Diamond League - Paris Athletics

the ninth Diamond League of the season. Many French people were

locked indoors today watching their girl, Marion Bartoli, win Wimbledon.

They have come out tonight. It is a few hundred tickets short of a

sellout. It is quite a majestic arena when it is setup for

athletics. It promises be fantastic. There is a stellar line-up. Many

global stars. Nobody bigger than a certain Jamaican who happens to be

at ten minutes to nine. Plenty more to see before that. It is worth

having a quick nod in the direction of that race. It is his compatriots

from Jamaica will be the biggest competition? Absolutely. There is a

little vicious rumour going around that he manipulated the lane draw,

so he is outside his main rival, Weir. He may be a little bit

worried. But he is the main man. guess you can pull rank when you are

against your team-mates. When you are trying to be the fastest man in

training as well, that can be tricky! He did not look too rusty

lately but every race he is going to be getting quicker in the build-up

to the World Championships? Absolutely. He looks very lean. He

looks like he has toned up a little bit. We have got the 400 metres

hurdles up first. Perri Shakes-Drayton won in Birmingham

last week. Another person looking better and better. Yes. Perri

Shakes-Drayton was a little clunky over the barriers earlier in the

year. Now that she has made the decision to focus on her hurdling,

now you see the difference. Birmingham, under 54 seconds.

Hejnova will have seen the result and said, OK, she has arrived.

Seeing your main rival quite regularly, is that a good thing?

Absolutely. You need to raise them more and more and more. Get used to

their patterns. What I love to see is that this absolutely suits Perri

Shakes-Drayton. She is in lane three. She can watch Hejnova around.

And kick when she feels she is strong enough. We have not seen the

best of Spencer for a few seasons. Will she get back to her best form?

I have been watching and hoping. She is probably the most talented

athlete in this field. Injuries have cost her her progression. You have

just got to watch out. She can be dangerous. They are now revealing

the athletes to the stadium. It is a fantastic arena in the sunlight. How

quick will they go? It is reasonably warm. There is Perri Shakes-Drayton,

smiling away. Lets see how she gets smiling away. Lets see how she gets

on and join our commentary team. Hejnova is having a superb year this

year. Moilne was second in the European Championships. -- American

Championships. Spencer did not run in this event in the Jamaican

Championships because she has a wild card being the Diamond League

champion from last year. And in lane seven, Tracey, who took advantage of

Spencer's absence in those championship. -- Championships.

Rosolova of the Czech Republic on the outside. The question is,

Hejnova continues to improve all the time. She has won six races out of

six this season. Looking to make it seven. Shakes-Drayton inside her in

lane three. Hejnova is in four. Moilne, the very good American, is

in five. Those three women take up three of the top four spots in the

of the blocks pretty quickly. Moilne has started the fastest through the

first flight. Not much to choose between them. Moilne with a slight

advantage perhaps. Hejnova putting the pressure on. Shakes-Drayton is

going with her. Hejnova just fractionally ahead of the British

athlete. These two pulling away from the others. Perri Shakes-Drayton can

be strong in the home straight but so is Hejnova. It looks like it is

going to be seven out of seven for Hejnova. Shakes-Drayton will have to

fight to hold on to second place. Hejnova wins it! A new personal

best, just outside the world lead. This woman keeps getting faster and

faster. It would be difficult for Shakes-Drayton. It is a new national

record as well as personal best. How much better? How much quicker can

she get? Perri Shakes-Drayton just inside 54 seconds in second place.

The American held on for a third. Perri Shakes-Drayton tried to match

your stride for stride but she lacks that fluency over the barriers that

Hejnova does. Hejnova is so powerful than the home straight. She is just

about on catchable in this discipline. A national record. There

is no shame in losing fur Perri Shakes-Drayton. Another solid run

after her win in Birmingham last week. At the moment this lady is

winning by many metres. Very impressive. Looks pretty comfortable

as well. Good technique and a well-balanced, well judged race.

53.23. Maximum points. Hejnova, a personal best and national record,

she is the athlete in form. Perri Shakes-Drayton, we will give you a

couple of seconds. Hejnova was the lady to beat. How was your race?

was OK. It is a good thing this is not the World Championships. I need

more races. I'm curious to know what more races. I'm curious to know what

time I ran. 53.OK. I thought you were going to say 54. You could have

been more fluent, perhaps. But the reality is that if you're still

going under 54 seconds and not happy, that is a good sign?

Definitely. It is about pacing it in the next five weeks, isn't it? How

much racing do you need to do? think I have got two more races. I

have got my trial next weekend. That will be important for me. Then I

have London. The anniversary games. Look forward to seeing you at both.

Well done. She felt she had run slower. That is actually a positive,

isn't it? She's just outside of her season's best. I am really happy

with that performance. Deep down I know she would have wanted to run

better. It is a solid performance. Going under 54 seconds, not at your

best, feeling there is work to do, that is good. Let's show you what

else is coming up this evening. Greg Rutherford is going in the long

jump. Nobody really stamping their feet into the sand so far this

feet into the sand so far this evening. The men's 400 metres coming

up in a moment. Tirunesh Dibaba looking to post a world leading time

in the women's 5000 metres. Will Marilyn Okoro go under two minutes

in the women's 800 metres? The 110 metres hurdles is world class as

well. A good 1500 metres field in the men's event. And then Usain

Bolt, amongst others, in the 200 metres. The men are out for the

men's 400 metres. LaShawn Merritt is catching the world champion. He

is storming away! James is going to is storming away! James is going to

take Olympic gold! 43.94! It is hard to look past these two.

The only time either have been beaten this season is by the other

one. It is a head to head? It is an interesting head to head. Former

Olympic champion Merritt, James, we would describe him as the pretender.

He is still very youthful. He enjoys running. That is the most important

thing. He enjoys the competition. Even though they have got titles

under their belt... The important thing is for him to go out and enjoy

himself. And why not, when you are so young and so good? He is an

absolute hero back home as well. The main road in grenade named after

him. He is a champion of the island. People hero worship him. Yes. And

they enjoy his success. He is like their ambassador. He announces to

the world where they are. It is good to see this. Quite a few American

athletes in the field. They are done with their trials. It is a very

simple straightforward system. Maybe we will get onto the other systems

later. They know who is going to the World Championships. Does that

release you in a way because you can race in the build-up to a

championship, not chasing a place? It is cut and dried. Swings and

roundabouts. If you've made the team, yes, you can sit back and

relax. If you have not made the team, you can go out there and make

money. Also, you are slightly depressed because you really want to

be at the championships. Ultimately that is where you want to be. It is

great to run fast, yes. But you need to be at the championships. This

track is not known for the quickest times. It is below the level of the

same. -- of the River Seine. It affects the spongy nurse of the

track? They say that. Some athletes track? They say that. Some athletes

will do really well This track is not so good because you had a slow

time on it? ! We will see this evening if we get some world leading

times. Christopher Brown was recently third in the Bahamas

Championships. He will be nearly 38 in Rio, but says he wants to keep

in Rio, but says he wants to keep going. David Furber was the world

number seven this year, but he ran on the 45 years. Very high standard.

This man has turned the tables on the champions, , only 20 years old,

world junior champion back in 2010, and the fastest man in the world

this year. Merit goes out in Lane number five. He is only 27, and had

to hand over the mantle of world number one to the young man from

Granada. Tony McQuade second in the US Championships three weeks back.

