Monaco: Highlights Athletics: IAAF Diamond League

The here tonight, and, sadly, there will understandably be a sombre

atmosphere. We are just 20 kilometres from Nice, and in the

stands you can see that many people who would have trouble to Nice after

the events of last night have chosen not to come. -- many who would have

travelled here. The events in which so many men, women and children lost

their lives have affected many. And the athletics community, the

athletes and spectators, many of whom are from Nice, will shortly be

observing a minute peers silence to express solidarity and condolences

with those affected. And all of the athletes competing will wary lack

ribbon. -- will wear a black ribbon. APPLAUSE

Perfectly observed and, for now, the athletes concentrate on the job at

hand. I hand Tim Hutchings to commentate on the 400 metres

hurdles. There is a sombre mood, but life must go on.

Her season is building well, the South African. There is only Doyle,

she was the European champion in 2014. Commonwealth silver-medallist.

Having a super season. Ashley Spencer goes in four, world number

five. Great flat speed. She was second in the US championships and

yet chose to travel from Eugene last week. Little, one of the biggest

shocks was that she did not make the final last week. Sarah Patterson,

European champion from last week in Amsterdam, she goes in sixth.

Cassandra Tate, third in the World Championships last year, another

casualty of the US Championships. She was only fifth in their Olympic

trials. Springer was the bronze-medallist last week, this is

her first Diamond League appearance of the year. For little, it was a

stunning blow. A disappointing blow for the world number two this year.

She was world number one coming into those trials last week and did not

get out of her semifinals. Could not get to within two to microseconds of

her personal best sat at the end of May. She is in the five, with the

yellow flower in her hair. World Championships silver and bronze,

neither made the Rio team for the USA. A vetoed of Britain goes the

number three. Ashley Spencer goes in four, Little goes in lane five. Can

she compensate for the disappointment of Eugene? European

champion Cassandra Tate is in seven, Sprunger is in lane eight.

Frustration for Little in lane five, she has made up ground on Sarah

Patterson of Denmark. Cassandra Tate has got off very quickly. My word,

has Doyle gone hard from the first 200 metres. Ashley Spencer is having

about run at the moment. Doyle is leading at the moment in mind three,

has blasted through this. Can she hold down the home straight? This

event is renowned for getting its revenge on you if you do not spread

your energies correctly. A fabulous performance from the Scot so far.

Doyle is still leading. She will take this by a big margin. What a

time, 54.11 from Cassandra Tate and Sarah Patterson. That from a Lee

Doyle, a new personal best. She threw caution to the wind, attacked

it out of the blocks, held her form and did not falter at all. 54.09

from Eilidh Doyle, one heck of a confidence booster against a very,

very strong field. What a great performance from Eilidh

Doyle. I know she was trying to work with this new patent that she wants

to use in Rio, the pattern that she hopes will take her to a medal. She

really attacked it hard. 15 strides to the first six. She does not like

going off her right leg. She just had to chop here. She got it

perfect. She would have taken that last barrier with her left leg lead.

That is a very minor point. She will be delighted. Just as to chop a

little bit into the last one, everything else was perfect tonight.

A leaked oil looking more and more like a real prospect for a medal.

When you win these big Diamond Leagues, the confidence it gets you

against a good field, she began so well. What a confidence booster.

This was really, really top-class, personal best, the confidence must

be soaring. Let's confirm that result. 54.09, the personal best.

The Danish European champion, a season best for her. The Americans

are struggling tonight so far. Doyle on 30 points, ten points for a win

in the Diamond League, Tate is still pretty tight, more meets to come.

Rio is almost on top of us. What an excellent run, was it your intention

to set a PB? I just wanted to raise well. It was not brilliant, up my

last hurdle, I hope there is more to come. US champion Michelle Carter

has troubled wells and the Olympic trials last week. A fourth --

fourth-round effort was the best way consistency reason for the world

into. That he was just one centimetre away from her season's

best, set when taking the US title in Eugene. The German world number

two could not find the 20-metre plus born but brought a European gold in

Amsterdam just eight days ago. The reigning world champions's form put

together a solid series, capped by this 19.81 throw in round five.

Valerie Adams was resurgent, the reigning Olympic champion from New

Zealand came out today. Four times world champion between 2000 72013,

she has undergone a series of surgeries, but like a true champion

she fought back. She reached 20.05, the big Kiwi is back. 3/20 metres

for the first time in three years, perfect timing with Rio month away.

