ROME: American Trayvon Bromell set the fastest time over the 100m this season as he won the Rome Diamond League in 9.84 seconds on Friday.
Bromell, a two-time world outdoor bronze medallist and 2016 world indoor champion, dominated the field, with compatriot Fred Kerley coming in fifth in 10.06sec.
Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme (9.99) and Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala (10.01) rounded out the podium in the blue riband event.
Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet, who won Olympic golds in the 5,000 and 10,000m in Paris last year, posted the second fastest time of all time in the women’s 5,000m, clocking 14:03.69 after a stunning solo breakaway at the Stadio Olimpico.
It was just three seconds off Gudaf Tsegay’s world record set in Eugene in 2023, the Ethiopian finishing third in the Italian capital as the field struggled with Chebet’s kick four laps out from the finish.
“I was planning to run 14:15, but I felt like my body was moving and I decided to go,” said Chebet.
“So I see that my body is in a good shape and I am capable of of the world record. So now I am going home and will prepare for it. Everything is possible. If I get someone who will push me up to 3000, it is possible.”
Another Olympic champion, Quincy Hall of the USA, held his nerve to claim victory in the men’s 400m in 44.22sec, winning in a photo finish from fast-finishing South African Zakithi Nene.
There was a first Diamond League win since 2022 for Sandi Morris in the women’s pole vault, the American clearing 4.80m for the victory.
“Today is monumental for me on a personal level,” said Morris, a three-time world silver medallist.
“I have been fighting with problems with my shoulder so I have to keep the volume of jumps lower. I really wanted to keep jumping but I also listen to my goals.”
There was, however, no glory for Gianmarco Tamberi in the men’s high jump in front of his adoring fans.
The joint 2020 Olympic gold medallist, also the current European and world champion, bombed out at a lowly 2.16m in a competition won by South Korea’s Sanghyeok Woo, with a best of 2.32m.