The European champion from last year, who won the European indoor

Championships in January. Has not been in great form this year in the

Diamond League. Completing the line-up Anne and he was a bronze

medallist in the games last week. 45.7, his lifetime best this season.

A nice rematch between James and Shawna merit -- Shawn Merritt. They

are 1-1 at the moment, James won in Doha, each defeated by the other in

the last two races. Those are the only losses they have recorded. They

share the lead in the Diamond League race as well. One of them or get

macro -- four points from this. Although Moscow was a few weeks

away, this matters. They will care about who takes this one. Conditions

glorious, slight breeze. James, Neolithic champion -- the Olympic

champion in Lane four. Away they go, in the centre of the field, the

almost black stripped James, he tends to finish well as does

Merritt. A similar running style. James and the light blue, centre, a

bit of work today. James has run aggressively through the first 200

metres. Karami James looks like he is coasting. Now James starts

pumping hard with the arms. He is coming through. Easing away, keeping

that one metre gap. Not enough to catch him. And look at the time,

43.96, the first sub 44 of 2013, and that was a comprehensive run from

the youngster. The maturity of his racing form technique, strategy,

that belies his age. Merritt was outraced. It might have done better

if he had not been on the outside of the American, and that was an

absolutely textbook run from the young grenade in. - Granadan.

agree wholeheartedly. He wants to let him know he is there. Had to

work really hard round the top bend. And then was expected to come again

and really pushed past him, but look how strong he is in the last 50

metres. If anything he might have moved away another 30 or 40

centimetres. Getting below 44, very close to his personal best. This guy

has to continue to get better, but the fact he is right there with him

and is pushing him so hard, that augurs well for a good year. McQuay

back in third. A solid run from him, but what a run from the Olympic

time or a personal best. James has the leading time in the world this

year, he is on fire. Absolutely on fire. Below 44 is very special. You

don't see it very often. This really proves the shape using, to do it in

a head-to-head. He took the race on early, and he could have relaxed,

but he decided to take it with him at his own game. -- the shape he is

in. When you have got the main protagonist on your shoulder as

well, that is the time to do it, especially in a world championship

season, to show the kind of form you are in. It is always good to do it

at the big meetings when no one is hiding. They are the top two 400

metre runners in the world and it's great to see it. This is what the

Diamond League is about. It gives the guy is the opportunity to go

head-to-head and sort out who will be number one in the world going

into the championships, but it might be a different story coming out. We

talk about where you pick your race, and where you tail off, on the one

hand the Americans know where they are because they have the selection

criteria sorted out, but you run the risk of peaking early because you

have to do the trials. Let's bring him in. Congratulations. Obviously

going under 44 second, the leading time in the world. How good did it

feel? It is a great feeling. I have come here, competing, the atmosphere

is nice. Overall it was a good meeting for me. Talk us through the

race, because you seemed to take him on. How much does it bring out

having him there? It is all of those guys. They are very competitive as

well. I have to give them credit as well. I think my win only looks good

because of the other guys in the race. You are under 44 seconds. How

much quicker can you go? We will have to wait and see. You have the

world championships in five weeks time. Thinking about your programme

before then, how many times will you race? We have to wait and see and go

back to the drawing board and see what we have to work on and improve

from there. Thank you very much indeed. It really sets a meeting

like this light when somebody posts a time like that. What a cool guy.

Absolutely. He just smiled when you asked how fast he could go. Perhaps

we are going to see something very special at the world Championships.

It is a competitive race, and that is what the crowd have come to see.

No doubt about it, and they have already delivered. Two good races to

kick the Diamond League. Giving the crowd what they want, and he also

said it was about the rest of the field. And it shows you how strong

the field was. Only two people Mr season 's best. That tells us the

conditions. -- missed their season 's best. We could see an electric

200 metres. Let's hope so. We still have some great field events, and

like the long jump, Greg Rutherford, the Olympic champion is taking part.

There were signs in Birmingham last week he was getting back to his

best, but it's all worth -- always worth taking some time out to learn

a bit more about Greg. Greg Rutherford, he leads at the moment,

8.21. It is big. That will take some beating. And Greg Rutherford is the

Olympic champion exhibition -- Olympic champion! . Winning the

Olympic Games was the biggest thing ever. I will struggle to top that.

So, for me, winning the Olympics. Sweet things, bad food. I love food.

I don't think I've found anything I have disliked. I can juggle. I am

pretty good with Coffey. I chucked all my eggs into one basket with the

jumping, so I can't comprehend having other talents at the moment.

Not that I can speak, anyway. It is probably my first sporting moment,

watching Linford Christie with my dad and my brother winning in 1992

in Barcelona. We were all getting really excited and jumping around.

Then he won, and it was an incredible moment. A great bonding

moment, and that got me so interested in track and field and

sport in general. After that I think I was destined to be involved. I

should have checked these beforehand. This is a tough one.

That is a really tough one, actually. I can't think of anything.

It is like picking your favourite film, and if it is that, I will be

useless. How did I know? I genuinely don't think. I clearly don't like

the evening. Tirunesh Dibaba going in the 5000 metres. Looking for a

really quick time. Worth pointing out that these pictures are not from

the BBC, we take the host broadcaster 's pictures, which is

why it seems we might be jumping about from event to event. Let me

tell you that Steve Lewis in the pole vault has got 5.60, a season 's

best, and you will see that a bit later, I am sure. A strong field in

this 5000 metres. They are looking for a quick time, a world leading

time. Let's join the commentary team the world championships, and this

ever, and if you want to wind the clock back to 2003, and what was a

brilliant world Championships in this stadium, there were a lot of

new, young gay Nash Dames -- and names coming around, and one of them

was Tirunesh Dibaba, 18 at the time, and she became the world champion at

the event. We had not heard much about them, but goodness me, she

announced herself on the world stage. With a big, loud bang. Ever

since then, to Olympic titles at 10,000 metres, and she's always been

a good athlete to watch. As she gets older it's not surprising she wants

to do every race flat out. But every now and then, with the crowds at the

Diamond League, we see what the men do, you get a better depth in the

5000 metres. It is much greater. I am not sure there is anyone in the

field here who can give her too much to worry about. This will be a case

of what Tirunesh Dibaba once. That is exactly right. Interesting see

Gabriele Anderson -- to see. I had a chat with her, and she had a

disappointing US Championships, only 11. This is her first-ever

pacemakers role. She needs to be going round around 69 seconds per

lap, and she went through pretty spot-on. About 68.5 at 400 metres,

so a good job. But you are right, when Tirunesh Dibaba has a racing

head on, no one in the field can trouble her. I wonder if she will go

to the QuickTime, if the 10,000 is going to recover -- if the quick

time. Maybe she could let the pace amble along and then test herself

over the last 400 metres. We have seen her run 58 for the first 400.

