Canadians podium at Paris Diamond League
Marco Arop and Aaron Brown both finished third in their respective races (800m and 200m)
He didn’t win, but Canada’s Marco Arop still made it to the podium of the men’s 800m at the Diamond League today for the third time this season, finishing third in 1:44.74 in Paris. Kenyans Wyclife Kinyamal (1:43.94) and Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Ferguson Rotich (1:44.45) took the top two podium spots. Arop won this event at both the Pre Classic and the Lausanne Diamond League last week, but couldn’t pull a third win out of the bag today. Countryman Aaron Brown also finished third, in the 200m, in 20.20. The race ended in a photo finish between the two Americans, Fred Kerley and Kenny Bednarek, both of whom ran 19.79; Kerley was credited with the win, and his time was a personal best. (Kerley won silver in the 100m in Tokyo, and Bednarek took silver in the 200m.)
RELATED: Will Marco Arop make it three at Paris Diamond League?
Canada's Marco Arop lands on his 3rd consecutive @Diamond_League podium with a 3rd place finish in the men's 800m final in Paris with a time of 1:44.74 behind Kinyamal & Rotich from Kenya ??https://t.co/dRl9yxVWRU pic.twitter.com/SvyQ0ktAdf
— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) August 28, 2021
Canada’s Matt Hughes was fifth in the men’s steeplechase event, with a time of 8:13.77, just a fraction off his season’s best time of 8:13.56. Kenyans swept the podium in this event, with Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Benjamin Kigen taking the win in a world-leading time of 8:07.12, Abraham Kibiwot in second with 8:09.35 and Leonard Kipkemoi Bett third in 8:10.21. Getnet Wale of Ethiopia was fourth, ahead of Hughes. (Hughes finished sixth at the final in Tokyo.)
All Marco Arop does these days is travel the world and collect 800-metre podiums! He takes third at the Diamond League event in Paris, clocking in with a time of 1:44.74!#ExperienceGreatness pic.twitter.com/ipnPVvw7G2
— Athletics Canada (@AthleticsCanada) August 28, 2021
Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba, who doubled in the 5,000m and 10,000m in Tokyo, won the 3,000m in Paris in a world-leading 8:19.08, after winning this event at last week’s Pre Classic also. Ejgayehu Taye ran a national record-setting time for Ethiopia of 8:19.52 for second place, and Margaret Kipkemboi of Kenya was third, in 8:21.53, a personal best. The three Africans opened up a huge lead over the rest of the field, the other runners strung out in a very long line behind them. Elise Cranny of the Bowerman Track Club ran a personal best 8:30.30 for fourth place. Canada’s Gabriela DeBues-Stafford had a difficult race, finishing 10th in 8:44.21, but managing to nip Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet, the world U20 cross country champion, at the line.
Some days you just have to show up and be smart about it. Thank you all for helping me to go through this marvelous season ♥️ ?. #Hiswill #Hisglory #HistoryBooks #FastElaineStory #powerful #relentless #determination #love pic.twitter.com/aSIAABtbtL
— Elaine Thompson-Herah (@FastElaine) August 28, 2021
The women’s 100m was missing a key player from the last several meets, Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce having decided to sit out this race. Olympic gold medallist Elaine Thompson-Herah proved herself indomitable in this event, taking the win in a meeting record of 10.72, with Shericka Jackson taking second in 10.97 and the U.K.’s Dina Asher-Smith third in 11.06.
RELATED: Elaine Thompson-Herah runs second fastest 100m time ever, Sha’Carri Richardson last
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