This week the Diamond League comes to Monaco, the tiny principality of

the French Riviera which is also the home of the IAAF.

Always one of the best meetings on the Diamond League circuit,

Monaco last year produced a number of world leads and a world

Nijel Amos leads a strong field in the men's 800 metres,

Mo Farah and Asbel Kiprop again do battle over 1500 metres in a race

featuring Charlie Grice. European champion Daphne Schippers

headlines the 100 metres. Lynsey Sharp takes on the seemingly

unstoppable Caster And we'll have all the best

action from some top class Field competitions.

The men's 800 metres. I think it is going to be

interesting to see who takes this on. We know some of the normal

frontrunners. Brandon McBride has already moved up on Kip Keita.

There is a degree of safety going through about 50.5. Psalm is 50.6. A

strong, big field. You do not want to commit too much with that much

talent breathing down your neck. McBride will try to hold off the two

Kenyans. Kip Koech is just elbowed out of it. He tries to hold the

inside. He will hold the inside. It is Kip Keita, the Kenyan champion.

The -- McBride looking for some rude. Kip shot will try to get

there. It is another when her Kip Keita. Well, he looked strong at the

Kenyan trials. He put himself in a good position there. He used those

elbows to really good effect. Lewandowski finishing strongly.

Michael Rimmer in fifth. Around the bend. The two polish in his wake. --

polish athletes. Kip Keita, it is not pretty to look

at, flailing arms. He covers the ground well. Good to see Lewandowski

coming back as well. A really quick run from him. A seasoned's best in

third. The Polish pair are quite a pairing. Very experienced. Kip

Ketter is raw talent. The men's long jump. Damar Forbes from Jamaica.

Jamaica obviously looking to turn some athletes who cannot sprint to

well into long jumpers. Forbes was a thin Moscow a couple of years ago.

He has not progressed really since 2013. A little shake of the head.

Long jump this year looks stacked, with so many men. Probably putting

the Olympic champion, Greg Rutherford, under some pressure.

Eight metres and eight. The African champion already this

year. A drop in the stride. A little bit below eight metres. You

lose so much momentum when you drop your stride like that. It is below

eight metres. Seven metres, 93. Something to build on. When you

think he is an 8.38 jumper this year. We have an intriguing women's

pole vaulter. Disappointingly, the field of eight is already down to

six. Two of the main contenders not starting at all. This is Silva.

Coming in at 4.5 five. Successfully. Only six now taking part. A big year

for the Brazilians. Eliza McCartney. At this height, Ling Li has already

gone out. Silver over the first time. Her first gold in the

competition. Well clear as well. Plenty of height. Here is Murer, in

great form. 35 years old. She makes light of it.

Ride on the inside, Mamet Abraham. -- Mame-Ibra Anne. Just Mr Medel

indoors this year, Taplin from granola. -- missed a medal. Said

NEL, 20 years old. Really big talent. -- Cedenio. 44.7 this year

back in Jamaica. Tony McCoy. -- Tony McQuay. And a happy birthday to Van

Niekerk. 24 today. In the form of his life. Makwala Botswana. --

Makwala from Botswana. He can be great on his day. Maslak. Silver

medallist at the European Championships. Just outside the

medals in that race was Kevin Borlee. I said Van Niekerk was in

the form of his life. He has been training with Usain Bolt recently.

He has been running stunningly well at all distances. The 100 and 200.

He ran the third fastest ever time in 300 metres. Only Michael Johnson

and Usain Bolt have ever gone quicker. Van Niekerk of South

Africa. With merit and James he will surely contest the gold medal at

Rio. Cleanly away. Tony McKay has moved

up quickly inside. -- Tony McCoy. Van Niekerk making up some ground.

Also going well is Taplin. Van Niekerk through the first couple of

hundred metres. He looks very comfortable. Taplin going well.

Makwala trying to go with Van Niekerk. It may be Taplin with the

slight advantage. Van Niekerk almost changing gear. Moving away from the

rest. He will win this at a canter. Said Daniel finished quickly. --

said NEL. He always looks tired. In Beijing

last year, he ended up in hospital. But he produces the goods. I love

his action. I love the way he runs. You just think Van Niekerk is

heading for something big. He reminds me of a miniature Kirani

James. He is not big but can he last well down the home straight. He just

outlasts the others. It looks like he is accelerating both the others

are struggling. Merritt looked fantastic last week in the US

trials. But this man will be a handful. His speed has improved over

200 metres. He did make that looked like a canter. There was very little

sign of strain. He works a little bit harder with the arms to ease

away from Taplin. Very impressive indeed. Van Niekerk winning. A

personal best for said Ennio. -- said NEL.

