled her home crowd at the Olympiastadion with her opening leap of 6.92m, that was the best of the women’s long jump.
Nigeria’s Ese Brume again finished second behind the German as she did in Oregon, with her second attempt effort of 6.78m.
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Champion Valarie Allman dominated the women’s discus topping with a decent throw of 70.06m.
The American who settled for world bronze finished way ahead of local stars Kristin Pudenz in second with 65.20m and Shanice Craft third with a best effort of 63.37m.
Fresh from winning his first major senior title at the Euros in Munich, Julian Weber, who just missed out on a medal at Tokyo 2020, fired up the home fans with his fourth-round throw of 84.90 to win the men’s javelin. He beat Japan’s Genki Dean second with 80.69m and Keshorn Walcort, the Trinidadian London 2012 champ, who threw 79.78 for third.