Meanwhile, the track starts, and Greg Rutherford, the Olympic

champion in the long jump. A first-round effort from him. About

7.7, there will thereabouts. Not too good on the board either. The wind

speed affecting the jump so far, but only fairly modest. Not strong

winds. Greg, on his day, the best in the world. Like Chris Tomlinson, his

British rival, who is in the competition, he does not have the a

standard for the world Championships, and Britain can only

select Rutherford or Tomlinson for Moscow. Unless they both get the a

standard. Yes, people mentioning that standard. Somebody was

mentioning it during the week, as an interesting fact, that in the men's

distance events, in the whole of Europe, there are only about macro

-- for teams who can do it. It was very few men who had the a standard

-- macro for teams. It does not bode well. Slightly different in the

women's, but not that much by the world junior champion, in the

yellow vest. I think the point you are making is that the a standard is

incredibly difficult in some events, and in the men's long jump, that is

8.25, and that would get you a medal in the world Championships because

it's not an event going through a vintage period at the moment. I

think some of those standards are significantly too hard. I agree. In

significantly too hard. I agree. In the women's it is 15.15. You could

argue that should not be too difficult to achieve. But in the

World Championships we want as many athletes there competing. They

should be competitive heaps in the 5000. Mauro that as we get closer to

the championships. Anderson doing a great job here. She has done a

sterling job as pacemaker. Clicking our watch as she goes through. Spot

on through the first 1000 metres. She is maintaining that pace. Dibaba

has slotted in behind her. Whether she keeps this going once Anderson

drops out is another matter. So far, Anderson is setting the pace.

It makes such a big difference when you get a good pacemaker. Nice,

steady tempo. 69.25, metronomic competition in this poll vault. He

is the only German here. The former world junior champion and an Olympic

medallist in London last year. -- pole vault. No trouble at all. The

story behind this young man is that this weekend is the German

championships. He is going to get into a car late tonight, as soon as

this competition is over, drive five or six hours to Germany and compete

in the German championships tomorrow. He is pretty much

confirmed for a place in the team. But to go to the World

Championships, he has got to compete in the German national

championships. Renaud led MLE, one of the great darlings of French

athletics. -- Renaud Lavillenie. Add a bit of a disaster in laws and a

couple of nights ago. That is much better. No problem at all. A good

little opener from the Olympic champion. He is world indoor

champion, Olympic champion, twice European champion. He said he had no

excuses whatsoever for his performance in laws and the other

night. On his behalf I will make one. It was windy and it was cool.

The winning height was 5.72. It was not a great night for pole vaulting.

Valid until the felony. This is his younger brother. -- Valentin

Lavillenie. He came fifth in the Mediterranean games a few days ago.

I bet that makes for some interesting dinner conversation. His

second attempt at 5.60. No. Not quite as polished as his brother

yet. He cleared 5.30 first time. He certainly gave that quite a platter.

-- Quetta thump. Earlier on this evening we had the men's discus.

Canter from Estonia opens slowly. Initially struggled to break 60

metres. He was good enough for a third place. He is the third longest

throw in history. Narrowly ahead of him was Hadadi. Last year's Olympic

silver medallist, he only had three valid throws. The best of them came

in around four. 65.53 was respectable will stop this, of

course, is the Olympic and twice world champion, Robert Harting from

Germany. A towering figure. Has lost two of his last three competitions.

He threw good enough for the win. The smile is back. He is the man,

remember, who famously likes to clear hurdles and rip his best to

pieces when he wins those world titles. Four Diamond League points

for Robert Harting. That keeps him in front of Canter and Malakoff ski.

-- Canter. An interesting night for a French pole vault fans. Mess Neal

will be retiring tonight. -- Mesnil. He has already gone out. This is the

track. -- Dutra. Mesnil did a season's best. He is struggling as

well. That is his second failure. Not happy at all. We can go back to

the high jump. McPherson, the American. That is her second

attempt. She goes through without any trouble. She is the fifth

athlete clear. Barrett has had one failure. This is her second attempt.

Almost scrapes over that one. Does just enough. Olympic silver

medallist. That is 1.89. The sixth athlete clear. Now all eyes will

focus on Jungmark. It has been interesting while we've been away.

Anderson did a really good job as pacemaker. Dibaba then took over.

Burka, the next most experienced athlete, tried to pick the pace

began. Without really being able to, she was slipping to 70s and 70 ones.

Iannone is the one who is left, the 21-year-old. -- Ayana. She has been

dabbling with the steeplechase as well. She is the former world junior

steeplechase record holder. I wouldn't imagine she thinks she can

make the world 3000 metres steeplechase for the Ethiopian team.

This is a big night for her. She could put herself in the frame for

the Ethiopian 5000 metres team. She is doing well, hanging on Dibaba.

Look at the splits. It has been a very quick race. The fourth

kilometre was the slowest. Significantly. Dibaba gathering

herself as she hits the bell. Guess what is going to happen now? Well,

we expect anyway. Dibaba stretching away. There is not that

scintillating burst of speed that we are used to. Remember when she first

did this back in 2003, when she was just 18 years of age, at the world

Championships in Paris. That was a real sharp intake of breath, with

what she produced on the last lap. It doesn't look as if she is moving

as quickly and as smoothly as she can do at her very best. But enough

to beat this field. Just giving a nod to one of her young team-mates

as she passes. It will be a pretty good time for Tirunesh Dibaba. Ayana

behind. Dibaba takes the win. The fastest in the world this year. --.

Ayana finishes second. Dragged along by Tirunesh Dibaba. But as quick as

the time that had initially been suggested. I think Dibaba would be

happy. She could easily have backed off. She tried to back off. Burka

kept the pace going. Not a really big fast last lap. Well done to

Ayana. She held on for as long as she could. She did not have the pace

that Dibaba still possesses. Fastest time in the world this year. Most of

the hard running coming in the last 200 metres. Not quite the zip there.

I just wonder if that is because she did not want to crank it open any

more than was necessary. -- crank it up. Not bad at all. Nine days after

a pretty tough 10,000 in Oz B. -- Strabo. Three Olympic gold medals, a

mass of world titles. She has pretty much done everything. Just watching

others coming in behind. Watching the clock tick away. The likes of

Twell just missed out. The top two were a long way ahead in the end.

Only four women, just to underline the point we made at the beginning,

under 15 minutes. Yes. And for me, 15 minutes is the benchmark of

world-class. Strength in depth in women's running nowhere near as

strong as the men. A new world leader for Tirunesh Dibaba. Ayana in

second place. Burka in third. Utura, the only other athlete to get

under 15 minutes. Molly Huddle will be delighted with her time. One or

two others behind not able to pick it up the three laps. -- on the last

it up the three laps. -- on the last three laps. When it is so

competitive, you know you have got to post a great time to even

qualify, you may be Olympic champion multiple times, but you still have

got to get the times? It is certainly looking that way. I think

the fact that she loves beating her old rival, she was enjoying the

doing that. She will have at the clock and thought, it is not quite

as quick as I had hoped but it is world leader. Establishing the

pecking order in the Ethiopian distance running camp. Marilyn Okoro

is in the 800 metres. She was beaten last week in Birmingham and was --

by Jessica George, who went under two minutes for the first time in

her life. What a prospect she is. What at chance for Okoro as well, to

have a challenge. When you get a new fresh face involving Eurosport that

does so well and burst onto the scene, yes, it can refocus you very

quickly. With people dropping on the wayside, she would have thought she

might have a clear run of qualifying and getting to the Championships,

but along arrives Jesse J, to do her race, but it's a good opportunity

for her. She can actually be in the pack can be towed around for a

change. Last week in Birmingham, she did all of the hard work, pushing

out everybody around her. She enjoys doing that and that is where she

gets the majority of good times from. As we get into the season a

bit more, she races more, gets into the groove, I think we will see her

go under the two-minute barrier. They have got a pacemaker, but the

girl from Bermuda, she is the quickest in the world this year.

is the lead contender in this race. And with that in mind, where there's

Marilyn pitch herself? Does she go with the pace from the beginning?