Xinglong Gao in the long jump. A modest opener for the Chinese

22-year-old. Really good speed and rhythm. Lovely and smooth. That

actually flattered to deceive. A shake of the head from him. A long

way behind the plasticine. That is a huge distance to give away. When you

hardly make the board at all in relatively stale air... -- still. He

will need to go further than that. Katarina Stefanidi. That is nice.

Really smooth. Took the European title in Amsterdam with 4.8 one. --

4.80 one. The confidence is evident, isn't it? This is Murer them. --

again. Down to five in this competition. That is better. As Tim

was saying, when she gets close to Rio, they would be so hoping she

will hit are top form at the right time. 4.6 five. In nice clearance.

This is Holly Bradshaw. She won the UK title with 4.60. A world-class

performer on her day. 4.71 her lifetime best. That is good, a

season's best. She is starting to get towards the height where she can

content. Third attempt. Silva. She needs to make this. Yes! This

women's pole vaulter is there for the taking tonight. The better

athletes not having too much of a problem. Until that point, silver

looked in a bit of bother. -- Silva. But the world champion manages to go

clear. She is hanging in there. Mo Farah broke the longstanding

the British record for 1500 metres He came close to that time again

last year in another very fast race. On both occasions, though,

Mo finished behind Asbel Kiprop. The three-times world champion has

a PB within a second of the world The men's 1500 metres. The athletes

on the track. The blue ribbon event of many a championship. A lot of

European interest. Abdelaati Iguider is in there. Makhloufi. Mo Farah.

Asbel Kiprop, the outstanding world number one. This race includes just

about everybody, the Olympic champion, world champion, European

champion, European indoor champion. The first four from the world

championships last year are in this. We are looking for 1.50 four 800

metres. It is predicted to be incredibly quick. Where they go.

There will some stragglers suffering in the latter stages if they all go

with the pace. The two pacemakers have been tasked with going out at

1.50 four 800. You thought it was too fast, Steve? On paper it doesn't

even look right. You probably go out a bit quick and then they're

expecting them to pick up again through 2000 metres. I can't see

that happening. It is going to be down to Kiprop. I think it is the

third lap when you find out if you really fancies it. Makhloufi

stepping on Mo Farah. That is where the gaps start to appear. Kiprop

this maybe challenging the others. They are probably thinking, he will

come back to us on the third lap. If he does, he may be in trouble. If he

doesn't, we are going to see him doing what he does best, showing how

fast he can go. There has been talk of world record attempts. It has

been set up for that so far. Kiprop is probably 54.5 at 400 metres, just

about perfect. Abdelaati Iguider isolated in fourth. Look at the

single file. A strip of runners way back along the home straight. Two

laps remaining. Abdelaati Iguider is a sub 1500 metre -- 5000 metre man.

Mo Farah is in aid. Look at the 800 metre time! 149.9. He is struggling

to keep this going. Kiprop looks relaxed. They will start to close

this. Mo Farah will not stay in a place. They are all going to come

back to Kiprop. He is good think, I am having a rest now. Then I go

again. Abdelaati Iguider is close. He will have to go hard and fast.

The world record is 3.26 said in Rome all those years ago. Abdelaati

Iguider leads. As Kiprop gone too hard? -- has Kiprop gone too hard?

Mo Farah in fifth. Looking strong as they head into the back straight.

Abdelaati Iguider is a 3.28 man. Leading by two are three metres. Has

somebody to a mad now, Kiprop. Mo Farah in sixth. He has still got

work to do. The rest of the struggling.

The European champion is back in about eight place. Iguider has

Kiprop breathing down his neck. Running really wide on the outside.

Iguider on the inside, beaten. Here's coming away with this win

very comfortably, looking fantastic. -- he is coming away.

