World-leading performances from Lamecha Girma and Djamel Sedjati, coupled with three close attempts at a world record by Mondo Duplantis, highlighted the Bauhaus Galan – a Wanda Diamond League meeting in Stockholm on Sunday .
Lamecha Girma, already having set personal bests of 3:53.82 in the mile and 12:58.96 over 5000m this season, entered his first steeplechase race of 2024 with a mission: to send a clear message to his arch-rival, world and Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali.
Girma started with remarkable vigor, with an early pace of 2:36.44 for the first 1000m, putting him well inside world record schedule. However, the tempo eased as the race progressed, with Girma’s Ethiopian compatriots Samuel Firewu and Getnet Wale following him through 2000m in 5:18.27.
Despite tiring slightly on the final lap, Girma had already built a substantial lead over Firewu. The world record-holder secured a commanding victory in a world-leading 8:01.63, almost eight seconds faster than El Bakkali’s winning mark in Marrakech last month.
Firewu followed with a personal best of 8:05.78, while Tunisia’s Mohamed Amin Jhinaoui set a national record of 8:10.41 to take third place.
The evening concluded with another world-leading performance, this time from Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati in the men’s 800m. Sedjati dominated the field, showcasing his exceptional middle-distance prowess.
Olympic silver medallist Laura Muir also had a standout performance in the 1500m, providing a confidence boost ahead of the European Championships. After the field was paced through 800m in 2:07, Ethiopian youngster Birke Haylom controlled the race.
However, with 250 meters to go, Muir, along with Australia’s Georgia Griffith and Kenya’s Edinah Jebitok, moved in on Haylom’s shoulder. Muir then burst into the lead with half a lap remaining. Kicking hard, she pulled away to win in 3:57.99, just 0.35 seconds shy of Gudaf Tsegay’s meeting record.
Jebitok broke the four-minute barrier for the first time, finishing second in 3:58.88. Griffith (3:59.17) and Haylom (3:59.84) also finished under four minutes, marking a highly competitive race.
Earlier in the afternoon, Jemma Reekie, Muir’s compatriot, dominated the non-scoring women’s 800m. Reekie clocked 1:57.79 to win convincingly, ahead of Kenya’s Vivian Chebet, who finished in 1:58.64.
These performances underscored the high level of competition at the Bauhaus Galan, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead. Girma’s dominant steeplechase victory, Sedjati’s commanding 800m run, and Muir’s impressive 1500m win all highlighted the athletes’ readiness for the challenges to come.
The meet also saw several personal and national records fall, demonstrating the exceptional form of the competitors.
As the Diamond League progresses, the athletes’ focus will undoubtedly be on maintaining and building upon these world-leading performances. The thrilling events in Stockholm have set a high bar for the rest of the season, promising more exciting competitions and remarkable athletic achievements.
Photo: World Athletics