She should go with the pace, but not lead it. These athletes are better

than her, even though she was at her best, she would struggle to compete

with these guys. At the best you should think about being there or

thereabouts. She should be a bit more cautious with the first lap and

use her strengths. Her coach is an experienced 800 metres runner, so he

would have had a word to say to Marilyn, last week was one thing,

get it out of your mind, enjoy racing, but race wisely. Let's hope

she does that in this very strong field. There is the pacemaker, the

Bulgarian, leading the pace. We week, third in Lausanne a couple of

nights ago. And an Olympic finalist. Marina Arzamasova, the

bronze medallist last year in the European Championship, she went a

long way under two minutes in 2012. Kate Grace of the USA, fourth in the

championship, won the New York meeting a few weeks back. She has

never gone under two minutes. A 10th of a second off it, her best. Malika

Akkaoui, for Morocco, she was due to be in the first line. She won the

Mediterranean 800 metres title. A strong Moroccan pairing in this.

Sharing the lane with her is Ajee Wilson. The world junior champion

over the last three years. Third in the US Championships a couple of

weeks back. Alysia Montano, she loves to run from the front, goes

out hard. And there is Francine Niyonsaba. Just 20 years old. Her

last defeat was in Berlin in September last year, on a wonderful

streak. Svetlana usage has been asked to go out in 56 seconds, which

is mighty quick. The world best was in the 1st of June is under threat

today. Francine Niyonsaba, dawdling away when the gun goes, the slowest

by several metres already. I wonder where her racing brain has gone.

Montano, how Tim Lane number seven, she has gone off hard. She likes to

push it through the early stages, and so does Marilyn Okoro. Quite a

big field, 11 starters. Usovich Has gone out bouncing along, and you can

see neon Saba -- Francine Niyonsaba coming into third, but she did start

slowly. She did, but that's not so bad. She went off very slowly, but

you can tell the others are watching her. Montano was in a good place,

because she is so strong. She likes to get off her marks, so she will

not necessarily be running hard. They both have clear air, but the

others have not got into it as much as they should have done. Francine

Niyonsaba looks as though she will have to start moving to close the

gap on the American. 300 metres to go and do good pacemaking job.

Montano went through in about 50.6. Still six or seven metres on the

rest of the field although they are closing down. The pacemaker should

move aside as she is not doing any good. Montano leading from Francine

Niyonsaba. Then the Moroccan pair looking like twins in third and

fourth. Marilyn Okoro coming round the outside in fifth at the moment.

There is Kate Grace for the USA. Montano holding the lead. It comes

Francine Niyonsaba, pumping hard, under threat from Malika Akkaoui.

Montano losing ground. A big win, and the winning time, 1.57.26. It

was perhaps a slightly smarter race from Francine Niyonsaba. Good

running from Montano. Malika Akkaoui coming through second. There will be

some good place times there. Her time confirmed at 1.57.26. A bit

like one or two of the other Africans at the moment, dominating

their events. A win by only a few tenths of a second ahead of a

personal best for the Moroccan. A huge run for her. Montano, 1.57.75.

In third, getting the reward for her. Montano, 1.57.75. In third,

getting the rewards were brave run. Just waiting to see what Marilyn

Okoro has run, because she was not far behind in fourth and it might

have been a personal best. No, Kate Grace in fourth. 1.59.47. A season

's best for Marilyn Okoro. 1.59.76. She gets the standard. Some good

steady runs behind the big names. Francine Niyonsaba has maybe only

had ten big races in her career. She is learning her craft. With 300

metres to go, you have to be careful, Montano is good. Neon Saba

has just got so much humility. A bit more to offer than everyone else.

She had to work hard down the home stretch. Malika Akkaoui running the

race of her life in second. Montano, strong performance from the

American. But Francine Niyonsaba, don't think anyone will find a way

to beat this year because she can be so good on the second lap. As her

experience grows, the race crafty were talking about, she has to

develop that a bit more. She can make mistakes and still come away

with a win will stop she can run 1.57 easier than most. They are flat

out, but she can do it in different ways. Good running from Kate Grace.

Francine Niyonsaba can win in any way, pretty dominant in the 800

quick race, and maybe nobody more delighted than you, Marilyn, under

two minutes. Thank you. I'm really happy. It has been an interesting

few months for me. The coach said I was ready, just go out there, get

faster in every race, and I've raced three times this week, and that was

the plan, to race myself to fitness. I am happy to have got under two

minutes. A bit of a bumpy ride, but it is coming. What changes your mind

when you attack from the front? You go to the front and dominate and

then you struggle up the home straight. What was the difference

today, what was the decision? key thing is to run your race, your

race plan. A fast pace is my rhythm. I come from a sprinter 's

background. Some of the other girls are more endurance based, and it

looks ridiculous sometimes when I overcook it, but even 52 seconds

running at 400 is fine for me. Today there were a lot of girls are back

and run at a faster pace. So the coach was like, just use them, let

them pull you along. Next week there are the trials in Birmingham. What

kind of pressure does it take off, and how does it change your mindset

going into it, having run the a standard? A tremendous amount of

pressure. You get the standard and you can focus on what is left to do

to qualify, which is finishing in the top two. So after that Ultra

three months I have had, I didn't know if I was running at all, but it

shows I made the right decision -- tumultuous three months. My coach

has mastered this event, so I can only listen to him. It seems to be

working, so carry on, keep racing well. Isn't it great when a plan

comes off? Yes, and it was good that she told us from her own mouth about

why she runs the 800 metres in that way. She did it articulately and

beautifully. We can pay her a lot of respect because we know how she runs

and races. Macro white it is so interesting to hear why she attacks

the races in these way. As she said, sprinter 's background, different

from a distance background or cross country. Let's move to something

that is definitely a sprinter's race, the women's 100 metres, and

another strong field. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, English Gardner, they

are the two outstanding women in the world. It certainly is a strong

line-up. Let's join the commentary to this one and see who is nudging

ahead as a likely candidate for gold beaten in Birmingham over 200

metres, and she knows she has got her work cut out here, because

English Gardner surprised everybody with a 10.85 clocking in the US

championships. She also ran 10.87 in the heats. And Blessing Okagbare, in

the shape of her life this year. Doing well in the long jump and with

her sprinting. The big 200 metres victory over Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

in Birmingham last week. That was a confidence boost for her. Murielle

Ahoure it, she did well from her silver last year. And the surprise

winner in the Diamond League was this woman, Maria Rimini and. She is

in lane number nine. Nine athletes. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce inlay number

five. Ceri Ann Baptiste -- Kelly-Ann Baptiste to her left. English

Gardner to her right. Conditions are pretty good. It has been warming

Paris all day. Hardly a breath of wind in the stadium. Maybe they

would have liked a slight following wind, but really good conditions

here. It has not been this way in Paris for two or three years, I can

tell you. The women's 100 metres. Blessing Okagbare could be a danger

best start. Kelly-Ann Baptiste is there. Blessing Okagbare might get

there. No, she doesn't, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce hangs on. Just when you

saw Blessing Okagbare might get in, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce shows why

she is the Olympic champion. Just enough in the end. 10.91 on the

clock. She got a good start. Baptiste tried to get back involved

and then faded towards the end. Blessing Okagbare was coming hard

and chasing Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, and you thought the momentum would

just carry her through. But in the last five metres the Olympic

champion found something. Blessing Okagbare coming through strongly.