My word, it was left very, very late indeed by Kwemboi. It shows how

delicately you have to pays these races when you are operating at the

edge of the envelope, you have to get it right, 1:49.9, 1:50.3 was

just too optimistic. He will be disappointed with that. He really

expected to run a long way around 3.30. Had been whisperings in the

hotel of world-record attempt. If you go out at 150, you're setting

yourself up to win a world-record all get into bother. When you slow

down so much on the third lap, I think that was his plan, go out

hard, maybe get the others sucked in, slow down and go again. But

Kwemboi came from nowhere. We are here in Monaco, we expect great

things from Kiprop, we will not always get it. He said to me

yesterday that he has had a difficult week, problems with his

manager and agent back home in Kenya, he says he has been stressed

out. But then don't go out 150, don't take the bait. Run a more

sensible rate. He has themselves to blame, he went out hard, for

whatever reason it was not there. Kwemboi came out with a win which

would surprise everybody comically himself. All credit to him, it

almost looked like a tactical race, the speed that Kwemoi was able to

generate. A season's best. Manangoi was second. Mo Farah in fifth place.

Quite a few athletes had the rhythm of their race upset by the pace

being much too quick. Charlie Grice, by the way, another young British

athlete, 3:33.60. Forbes is still leading, eight

metres eight. The only want to go over eight metres so far.

That is much better. Maintained right the way through until he hit

the board, he has been right on the border all night. Taking him well

over eight metres. I said his personal best goes all the way back,

three years ago now, 2013, his best year, right on the board again. This

can't be too far away from. -- far away from that. He has the bit

between his teeth, he knows he is leading in a decent field. It is not

one of the best. 8.23, season's best, so close to a personal best

for Forbes, who maintains his position in the lead.

Back on the pole vault for Silva, a first attempt. Silva coming alive

all of a sudden after having looked in a little bit of bother at 4.65,

the world champion makes it look almost too easy. It puts her in the

lead at the moment. On the far side of the track, the

women are lining up for the 3000 metres. They read it competitive

field. One or two macro art that are stepping up for the first time,

Rosie Clarke of Great Britain got a call to the start with just a

Tuesday. Steph Twell, Mercy Cherono and Helen Obiri will start as the

favourites, probably. Many of the Kenyon said Ethiopians are fresh

from their trials. The Ethiopians named their team today -- many of

the Kenyans and Ethiopians are fresh from their trials.

Insert the Dibaba broke the world record here last year. I am not sure

we will see too much World Cup form here. Obiri performs better than

Jeroen no at the Kenyans trials. -- Obiri performs better than Cherono.

Steph Twell is heading off to Rio, Great Britain are taking pretty much

a full contingent in the long distances, 5000 and 10,000, in the

men's and women's, the first time in quite a long time.

Cherono is on the outside. Waiting to see what sort of pace is set.

They asked for an aged 30 pace, I am not sure we will get that

maintained. Hopefully a good race. 4.65 opening height for this pole

vault, now 4.70 six. She is an wonderful form. The vertical jumps

are so dependent on confidence. You have to be on top of it,

psychologically. 4.76 was no problem at all.

He always jumps with the gold chain in his mouth. That is big. Much

better. Forbes of Jamaica hit a big one in round three, eight metres 23,

that is the target. That was very close indeed. Fabulous height. Oh,

my word. He is less than one inch shy, he is in second place.

Look at her card, 4.76 with only her second vault. 4.81, she goes clear.

That is the way to do it. Very much in control of things at the moment.

