Francesco runs in 1’44″40, Eloisa in 1’58″42, second Italian ever after Gabriella Dorio. The German, in the race won by El Bakkali, was the first man from the Old Continent under eight minutes
In the name of Soufiane El Bakkali: the audience of the third stage of the Diamond League 2026, in Rabat, Morocco, at the end of the meeting, goes wild for her decorated steeplechaser, who scored for the fifth time in a row. The two-time Olympian and two-time world champion, with a great finish, wins in 7’57″25, signing the third best world performance of the season of the evening, 57/100 from his personal best. In the wake, a super performance from the 29-year-old German Frederik Ruppert, the first European to break – and not just – the eight-minute barrier: 7’57″80. The progress on the continental record (8’00″09 by the Frenchman Mahiedine Mekhissi, Paris, 6 July 2013) is 2″89, the progress on the personal record (8’01″49, Rabat, 25 May 2025) is even 3″69. His most prestigious results? The success in the final of the Zurich 2025 circuit and the fourth place at the European Championships in Rome 2024. The Kenyan Simon Koech also finished under eight minutes, third in 7’59″44. Of similar value, in context, is the 19″69/+0.4 in the 200 of the American Kenny Bednarek, imperial from the first to the last metre. Among others, the Olympic champion, Botswana Letsile Tebogo, second in 19″96, was returned to the sender.
the 800
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After Nadia Battocletti gave up the 1500m to better prepare for Thursday’s 5000m at the Golden Gala, five Italians are competing. The best things, technically speaking, come from the 800. Eloisa Coiro, in fact, becomes the second Italian ever behind the legendary Gabriella Dorio. The 25-year-old Roman from the Fiamme Azzurre, bravely among the leaders up to the 600 (57″18 at the bell), finished ninth, but running in 1’58″42. She thus improves 22/100 on the staff obtained a year ago in the same meeting and overtakes Elisa Cusma in the national list. The record of the Vicenza girl, which dates back 46 years and is by far the oldest among the Italian women’s records, remains at 76/100. The success goes to the 22 year old Swiss Audrey Werro with a significant 1’56″56. Francesco Pernici also finishes ninth, but in turn with a good 1’44″40. The 23-year-old financier from Brescia from Val Camonica remains 56/100 from his personal best and 7/10 from the Italian record of Marcello Fiasconaro and Andrea Longo. He moves with good tactical acumen, passes the 400 in just under 51″ and has an important finish. Up front the scene is all for the British Max Burgin who wins in 1’42″98, allowing himself the luxury of preceding the Olympic champion of the specialty, the Kenyan Emmanuel Wanyonyi who, on his seasonal debut over the distance, at 1’43″56.
other blues
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Relative glory for the other Italian athletes: Leo Fabbri is fifth in weight with 21.42 (also a 21.39 in the series). The Florentine, with the American Joe Kovacs winning with 22.58, meanwhile loses ownership of the best world performance of the season (22.50). In front of him, not far away, three other Americans: Ryan Crouser (21.59), Jordan Geis (21.56) and Roger Steen (21.52). The new father Zane Weir, a few hours earlier, had returned after a year at 21.00, third in the Polish Bialystok. Zaynab Dosso expresses herself subdued: in the 100 of the Jamaican vice world champion Tina Clayton (10″85/+0.3), she is seventh in 11″25, behind from the early stages of the race, usually her strong point. Even Ayo Folorunso, making her seasonal debut in her 400 hurdles, doesn’t shine very well: she’s in the group until the fifth-six barrier, then she loses herself and finishes seventh in a modest 55″25 for her. However, the 25-year-old bronze medalist Emma Zapletalova, winner in 52″82, a Slovakian record and best world time in 2026, is very popular. Next stop: Rome. Thursday evening, at the Olimpico, it will be a spectacle.
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