She towers over Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. She leans a little bit

too early, almost stumbles. She is beginning to lean about 15 metres

out. She misjudges it. Fifth from left, right in the middle in the

black, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, absolutely keeps going all the way

through to the line. Funnily enough, doesn't really bother to dip, but

she didn't need to. She knew she had the victory and I'm not sure if she

was aware. I don't think she was aware the Blessing Okagbare was

coming through. But disappointment for her. She just leaned into early.

Watch as she comes into view on the other side. I hope she comes into

view. The leaning forward was way too early, and Butler that she would

have found the extra couple of inches, I'm sure. -- and but for

that. She was coming and coming, and then doesn't quite get there.

just ahead, and that angle isn't exactly right, but she looks for the

line just a bit too early. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, just

carrying on through. She maintained the speed. She almost stopped five

metres, not stopped, but put the metres, not stopped, but put the

brakes on by dipping too early. the top three running season's best.

An hour ago you talked about how this track wasn't very well --

wasn't running very well. Maybe it was you who wasn't running very

well! Some really good times this evening. That man always seems to be

the one to beat. He is having his rubdown ahead of his 200 metres

later on. I think I would quite like to be lying down there having a mass

eyes right now. He looks as though he hasn't got any worries in the

world. No worries but I am sure he is a little bit anxious about his

competition. We will try to get hold of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. We are

not in control of these pictures. If events pop up and we are not talking

about them, that is because the host broadcaster is playing in field

events which we cannot see. In the long jump, Greg Rutherford is behind

Chris Tomlinson. Let's bring Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in. What a

race that was? No thank you. Your fastest time in the world this year?

It is not, actually. It is my fastest time. I am excited about

everything that has happened so far. This season I am healthy. I was

looking forward to racing and competing against the best.

Hopefully I can deliver my best. you think blessing had it?

really. I was not even looking. I knew it was not a great execution

but it is a win and it is something to go back and look at and see how

well I did, or how bad. How you feel compared to this stage last season?

To be honest, I'm pretty -- I'm feeling pretty good. Training has

been going good. No injuries. That is the most important thing as a

sprinter. When we line up here, nobody knows if you are injured or

not. They just want to see you compete. I am 100% healthy. I'm

looking forward to competing against the best. I know you have got a

salon back home. Will the hair change colour through the season?

Yes, it will. I am going pink for the World Championships! Thank you

very much. I just had to ask. will want to get that world title.

She is obviously feeling good and looking good, and she is in great

shape. There is a really high standard of competition taking place

over there in the women's high jump. started off this season with an

encouraging win in cold, windy, wet New York. It is great to see her a

month or so later still in good form, gradually regaining that

critical quality for a high jumpers, and that is confidence. I think she

may yet be a force to be reckoned with. The three big names all clear.

This was for clearance a few minutes ago. Those three starting to show

why they are top of the pile this year. Simic still as one attempt

left. Vlasic and Chicherova have yet to fail at any height. This is

Chicherova. She passed at 1.92. She is just languid. She is a lovely

technician. A little bit of a tough comeback for her. She is a mother

now. Getting her life organised so she can train how she wants to.

next event on the track is the men's 3000 steeplechase. Kemboi likes this

venue. He won here in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008. We are looking for a

steeplechasers is good form on the flat. The vast majority of them can

really handle flat racing as well. That is probably what is lacking for

the majority of female steeplechasers, which I think is

really in the doldrums? Yes, I would agree. The depth has not appeared in

the women's steeplechase. The time is getting nowhere near the world

record at the moment. Not that you'd should be getting near the world

know what pace they are doing. They have done this well in the past.

Mekhissi-Benabbad not hanging about. He has got his coaching setup the

way he wants it. He has been really preparing for this. This has been

the target for a good few weeks. And you can see why. Let's hope he can

get a bit of help. Kemboi likes Mekhissi-Benabbad as an athlete. He

wants to try to help them. You'd think she could help them get a fast

race tonight. They are coming into the straight. 2.39.60. Brilliant

pacemaking. Five laps remaining. Co-edge just shadowing

Mekhissi-Benabbad. -- kips allay he will be strong in the last 1000

metres. Mekhissi-Benabbad will want a good race. He will want to be

picking up the pace. The pacemakers have done a good job. Let's not

forget, the European record he is after belongs to his big rise in --

rival. We are told he will no longer steeplechase, which is sad. He has a

stress fracture. That is the record. That is the target for

Mekhissi-Benabbad. Kipsiele Koech moves in behind the two pacemakers.

He is in third place behind the two pacemakers. The first pacemaker

moves aside. Arab Taney has to get man at this distance this year in

the world and the third fastest man in history. Three laps remaining.

Even Kemboi has gone past McKenzie Ben Abad. The world record attempt

may be going for the Frenchman. -- Mekhissi-Benabbad. He needs to dig

deeper. Coming up towards 2000 metres. The Frenchman needs to hang

on to the two Africans. 5.21.1. Pretty good pacemaking. Not bad.

They should be able to clock up something below eight minutes.

Certainly the front to because they have done it before. This is Vlasic

in the high jump. This is two metres and one. No. Back to the

steeplechase. Mekhissi-Benabbad is doing a great job. He will have to

finish strong. He is probably not necessarily thinking about winning

this race. But if he tries to race these two, he has got a better

chance of getting the time. Kipsiele Koech still leading. Maybe there is

a slowing in this penultimate lap as they gather themselves physically

and psychologically for the charge on the final circuit. I don't think

Mekhissi-Benabbad is going to break that European record. He is looking

tired. One of the problems in running a big personal best in a

middle-distance race is that the race is in your legs. It trains you

a little bit. Maybe because he want to have the legs in the final

circuit. Kemboi is now moving clear. They have slowed down. The Frenchman

hits the front. There is a roar from the crowd. The race is on. He has

got every opportunity. He is attacking this last lap. He knew the

time was there. It is a race with Kemboi. I think he has got every

opportunity. Look at the acceleration from Kemboi.

Mekhissi-Benabbad needs to get his head down and drive on. Kemboi is so

quick. He is so consistent, this man who came back last year and regained

the Olympic title he had won in Athens. He has a little pitter

patter stride as he hits the barriers. He clears it well.

Mekhissi-Benabbad is going to run fast here. It will not be inside

eight minutes, or is it? Kemboi is under it. I think he has done it! He

might have done it! The winning time 7.59. My word, did they care around

that last 200 metres? ! He embraces McKenzie Ben Abad and gives a wave

to the crowd. -- Mekhissi-Benabbad. He had to chase so hard. He has run

himself into the ground, the big Frenchman. Waiting for confirmation.

It is the first soap eight minute time of 2013. I am pretty sure

Mekhissi-Benabbad's time has beaten the European record. He may even

have gone under eight minutes. The first European ever. It'll be so

tight. We don't know yet. We will tell you as soon as it comes up. He

is just outside eight minutes but it is a European record.

Mekhissi-Benabbad. There aren't too many European records these days. It

is quite a special occurrence, particularly on the track. What a

great race. I have said that Kemboi likes this guy. He hoped he did it.

He wanted to help them. He really only helped him on the last lap. The

Frenchman got his head down. He realised he had a chance. Kemboi

does not have the pace tonight that he does have. Even at this point, we

know how good Kemboi is on the last two barriers. He finishes better

than anybody. Mekhissi-Benabbad just needs to get his head down. Keep

striving, keeps running hard. Yes, Kemboi is going to take the win.

That is impressive. But Mekhissi-Benabbad has got the

record. He is the 11th fastest of all time in the steeplechase.

