In a thrilling display of athletic prowess, Avinash Sable of India secured fifth place in the men’s 3000m steeplechase at the Stockholm Diamond League event on Sunday. Despite his efforts, Sable was unable to surpass his previous performance, finishing with a time of 8 minutes 21.88 seconds. The challenging conditions, including a wet track, hindered many competitors from achieving their best times.
The race was ultimately won by Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco, the reigning Olympic and world champion, who crossed the finish line in 8 minutes 9.84 seconds. However, El Bakkali’s time fell short of his season’s and personal best of 7 minutes 56.68 seconds, which he had set during the Diamond League meeting in Rabat, Morocco. Ethiopian athlete Getnet Wale, the 2019 Diamond League champion, secured second place with a timing of 8 minutes 12.27 seconds, followed by his compatriot Abrham Sime in third place with a time of 8 minutes 16.82 seconds.
Sable, who won a silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, has been diligently training overseas in preparation for the upcoming World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, scheduled from August 19 to 27.
Meanwhile, the men’s 400 meters hurdles race was marred by an environmental protest during the rain-soaked Galan Diamond League meet. Three activists from the A22 Network, who had previously disrupted the Swedish final of “Let’s Dance” on TV4, knelt on the track near the finish line, unfurling a banner across six lanes and causing most of the runners to navigate through it.
Fortunately for Norway’s Karsten Warholm, the reigning Olympic champion, he was unaffected by the protest as he raced in lane eight. Warholm expressed his frustration, stating that while protests are permissible, this form of disruption is disrespectful to the athletes who strive to perform at their best. Undeterred, Warholm ran a remarkable blind race and clocked an impressive time of 47.57 seconds.
Although Warholm’s performance was some way off his world record of 45.94 seconds set during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, his consecutive victories in two races provide promising signs for the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Budapest. After a challenging 2022 season marred by injuries, Warholm appears to be back in top form and ready to tackle new records.
The inclement weather, characterized by driving rain and chilly temperatures of around 15 degrees Celsius, prevented any record-breaking performances at the Stockholm Stadium. Spectators sought shelter under red rain ponchos while witnessing the athletes’ impressive displays of skill and determination.
In the women’s 1500m event, Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu emerged victorious, surging ahead in the final half lap to finish with a time of 4 minutes 2.31 seconds. Hailu acknowledged the challenging conditions but remained confident in her ability to adapt and achieve more victories throughout the season.
The women’s 5000m race witnessed Kenyan athlete Beatrice Chebet’s tactical brilliance, as she opened a significant lead over her competitors with 300 meters remaining, ultimately clocking a season’s best time of 14 minutes 36.52 seconds. Chebet, a silver medalist in the event at the 2022 World Championships, expressed her determination to conquer any weather conditions and strive for success.