Silva is in trouble. She passed out for .76, which was interesting, she

was ahead at 4.71, which Stefan needy did not attempt. Three

failures at 4.81, she is gone. You saw the Greek clear at the second

time of asking, the Mirror has had four failures. With that failure by

Silva, it confirms the victor against a very strong field is

Stefanidi. Obiri looks up, she will see her

team-mate. Kisa is five metres behind. The danger will come from

Mercy Cherono. A battle for fourth spot with a lap to go. Obiri, with

the 1500 metre pace, turning the pressure on. Cherono will try to

hang on, try to hope her strength can come into play, but Obiri is

looking good. There is a screen on the back straight, she has a little

glance and her confidence grows, because the Gap extends to five

metres. Helen Obiri is starting to push on and cake away. The former

world indoor and. -- push on and kick away. This is the old sprinting

form of Helen Obiri. Look at the difference between herself and

Cherono, Cherono coming under pressure from Kisa. This will be a

great win for Helen Obiri, a pretty great time, not too far from her

personal best. 8.24, Cherono settling for second, 8.27 or

thereabouts. Kisa dropped out in the home straight in what looks like a

very quick time for the Norwegian. Rock star crossed at about 8.39,

Steph Twell at about 8.40 one. Helen Obiri, Tim, she will be looking at

the 5000 metres. Dibaba is not in it. Chariot is

coming back too great form. Obiri has to be thinking about medal

chances in Rio. When you think she did all the work for the last two

macro kilometres of that race. World-class closing. She was able to

raise her game over the final 150, a very, very well executed race. She

turned the screw consistently, more and more through the last 300

metres. And to just burn off an athlete of the strength and speed of

Mercy Cherono is fabulous. Particularly pleased for Steph

Twell. That moves her up the UK all-time list. 8:40.98, her official

time. A big personal best. A personal best for the Norwegian and

the Canadian runners as well. They host of personal bests, as ever, in

Monaco, even Rosie Clarke in 11th knocked three seconds off her best.

Dafne Schippfers is on top of the world, currently leading

the rankings for both 100 and 200 metres.

Since leaving heptathlon to concentrate solely on track

events, the Dutch athlete has dominated women's sprinting,

winning six major gold medals and setting blistering times.

After breaking the Diamond League record over 200 metres

in her last outing in Oslo, Schippers will be looking

to do the same over 100 metres tonight.

The women's 100 metres, all eyes are surely on Daphne Schippers, the

world champion, the European champion in Amsterdam last week in

front of an adoring crowd over 100 metres. Veronica Campbell-Brown goes

on three, she was almost fourth -- only fourth in the Jamaican

championship is. This will be a real test for the

Dutch athlete. A pretty good start from Schippers. She moves clear.

Campbell-Brown in second place. Skippers. She made that look very,

very workmanlike. Pretty straightforward. Not a great deal of

pressure being applied. She is so much more confident with this better

start. She said yesterday that she feels because of the significance of

the start of the 100, more so than the 200, Heron proved starting

technique means she has more potential to be gathered up, so to

speak. -- her improved starting technique. She is already well than

the one at 200. She might not be welcomed and one at 100, she has had

a couple of this season, one in each distance, but she will be tough to

beat come Rio. The thing you have to always remember with Daphne

Schippers, she will be good in the rounds. This confidence that she has

in her start, she is putting herself under less pressure, meaning you

start better anyway. She has a bit more confidence that it will work

for her. She keeps it simple and straightforward, then once she is

into running, more often than not, the last 20 or 30 metres, she will

keep going away or run others down as they have got ahead of her.

Strong, powerful, relaxed, more to come. That is what would trouble me

if I was the others. Whenever you see her, you always think, OK, three

rounds and she might have to go into the 1070s or something, it will be

warm in Rio, a little breeze tonight. There are five athletes

this year who have gone under 1080, she is not amongst them, so it will

be tough. Daphne Schippers beats Veronica Campbell-Brown, a big gulf

between the two macro. Robbie Grabarz in the high jump

competition. Goes clear at 2.3 one. He has been perfect up to and

including this height. The Olympic bronze medallist in fine fettle with

Rio bearing down on us. 2.31 first attempt. Brassington sailing over.

Really coming into good form. -- Barhsim.

The second attempt for Gianmarco Tamberi. The tights are off, the

basketball shorts are off and the clearances are coming. Fascinating

fellow, really good sense of humour. Very animated press conference with

Barhsim yesterday. This has the makings of something very special

tonight. His opening night was 2.2 two. -- 2.20 two.

Gaza, the Syrian, in the form of his life. He goes clear as well. This is

really warming up. Another one clear. Second attempt for him. He is

in third. Xinglong Gao looking desperately to give it some

respectability, his card. Andy almost does it. Peppering the region

between 7.5 and eight metres. Prior to this he has not been able to hit

eight metres. That looked below eight metres, I have to say. And he

has done it with his sixth and final effort. Talk about reward for

perseverance. He moves into third place. Texaco is scalps. -- he takes

a couple of useful scalps. Djidji in Poland in lane one. -- 's

IQ. -- Jaguar. Ortega of Spain is in three.

Martinot-Lagarde has been given the middle lane. Omar McLeod in five.

Dimitri Bascou in sixth. 110 hurdles. Safely away. Omar McLeod

got a terrible start. Bascou leading. Here comes Omar McLeod.

