US sprinter Erriyon Knighton broke Usain Bolt’s ten-year-old meeting record over 200 m at the fifth stop of the Diamond League in Oslo.
In 19.77 seconds, the World Cup third was three hundredths faster than the superstar from Jamaica in 2013. Knighton also set a world best time for the year, Cologne’s Joshua Hartmann finished sixth with his season best of 20.39.
Another highlight of the traditional Bislett Games was provided by the Ivorian Marie-Josee Ta Lou, who beat the 25-year-old meeting record of Marion Jones (USA), who was later convicted of doping, over 100 m in 10.75 seconds.
In addition, local hero Karsten Warholm (Norway) started the season with the fourth best time in history over 400 meters hurdles in 46.52 seconds.
Curious photo finish over 5000 m
Discus thrower Claudine Vita provided the best German result in the Norwegian capital: the native of Neubrandenburg finished fourth with 62.96 m, Kristin Pudenz (62.82), second at the European Championships, was fifth.
Vice European Champion Bo Kanda Lita Baehre finished eighth in the pole vault with 5.41 m, as did Sara Gambetta with 18.37 m in the shot put.
It was strange over 5000 m: Yomif Kejelcha (Ethiopia) and Jakob Kiplimo (Uganda) ran the sixth best time in history in 12:41.73 at the same time – Kejelcha won the photo finish. The Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen also set a European record over 1500 m in 3:27.95.
The highlight of the season for track and field athletes this season is the World Championships in Budapest (19th to 27th August).