Goodness me, when he lies in his bed tonight, you will be thinking, I

wish I run quicker. He could have got under the magical eight minutes,

but a great run,. There is not a lot of love lost between the team-mates,

we understand. Kemboi Enjoying that race, and topping the rankings for

the time -- the time being. That is a world leading time and leading

record. As I pointed out earlier, his fifth victory in this French

meeting, at this stage of. An area record, a European record. -- this

stadium. Renaud Lavillenie, a great one there, he loves this home crowd.

Not so good in Lausanne, that is 5.77, and he leads in the pole

vault. Only three men still left in this, Steve Lewis, in fifth, Brad

Walker, he took fifth. Raphael Holzdeppe is out already and after

the German championships. Blanka Vlasic, we saw her first failure at

2.01. This is it. Her third attempt. Blanka Vlasic has had a good night

already. She already has a season 's best with 1.95. Just looking, 1.98,

she cleared that for third place at the first ask. One attempt left

each. The crowd loving it. They are so close to her. She begins this

long, long run-up. The acceleration on the curve. That was close -- not

even close. That looked a little tired, that jump from Blanka Vlasic.

I can tell you that Greg Rutherford has injured himself in the long jump

and has a hamstring injury, which looks to have been pretty nasty. He

has retired after three jumps. His best, 7.79 in the second round, but

he has aggravated his hamstring injury and he could be in doubt for

Moscow. Horrible news. This was a few minutes ago. The pressure was

on, because that was a first-time clearance. She took to efforts to

get over 1.98. But the Russian looks like she is coming into really good

for just the right time. Gliding over 2.01. Smooth as you like. So

Chicherova has got it won. The first time below eight minutes this year,

ahead of the European record. Good pace and letting -- good pacesetting

managed to set that up. I was kind of hoping when they rounded the

times down that it might have just snuck under eight minutes. It is a

European best time, but he will be kicking himself if he could have

just gone that tiny bit quicker and gone under the magic eight minutes.

It was only nine hundredths of a second, but a phenomenal

performance. What a race, and the atmosphere here, you cannot put into

words what it means to the home crowd. Just when one of their

athletes produces, even though they were second. They understand a good

race. They have seen a good, competitive race. The PA is keeping

the crowd very informed, so they would understand how close he was to

the record, and of course, he is French, they wanted him to do it.

Never fails to disappoint. -- Kemboi never fails to disappoint. As soon

as we can get a word with Greg Rutherford and how serious we think

it is, it won't be for a while because he has to stay. The field

competitions have been rich today. Let's catch up with the women's

occasionally into the face. For a lot of the jumpers it was with them,

and Olha Saladukha could not take advantage of the conditions. She is

the world leader this year, but tonight she could only muster 14.55.

Anarchy as the Ava -- Knyazheva, she added eight centimetres to her

record in the very first round. That shook things up. For while it looked

as though the unbeaten Caterine Ibarguen might struggle as well, the

Olympic silver medallist. She came close in the second round, just a

centimetre down, but then in the third going out to 14.69. That was

into the worst of the headwind. But when it counted, she managed to pull

out a pretty decent effort of 14.69 to record her sixth win of the

season. That new national record, not a personal best, but an Israeli

record at 14.58. Olha Saladukha long jump. This has been jumped

quite well by him recently. Just starting to find a bit of

consistency. It can be erratic, of course. In second place tonight.

8.08 in the second round. He will be delighted with his position, but he

will be after the a standard, that is 8.25 for the world Championships

beckoning. Tim was talking about Greg Rutherford, and if he does have

a serious problem which might rule him out of those world Championships

then Tomlinson might find himself able to go on the B standard, but it

is so far eluded him. The leader, Damar Forbes, since the second

round. Two times over eight metres, there's only been four of those

looked at the start list, he would have known there were some good guys

in here, for the Louisiana State University man. He represented

Jamaica, went back there, won their championships. That was his last

competition. He ran a new 100 metres personal best. That is the secret

with the long jump, get the speed right and transfer it into distance

on the board. Still a bit ragged. When you see these jumps, the

majority of the field, the majority struggling to get over eight metres.

Only three so far, you realise how difficult the a standard ease of

8.25. You must feel as though you might as well say they will take the

first 12 in the world rankings. it is not Greg Rutherford's day, but

Chris Tomlinson, we had a little chat with him on a little street

outside the hotel and he walked by and said he felt on good form. But

still not with the a standard. is very tough. The boys mentioned it

in commentary. We think that the Federation know what they are doing,

we hope. But the world record mark is only an 8.3, so that is a tough

standard. It is an interesting event. Incrementally, the other

events push on. But it almost seems to go in peaks and troughs, the long

jump. We have not had a really strong era for a while with people

pushing those distances. You used to have them coming out of America,

like Dwight Phillips from America, he used to jump 8.6, and since he

has been injured nothing has come close to him. The Panamanian he was

jumping over 8.5, so it has been one of these events where we have not

really seen it, live yet. I will be honest, I am pretty pleased to say

that it is a Brit who won that. He is making the most bit. You can only

beat what is in front of you. 8.35 is there or thereabouts. Let's

hope the boys keep it healthy. will try to find out what has

aggravated Greg Rutherford now. Not long now. It is nearly Usain Bolt

time. He is running the 200 metres at about 9:50pm. We saw him run his

personal best in the distance in Oslo. He has a lot of athletes on

his coat-tails this season. He is not stretching his lead and looking

unbeatable. This is a pivotal time. It is a good time for him to pick

and choose where he races. We came to Rome and lost the 100 metres to

Justin Gatlin, but he said then it was an awful race. He said that if

you go under ten seconds running like that, your opponents have to do

watch out. His next race would be the 200 metres in Oslo and we await

it with bated breath. It came down the home straight, took it with

19.79. He has not run the 200 cents. Today will be a real interesting way

to see he will run it. -- he has not run a 200 since. It does feel good

for him. It depends what he feels like. I hope he gets around in 19.6.

We will see hopefully another fast race, a metres hurdles, Aries

Merritt with the world record at the end of last season. And an injury in

Shanghai this season has slowed down his progress. Perhaps he was a bit

disappointed with the time last week. But is it more important in

terms of the form and coming back from injury and building up slowly

as we head towards the world Championships. I said to him, how do

you feel, under pressure from yourself? He said he feels it more

from other people. He needs to switch off and just do what Aries

Merritt can do. It is always good to learn a bit more about our stars, so

here is a bit more about Aries. 110 meter hurdles final. The number

one in the world, Aries Merritt. Forging ahead. Goal for Aries

Merritt excavation mark 12.94. -- gold for Aries Merritt! . Winning

the gold in London 2012. Dedicated, determined and dependable. That

would have to be salt and vinegar. My mum's sweet potato pie. It is the

best food on the planet. I really shouldn't be eating it. My hidden

talent is that I can play the violin, but no one knows. When

coming across the line, I just went crazy, that is my favourite moment

ever. My favourite Olympic city would be London, the only one where

season, and that taxes main protagonist will be David Oliver --

perhaps his main protagonist. think you are right. He has the

lead, in the world, and David Oliver ran 12.89, his personal best on this

track. He will know this well indeed. People wanted put one over

on these guys yet again. Let's not forget Ryan Brathwaite and Jason

Richardson are reading -- leading in the Diamond league race. A really

over the line in Lausanne, a real tragedy for him. It is busy going to

take a lot of coming back from. Jason Richardson, Olympic silver

medallist, struggling to find his form this year. Ryan Brathwaite,

starting to rediscover some of the form that saw him win the world

championship in Berlin. A bit of a surprise, wasn't it? And then Andrew

Riley. The Jamaican champion this year. We have not seen Rob Les --

Robles for a while. The 110 metres hurdles, nobody under 14 seconds

this year. Oliver last night, 13.03, the fastest in the world.