Still Bascou. Ortega get said! -- gets it! Ortega came from nowhere at

the end. He did not get a good start. It was all happening on this

side. Bascou was away. He was being chased down by Omar McLeod, the made

a mess of things and ended up on the track. The man who finished strongly

was Ortega. He is in a bid of turmoil at the moment because he

thinks he should be going to the Olympic Games to represent Spain.

The IAAF say his eligibility does not come into effect to compete in

major championships until November. And this will put him right at the

forefront of the headlines because he has won here tonight. His story

will get some attention. He said a new national record in Spain earlier

in the season. Look at Omar McLeod. Hitting more barriers. He crashes to

the track really heavily. He even manages to lose his shoe. It shows

what an unforgiving discipline this is. Ortega third from right, very

smooth. Taking the barriers in his stride. Never gives the other is a

sniff. That was faultless. What about Martinot-Lagarde. What a

return for him. There is Omar McLeod crashing down. Ortega coming

through. He drags the big man through with him. Watch

Martinot-Lagarde. Under a bit of pressure. Watching his team-mate,

Bascou, going away. Look how strongly he finishes it. By far his

best run of the season. 13.01 tonight. Here is the result.

Bondarenko with his third attempt. Not this time. That looked very

smooth indeed from the Ukrainian. The former world champion. And

Bondarenko throws the gauntlet down to the others. First time clearance

at 2.30 four. -- 2.3 four. He goes clear! It wouldn't be the

one you would look down the list of names and say, this is the man who

is going to win. But he goes clear. What can Tamberi do? Oh, yes! Of

course, he says. The showman. World Indoor Championship of the European

champion. 2.34 at the second attempt. Barshim in real trouble.

His season has been rounding into one of enormous promise. This will

be massively disappointed. It is just that. The javelin is an event

which is on the field programme tonight. Here is Catherine Mitchell.

The Australian. 66-metre throw at her best. That is a very sound

throw. 63.80. This is the woman who won the European title, Callard over

it. -- Kalann of itch. That is a really good effort. Way out there.

Those markers are wrong. A bit disconcerting. It was a good throw.

It is disconcerting. That was a 65-metre throw, not a 70-metre

throw. She moves into an early lead. The line-up for the next event. It

is a big field. 12 starters. It is a high-calibre field.

Nyairera Wambui, World Junior Championships 14. Won-macro the

Kenyan Olympic trials last week. Niyonsaba, the World Indoor

Championship. She shares lane six with Molly Ludlow. Fourth the

Neolithic trials last week. Just missed out on a spot of the

Olympics. Caster Semenya, world champion in 2009, unbeaten in 800 so

far this year. The world record is 1:53.20 eight. That was in 1983. A

weather girl. Caster Semenya has displayed his enormous range in

recent weeks. -- away they go. Semenya has all of the armoury

needed to handle a field of this calibre. I wonder if she might

overextend yourself in this 800 metres. The pacemaker has gone off

quickly. Semenya slots into second. She looks relaxed. The rest of them

being strung out. Niyonsaba in second. Nyairera Wambui moving into

sixth. So far, Lynsey Sharp keeping our powder dry. Nyairera Wambui went

through the first few hundred metres slower than the others. It is not

super fast but certainly quick enough. Can Semenya runaway from

Niyonsaba? 56.04 is probably a better time. It is more sensible. It

is Semenya at the moment. The athletes in world rankings in first,

second and third. 250 metres to run. Lynsey Sharp in A. 200 metres

remaining. This is where Semenya in every race this year has eased away

from the opposition. Almost effortlessly. Brilliant running from

Molly Ludlow. She is clinging on to the top three. Out in front after...

Lynsey Sharp than the home straight. -- home straight. Semenya looking

powerful, looking smooth. 1:55.30 four. That is a new personal best.

And boy, oh boy, does she look stressed? Does she look in trouble?

A brilliant, brilliant, smooth piece of 800 metre running from Caster

Semenya. Yes, some good performances behind. There is nobody who can do

what she can do at the minute. Nobody can do that. Not even

Niyonsaba or a Nyairera Wambui. She can win at will. Surely she is going

to run much quicker than that if she wants to. This is controlled

running. She only picks up on the last 100 metres. To have that in

your tank, the others have not got that. They just do not. As a

competitor you always have to think, how can I beat that person? I cannot

see anything. I could not suggest anything to the others that could

give them even a glimmer of hope. Because in effect, she acted as a

pacemaker. Didn't step aside, didn't slow, just gradually eased away. The

place times spectacular. A national record. That was for Niyonsaba in

second. Great personal best from Molly Ludlow.

