Vivian Cheruiyot and Andreas Thorkildsen prevail at the DN Galan – Samsung Diamond League
As the DN Galan meet concluded in Stockholm, Sweden, on Friday, July 29, the pre-favourites of the meet eventually emerged in their respective contests. The long distance running (5000m) was marked by Vivian Cheruiyot’s emphatic success, who hit the finishing
line for the distance in 14 minutes and 20.87 seconds.
Other major athletes who prevailed in their respective contests were Andreas Thorkildsen, the Javelin Thrower from Norway, Mitchell Watt, the Long Jumper from Australia, Yelena Isinbayeva, the Pole Vaulter from Russia and the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt,
who marked his first ever win in Stockholm.
The most prominent competition at the 1912 Olympic stadium was the one that was claimed by Cheruiyot, whose clocked time was not only a world season lead, but also a national record. While staying undeterred by challenging conditions, the 27-year-old girl
displayed a tremendous performance. Marking her finish with a margin of no less than 120m was something that left spectators in the stadium amazed.
Commenting on her success, the Kenyan and Commonwealth record holder in 5000m races said, “I am happy for the national record and world lead because I came to this race with the vision I can run fast. Frankly the weather was not the best today. I feel like
I am able to break the world record soon but conditions must be perfect.”
On the track and field that was marred by gushing winds, another duo that marked their dominance on the track in an emphatic manner was comprised of Mitchell Watt and Andreas Thorkildsen. Watt, while unleashing his legs’ strength, observed his year’s best
performance for landing at the 8.44m mark. While taking advantage of the wind, Thorkildsen improved his throw to 88.30m.
Interestingly, while the gushing winds created a severe problem for the rest of the track and field players, they acted in favour of Watt and Thorkildsen. Watt, the 23-year-old Long Jumper, who opened up his round with a leap of 8.34m, in his very next jump,
displayed a new Oceania Area record for landing at 8.54m.
Finally, for Isinbayeva, who had been all bent on securing this event to send stronger signals to her gold medal rivals at the upcoming Daegu World Championships, proved her mettle when she marked a jaw-dropping 4.76m effort. This was matchless as no one
of her challengers could even come closer to her.
Besides Isinbayeva, the athlete who fulfilled his dream of emerging at Stockholm was the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt. However, amid having a constant battle against a strong wind, despite bagging the title, he could not observe a sub-20 finish in the
200m competition.
Nevertheless, with the level of performances that have been depicted at Stockholm, it has become evident that the World Championships at Daegu will represent a true battle this year.
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