Oliver, in the light blue. Richardson next to him. Aries

Merritt in the darker strip to his white shorts, does not have a kit

deal with anybody. He tends to wear got a good start. Oliver are

starting to come. This is going to be a blanket finish. Merritt gets

it! Goodness me, he is back with a bang. It was very tight, very close.

12 people may be thinking they got this. I said he would need a few

more races to get anywhere near world record. That will delight him.

Season 's best. Merritt takes the win. It was a blanket finish. Pascal

Martinot-Lagarde finished second. He has been hovering for a while. He

has been improving but in small increments. That is a big jump

forward for the Frenchman. What about the scalps he has taken? That

is probably more important. What a race. David Oliver won in Lausanne

the other night. I thought Brathwaite was go to take it. Look

at Merritt in the centre. His final running of the barrier absolutely

brilliant. He is beginning to round into shape. If the timing is rather

fortuitous -- the timing is rather fortuitous. Five weeks to go. He has

won 's first big race of the season. After such a wonderful unbeaten

season last year, he has had a difficult. There is Merritt, easing

ahead of the rest. That is ominous. The times are starting to come up.

Riley on the far side comes through almost beating Oliver. We have got

national records, personal bests galore. Three hundredths of a second

separating six athletes. Five of them, probably. Look at that. The

ones missing out our Richardson and Rob Liz. You can excuse blows. What

great race. -- Rob less. Merritt back. The hamstring injury now looks

as though it has healed. He can only through. He has got the competition

won. Way, way clear. Renaud Lavillenie. That is a replay of

5.92. Our computer showing 6.02. He is about to go at 6.02. He passed

5.97. That was a lovely clearance. The confidence is back. He had a

terrible time in Lausanne two nights ago. He was still going boards when

he passed the bar. No, that was all over the place. Very untidy. He

knows it. Perfect setting, Steve, home crowd, great conditions, just

easing into fine form. His season had been going well until Lausanne.

That was a real hiccup. Very unusual for him. He did say no excuses. What

an exciting 110 metres hurdles. Merritt takes the win. Pascal

Martinot-Lagarde, big personal best for the Frenchman. That was a

surprise. Oliver, Riley and Brathwaite. Ryan Wilson was just

behind him. The French crowd enjoying the pole vault. Aries

Merritt, a season's best. What kind of form are you in? Still not in my

best form, obviously. But I am trying to run myself into shape. You

will see me drop my time or as the season progresses. It has been a

long road for me this season but I am determined to get back to the

form I was in last year. He looked very in control. Around the eighth

hurdle you started to press. I could see you grimacing. What you

thinking, bring on the line? I was feeling myself getting tired. I was

like, no! I need more training. I'm not as disciplined as I was this

point last season. It has been a long, long road this year. I am just

happy to make my team and to come out here and continue to drop my

out here and continue to drop my time. You told us your nickname last

week. The hurdles magician. The tricks didn't seem to come off last

week. You looked more comfortable today. You said last week you were

going to run under 13 seconds but it was a few weeks away? Yes, they call

me the hurdling mused -- the hurdling magician these days. I

don't know where they get it. I am just going to run with it. I'm still

breaking down the last two hurdles. With more training it will smooth

itself out. Hopefully by London. Colin said at the beginning of this

meat that this was not the quickest track. We have seen 20 of best

times. Was it just Colin who did not run well year? I could not quite

here you! Go! Go! That was tactical. He saved you there! Brilliant. It is

lovely to see him return like that. It is true. You do feel a little bit

stressed when you know you have not quite the work in you. Normally by

hurdle six or seven he would pull away. Unfortunately, because he has

missed that crucial training racing, he can go back and do ten

days of real punishing -- polishing. That'll be enough. Let's head over

to Renaud Lavillenie, pleasing the home crowd with a good performance

home crowd with a good performance in the The wind has been pretty

straight all night. Shades of the indoor season in Gothenburg. Over

six metres. That was better. He is not getting up there. He's not

getting the height, obviously. One more to come. There is Lagat. Three

times world indoor champion at 3000. I was talking to his agent last

night and he thinks he is in about 3.33 shape. Nobody has broken 3.31

this year. The record is 3.28. Taree is in good form. -- tar free. Wote,

they get it right? The pacemaking is so important when you are at the

edge of the envelope. There is Monsanto, a tiny figure. -- Manzano.

Away they go. This promises to be fast. Manzano is a very quick

finisher. It is single file already as they come around the top bend.

Souleiman in third. Lagat is in I was Souleiman... Wote is going to

be a big danger. Lagat is letting those to chase the pace early on. --

two. I would like to see it nice and relaxed at halfway rather than push

this first lap. You can see what has happened there is Lagat, with

letting those two go, there is a big gap. This looks already as though it

is Souleiman and Wote will have taken it with the pacemakers. The

others have a lot of work to do to get back on terms. Rono doing a good

job. Maybe the first lap was a little bit too enthusiastic. The

runners behind enough to trust his pace judgement. They were looking

for 1.52. It is very quick. I wonder if the pack are just going to close

these two down? Now they are isolated. The pacemaker is 12 or 14

metres in front. He is not doing any favours. He might as well start of

the track and let them race. They hit the bell. Steve, it is

anybody's race. It is bizarre. Carvalho has done a good job. It is

anybody's opportunity. I am surprised Lagat has not come through

with the others. Souleiman will try to fight them off. When you have

expended as much energy as he has done, yes, he has saved something,

but he completely ruined the race by going with the fast early pace.

have got a great race. Souleiman leading. Carvalho having a heck of a

run. Amazing running. Second in the European Championships last year.

Now Wote, a long stride. He eases among Souleiman. Manzano finishing

strongly. What's the clock. Quick times. Probably the first 1003.35,

World Championship qualifying. -- the first ten hundred 3.35. The

first 800 metres ruined it. The third lap of 59 seconds. 53, 56, 59.

That tells the story. To hold off the chasers, Wote in particular,

Souleiman deserves that win. Let's take a look at the place times.

There were men they're looking for a sub 3.35. Among them, Manzano.

Souleiman and Wote first and second. It was an interesting race if not

quite one that goes by the textbook. Hats off to them, as I said. You

have to talk to the pacemakers. You see how strong these two guys are on

the last lap. They ran a shopping third lap but they came back and

hung on. Lots of good performances behind them. Manzano came on

brilliantly. Lalang, big personal best for him in fifth. The pole

vault continues. One final attempt at 6.02. It was set up for him

tonight, and that was his best effort at 6.02, a couple of minutes

ago. Undoubtedly totally dominant again, as he has been this season.

Not too many low points, although Lausanne was one on Thursday. 5.92,

looking good until that point. 6.02 a stretch too far. Definitely his

best effort. Renaud Lavillenie keeping the crowd pumped up here. A

cracking Diamond League so far. Fantastic performances, but

everybody here knows it's all about to crank up that little bit more,

because this man, Usain Bolt, is entering the arena. This is his

Diamond League so far. The men's 100 metres. Usain Bolt has come back and

we shall see how good he is. Justin Gatlin is going to take it. Justin

Gatling gets it. Bolt is beaten. Well, he just wasn't very good. His

first 200 of the year, beaten over 100 in Rome last week. He has gone

well and is already. He now gets into his run in, into his stride.