Bondarenko with his second attempt at 2.3 seven. That is nice. Yes. The

confidence is coming back for several of these high jumpers. Last

year was almost a fallow year. After the exploits of 2014 which was so

spectacular. Tamberi. His first attempt. That is clear. That is a

personal best equalling performance from Tamberi. And he takes the lead.

And my word, Willie he take some scalps tonight? Bondarenko behind

him. Barshim already out. Thomases out as well. Here is Majad Ghazal.

What a night he is having. No. He is more concerned with the foot than

the failure. This is Spotakova in the javelin. First round,. She

managed to get into the top four. Three more throws. Now we have got

better marking out there as well. Kalann average leading. Mitchell of

Australia lying in second place. Not quite far enough. The 200 metres for

men all set to go. Christophe Lemaitre is becoming

almost the forgotten man of European sprinting after dominating. James

Ellington in the yellow for Great Britain. He is concentrating on the

100 this year. Martinez of Dominica. A pretty even break. A good start

for lane eight. The Jamaican is also going well. Brenner is in lane one.

It is anybody's race. Alonso Edward has just got their centrist moves

away by a metre. Alonso Edward gets the win from Lemaitre, and perhaps

Brenner is for third. 20.11, that is the time at the moment.

It has just been taken down by a hundred, 20.1 zero. Alonso Edward

has been in good term, 20.06 is his season best. Very, very smooth.

James Allington swung wide. You never really got back on terms with

the majority of this field. -- he'd never really. Edward was very, very

much smoother. It is a season's best for Lemaitre, not by much. It is all

a bit ragged. You can't knock anyone for fighting hard. He was never the

smoothest of sprinters. He will claim and say that he is edging in

the right direction, but Alonso Edward, just look at him, nice and

relaxed. Then sit off the truck. Martina was probably a bit

disappointed with his performance. Alonso Edward, a big winter night.

20.10 his winning time, a season's best from Lemaitre. Very Brenner is

just run out of third place by Martina, but he equalled his

national record. -- Nery Brenes was just run out of third place.

The men's 3000, the final event. What a race it promises to be. A

host of Kenyans, including the world number one who, as we understand, is

looking for a long way under eight minutes, that is Kipruto. We

understand he has never wrote that. If the pacemakers do their job, if

Kipruto goes with them, the World Championships silver-medallist for

each of the last two macro occasions, 2013 in Moscow and last

year in Beijing, maybe we could see something special here tonight. Of

course we want to see a great race as well. Records are the cream on

the cake, so to speak. Bondarenko is in a little bit of

trouble. He is on the way back, Bondarenko.

He has had a busy evening, came in at 2.22, clear but first-time. There

is his card in full. A second place for Bondarenko.

At the third time of asking, Tambe area, the European champion, 2.39,

cleared it. -- Tamberi, the European champion. Tamberi has a new national

record, 2.39, McLeod were on their feet. -- the crowd were on their

feet. This youngster who stunned the world

at the European Championships, Rojas, she is still a little bit

raw, still yet to control those long limbs, but think of the potential

she surely has at this? Certainly an improvement. Started with 14.23 in

round one. She was in the Labour last time saw it. In proving to

14.55 -- she was in the lead, the last time we saw it.

This precocious talent from Rojas. She is now somebody for Ibarguen to

battle. All smiles. She is quite a character, Ibarguen. She has been

around a while, 32 years old, Rojas is fully 12 years younger.

A fabulous final phase, she squeezes every centimetre out of it.

One national records already for Tamberi, what a year he is having.

