Hercules Athletics events in Monaco are famous for attracting the world’s best athletes. And the 2019 meet has been no exception especially in advance of the World’s in Doha in September. And of course it wouldn’t be a Monaco Herculis meet without records being shattered, with everyone waiting with baited breath to see history made with a new world record. Here are the highlights.
MILE WORLD RECORD FOR SIFAN HASSAN
Coming into the meet Sifan Hassan had signaled her intention to beat her personal record in the mile by three to four seconds! Having previously run a time of 4’14”71 this meant the world record was under attack. And the Batavian did exactly what she said. She scored the 6th world record in the history of Herculis, just eclipsing the mark of the Russian Svetlana Masterkova achieved in 1996 (4’12”33 against 4’12”56).
MAYER IN THE JAVELIN MISSED A PERSONAL RECORD
Andreas Hofmann won the men’s javelin contest with a big throw of 87.84m.
Frenchman Kevin Mayer was disappointed after having looked to thrill. But the world champion decathlete was up against the best in the world in this single event and could not beat his personal best of 71.90m achieving 67.52m on the night.
VETERAN JUSTIN GATLIN SHINES WHILE JIMMY VICAUT MISSES THE CUT FOR DOHA IN THE 100M
A highlight of the evening was in the 100 metres. American veteran Justin Gatlin (37) tamed his countryman Noah Lyles with a time of 9’91, just a hundredth of a second faster than the young Lyles. Coming to Monaco to qualify for the World’s in Doha in the 100m (the minimum time needed was 10”06), Frenchman Jimmy Vicaut missed his race goal, achieving a disappointing 10”17 and finishing 6th.
AMOS DAZZLES WHILE PIERRE-AMBROISE BOSSE STRUGGLES AT 800M
Bosse made his comeback at Herculis Monaco after a winter disturbed by injuries and legal problems after suffering an assault in 2017, three weeks after winning his world title. The Nantais had said he was at 80% of his capacity which had him placed only 9th with a time of 1’45”43. He automatically qualifies though for the World’s in Doha in two and a half months time – but there’s lots to do to be in contention. It was Botswana’s Nijel Amos who clocked the fastest time in seven years of 1.41.89 to win.
A RECORD POLE VAULT FOR LISEK WHILE LAVILLENIE ACHIEVES A RESPECTABLE 5.82 m
The contest was won by Piotr Lisek. The Pole scored a meet record (6,02m), beating the old record set by the Russian Maxim Tarasov (6,00m) in 1999. World record holder Renaud Lavillenie (6.26) improved on his best vault of the season. Having jumped 5.81 m in Lausanne last week, this time he soared over the bar at 5.82m on his first try. He then failed three times at 5.87m.
400 METRE HURDLES WORLD TIME
The American Sydney McLaughlin put in a big performance. She won the 400m hurdles with the best performance in the world for this year with a time of 53’32.
IT’S MILLER-UIBO WHO TAKES THE 200 METRES
Shaunae Miller-Uibo dominated the 200 metre race in 22’09, ahead of the Jamaican Olympic Champion Eliane Thompson. The best time of the season still remains unbeaten though at 22 seconds set by Dafne Schippers.