Further and further clear. Winning by six or seven metres. 19.80, and

indeed he has delivered and he is back in his winning ways. Usain

Bolt's season gets underway properly. Usain Bolt running in the

200 metres here. He has only won one more of these competitive events,

the 200 metres in Oslo. What would you expect his time to come down by

tonight, if it is going to come down? He has been training hard,

that is the story coming out of Jamaica. When we spoke to him

beforehand in Oslo we asked him how the 200 metres would go and he said

he had no idea. He goes to Oslo and it took all of the pressure off his

shoulders because he started to believe in himself again. He

thought, OK, I have the speed in my legs, the 100 metres was down to bad

execution and now I can focus on running the race again. It will be

interesting if he charges out of the blocks. Once he gets down the home

straight and kicking out his long legs and turning them over with the

speed we know he has he could go around 19.6 which would be

sensational. He knows so much about it, training together, you know

everything about each other, your weaknesses and strengths and where

you would like to pitch yourself against them in the race. Is that

help when you are trying to improve your time through the season, or a

hindrance to know the opposition? You have to add in the unknown

situation, how do they compete. When you are training, you are just

training. How do they respond to competition? Their pressure is

something different to Usain Bolt's everybody has huge expectations on

him delivering, but they just run freely and they will try to get hold

of him as quickly as they can and hang on as long as they can. Even in

training he can wave a little bit, and they will think if they can get

to him, they can shake him up. But either way they will have to do

something sensational. I think he has really got it in him to do that

19.6 today. The Jamaicans have had their trials for the world

championships, and those done and dusted. While I have a couple of

minutes before come out and get ready, would you improve our trials

by going to the American model? Is it better to do it earlier in the

season are you happy with the way things are, that level of

uncertainty? This is what happens, because the selection policy is

difficult. Everybody you choose will always be wrong to someone. You have

to make it the simplest and clearest so the athletes understand. Let's

just pause and hear this. Usain Bolt wherever he goes. This is all part

of the build-up. It almost takes the pressure off him, taking him into

the state of competitiveness. is the way he prepares, and you

heard a loud roar for him, but what about this young man, Christophe

Lemaitre. He has not been at his best. No, he has been struggling on

many levels. We are used to seeing him running consistently but he has

lacked that a little bit. There's Mikael Ashmead -- Nickel Ashmeade.

If you asked me who the European top 100 metres runner was at the moment,

and no respect -- this respect, I think Jimmy Vicaut is the man. The

200 metres is not his territory. It will be interesting to see how he

can lower his best. Might that be a bit political to get another French

athlete in the meeting? There was no hundred metres there, so they wanted

to get the stars on show. It is a brilliant line-up, Mikael neighbours

youngster, and this man certainly did. The big athletics fans will

remember him running at about 15 years of aid at the world union

Championships -- world Junior Championships. A long time this was

considered the best event, and I think it still is for Usain Bolt. He

has been brilliant at the 100 but had to develop that in the second

half of his career, but for much of his younger career this was the

event on which everybody thought he was going to be best at. 19.19 back

in Berlin four years ago now. He has work to do here. Christophe

Lemaitre, Warren Weir, Nickel does Christophe Lemaitre. He has got

Warren Weir outside to work. Nickel Ashmeade right alongside him. The

Jamaicans not too far away. Now Usain Bolt will have to find

something extra. Being pushed by Warren Weir. He has to keep working,

but he will take it. 19.73. Warren Weir pushed him really hard. Every

time he comes out, as good as he is, as brilliant as he is, and that

win is so important, but he is going to have to be on his best as he

approaches Moscow. He has got Warren Weir for company, and he is yet to

meet Tyson Gay, but he keeps getting going -- better as 2013 goes on. The

little problem seemed to be settling down, and this was him not at his

best, but that's the quickest we have ever seen in Paris at this

meeting. The quickest in the world this year. Once more, the big man on

top. Christophe Lemaitre finished third, close to 20 seconds, but he

could only watch as Usain Bolt disappeared around the top end.

Goodness me, he had to be on the top game to hold off Warren Weir and it

was only in the last 20 metres as he moved away by a couple of tenths.

That is exactly right, but he delivers again and again. With five

weeks to go, I think he will sharpen up, have another couple of races and

be right on song for Moscow. Year after year, and this is the third or

fourth year running, when people have been a bit previous with

writing him off and their worries about his early-season form. He is a

big, big fellow. He has to get the peak right. He cannot hold the top

form through from June to September. He gets the peak right again and

again. Credit to his coaches and his support team for that. Come the

really crucial period of the summer, and that is for any athlete of his

calendar, that has to be about one month. He does get it right. He

starts well. Moves up on Warren Weir. Looking really strong, and

great Ben by Nickel Ashmeade. Really struggling, Christophe Lemaitre, in

this company. This is his better event. What was impressive about

Warren Weir is that Usain Bolt does not get away from him much down the

home straight. I expected him to open up another metre or two, but

Warren Weir was chasing hard, and that is a very impressive run for

the Jamaicans, all of them. Christophe Lemaitre, did he come

through for third? What are run over the last 50. He finished strong, but

not a good event for him. You cannot give Warren Weir and Usain Bolt

something like that. But he does finish strong, we know he does. But

the race is gone, it is finished. It is cap -- Usain Bolt and Warren Weir

who produce these times. Let's put this into perspective, apart from

himself, only eight men have ever run quicker than 19.73. You are

right, he will keep getting better and the standard here, 19.19, that

would be unbelievable out there. But he could run 19.5. Can anybody else?

That is the question. We know Warren Weir is getting better. 19.97

tonight. Jacob Young was OK on the outside lane. At the end of the

day, this man is bossing it, still on top, still the best, not at his

best, but still the best. Isn't he just? Maybe the loss to Justin

Gatlin in Rome a month or so ago was just what he needed. It woke him up

a little bit. He did talk very honestly, very frankly, a few weeks

back about being lacking in motivation in the weeks and months,

perhaps not applying and being as focused as he has been in the years

gone by, but these people are not machines, they are human beings.

Most of them are human beings, not completely sure about the guy who

won it. A brilliant run from him. A world leading time. Warren Weir

pushed him hard. Christophe Lemaitre hundredths of a second off his

earlier time in Oslo. What did you see there that you liked or that he

needs to improve? What does he need to do? I liked the fact that he

won, but I'll be interested in what he said about it. His start was

great. Aggressive out of the blocks, just what you want to see, but

coming off the turn, the transition, it was not smooth at all. He is too

wide coming off that lane. He needed to have the inside bit more. I think

that would have really thrown him into the home straight better, and

when the commentators were saying about can we get him going,

expecting him to be a metre in front, that is where he got it

instantly. So, breaking it down, you would be working about the

transition? Yes, after then, off the home straight, just run it a bit

more. He is lapping up the interview -- attention. We will get an

interview with him, but it will go on to the website and the news

channel. And we will put that question to him, of course we will.

Just away from the race, your Merritt comeback. It has been a

really good meeting, fantastic atmosphere, lots more athletics to,

as well. It is the trials next weekend. Who are going to get those

important places for the British team for the world Championships in

Moscow in about five weeks time? We are in Birmingham next weekend for

you on Saturday and Sunday afternoon heat wave set to continue.

Temperatures will be soaring and competition is high. We can also