He already has to macro gold medals at the Ruby in Championships and at

the Europeans. Let's hope that is not an injury. -- at the European

indoor Championships and add to be repealed. Oh, no, no, no. I was just

saying what a year he is having, that looks like an athlete who

thinks he has done something bad. A new national record from Tamberi,

but with a very worrying injury just before Rio. Bondarenko taking second

place, Robert Grabarz taking third in the Diamond race, Bondarenko is

still reading it. Back to the steeplechase, but first

kilometre 2:40.50 four. It is not Grice Peck -- great pacemaking. I

think there might be a race for Kipruto now, rather than a time

trial. The third placed runner is trying to

hang onto Kipruto. Kipyego is in fourth place in the orange. He has

to go. He is hanging around, the place is going. The last 1000

metres, really good athletes, the world-class, front running attacking

athletes, he is blaming everybody else. Have a go, go on! Show us what

you can do. He will blame the pacemaker but, to

be fair, if this was so easy for him he should have gone past in a lap

ago and got on with it. Otherwise I agree, he has won four Diamond

League Yes so far, each at a canter. -- Diamond Leagues so far. He won in

the Birmingham Diamond League with just a few hundred 's. This is

relatively easy. They go through the Bell in about

7.0 seven. The crowds are enjoying this. They know they are distance

running in Monte Carlo, it is always a feast of great middle-distance

races, tonight is no exception. The world junior champion, the

reigning world junior champion, the world Junior Championships starting

next week, so he will lose that title. You can never do well at the

Olympic trials, but your list as pace and he will put Kipruto under

some pressure. Kipruto responded immediately. Twice the World

Championships silver medal as now, he skips over the water jump into

the water. He is much the taller of the two macro. Who has got the

change of pace? This is now a tactical affair. Kipyego is in

third, he is run out of it. Kipruto ups the cadence. He makes it look

comfortable. Three metres to the goods in 8.08, what might have been?

One of these days, Kipruto, who records his fifth consecutive

Diamond League win in the Speigel -- steeplechase, one of these days he

will get it right, he will get great pacemaking, he will attack the

distance from the middle and latter section and he will go a long way

below eight minutes. I think he is pleased to have won the race in what

was a tactical affair. Kipruto winning 8:08.11.

The Moroccan and fourth place had a personal best.

Rojas again, gradually improving, looking better through the rounds.

That middle phase is just a step, almost literally just a step. She

does not make it a phase of the jump. She is a very, very raw

talents. I can imagine coaches all over the road would be thinking --

all over the world would be thinking, goodness me, what is this

middle phase? It hardly covers any distance at all. So much more to

come from this very, very tall young lady. 14.60 four.

She has been leading the javelin throughout, this lady. She could not

go further. Flat conditions, not easy for javelin throwers. A win for

her, but not able to improve. Nobody has been able to even get close to

her. So she wins. Kimberly Williams, the sixth and

final round for the Jamaican, who is in third place at the moment. 14.29

is her best, that was way back in the first round. No jumps in the

second and third rounds. Oh, that is a big second phase and a

huge final phase from Williams. She is a 14.56 jumper this year. She is

not far short with that effort. Just about perfect on the board. I know

one or two macro people would call that a no jumper.

She sits back on it a little bit, Williams, twice a World

Championships finalist. The final effort, 14 metres 47. In this light

headwind, there is still a bit of breeze around. This will be the last

of the action of the night. Ibarguen down the back straight. Many of the

crowd had stayed, which is good to see. She is leading the competition

from Rojas, 14.87 on the third round, no jumps in round four and

five. Last round of the competition. Oh! Saved the best until last! With

a defiant sweep of the arm, Ibarguen takes a bow. She has won tonight.

She stays on top. She has maybe given us the best jump of the

competition right at the very end. She is looking for 15 metres,

certainly not far away. Very, very close. She knew, didn't she? Looking

for the results. Oh, it is 14.90 six. Very close to 15 metres. Big

smiles, she would love to have gone over 15 but she stays on top,

looking good. Stay with us on BBC One next to find

out what it really takes to coach a champion. We would given exclusive

access to go behind-the-scenes with the man behind the success of

Jessica Ennis-Hill. That is followed by continued coverage of Davis Cup

tennis. Tomorrow on BBC Two, highlights of

the triathlon World Series. Diamond League athletics will be back life

next weekend with the Anniversary Games in London. Coverage starts

from 7pm on Friday evening. After the horrific news from Nice

overnight, taking part in an athletics competition can seem

futile and insignificant. However, the only thing that athletes can

realistically offer is to perform as well as they are able. Tonight we

had a host of impressive performances from British athletes

as Rio comes close, ticket early in entrance. Mo Farah was a little off

the pace in the 1500 metres, but I am sure nothing to worry about.

There was a big personal best from Charlie Grice in the same event, and

Steph Twell continues her return to Rio form. Lynsey Sharp went close to

her best, and Holly Bradshaw got a personal best in the pole vault. But

the star of the British athletes was a litre oil, a massive win for her

in the 400 metres under personal best, showing she is very much on

course to be a real contender in Rio. -- the best of the British was

Eilidh Doyle.