Qatar’s Haroun races to third in Shanghai meet

Qatar’s Abdalelah Haroun finished in the top three for the second straight Diamond League meet even as Steven Gardiner of the Bahamas raced to a 400m victory yet again yesterday.
Gardiner had raced a world leading 43.87 seconds in Doha earlier this month, beating 21-year-old Team Qatar member Haroun, who ran 44.50, ahead of third-placed Isaac Makwala (44.92) of Botswana.
Yesterday, in Shanghai, Commonwealth Games champion Makwala was off the mark in a flash, but Gardiner stayed not too far behind. The World Championship silver medallist picked up speed in the final quarter of the race and posted 43.99 seconds, his second sub-44 timing in as many races this season.
Makwala ran 44.23 seconds, while 2017 World Championship bronze medallist Haroun finished a creditable 44.51.
“I felt really good today and had some fun. To set a meet record of 43.99 feels so good. I felt I had the race in the last 120m,” Gardiner said after the win.
Second-placed Motswana athlete added: “Was a good race, not so tough, was fine. I ran a season best, that was my plan, I did and that’s good. I also had to win it, but I collapsed a bit on the end. Next race I’ll catch him (Gardiner).”
Meanwhile, Kenya’s new 800m ace Wycliffe Kinyamal lit up a muggy night in the Shanghai Stadium.
Commonwealth champion Kinyamal went inside 1:44 for the second time in his career to win in a meeting record, world lead and personal best of 1:43.91, finishing 0.04 ahead of Jonathan Kitilit.
“A PB and meeting record, the race was fine,” said Kinyamal. “We were fighting for the last 100 metres, but I was stronger and I knew it. I come from the same village as (David) Rudisha, he was always my example. Now I take over.”
Poland’s Marcin Lewandowski beat the chase to finish third in 1:45.41.

Cheruiyot takes 1,500m
An equally entertaining men’s 1,500m saw another Kenyan prosper in a home straight battle.
A hot pace was set from the start, Cornelius Kiplangat leading them through 800 metres in 1:53. Young Ethiopian Samuel Tefera found himself at the front after the pacer dropped out, the world indoor champion looking startled before taking up the running. Abdelaati Iguider gave chase as Timothy Cheruiyot, who had been in second, sat in third.
The 2017 Diamond League champion Cheruiyot moved through the final bend, and although Tefera still held the lead on the straight, 22-year-old Cheruiyot‘s long stride saw him go first late to stop the clock in 3:31.48 – the fastest time by anyone this year.
Cheruiyot never doubted his kick. “I was sure I was going to win the race,” he said.
“I needed to run a good time, and this race is good for the Diamond League points.”
Tefera recorded a personal best of 3:31.63, taking him to eighth on the world U20 all-time list, and finished more than a second ahead of Iguider.

Russia’s Lasitskene clinches high jump
Russian high jumper Maria Lasitskene clinched the title clearing 1.97 metres.
Lasitskene is the winner of the 2017 Diamond League finals. The Shanghai tournament was the 39th competition in a row for the Russian athlete, in which she won gold medals, reported Tass news agency.