Diamond League - Rome Athletics

and CJ are here at the Eternal City. It is the perfect place to start the

BBC's coverage of the Diamond League athletics. It really is gorgeous

here, and the perfect atmosphere for the athletics. I am looking forward

to some great athletics. The main man, Usain Bolt, goes in the 100

metres at half past eight. Plenty more to come, and we will tell you

more shortly, but we are going right out to the track for the men's 400

metres hurdles. Dai Greene, the reigning world champion, is right

out there on the track. But one who had a poor start with a hernia

problem, so he is just recovering from that. Perhaps this race is just

a little too soon for him. He will want to get as close to the major

players as he possibly can. What do you make of him starting his

season here with such a big race? Do not think he might have been better

to start a smaller race? That is an easy way to do it, but he will have

to face these guys at some occasion. But you can really judge yourself

tonight when conditions are perfect. Here is Steve Cram and Stewart story

times, perhaps. Our first event of back straight. The world champion

has a little work to do at the back into it. Culson is just

really tough first 200 metres there. I think Johnny Dutch nude he had to

get out there. Culson looked like he might run him down, but Dutch was

strong. Dutch takes the win. He ran the first 200 very quickly indeed,

and at this stage was being caught by Culson on the inside. He does all

right, and Hanne comes through to little bit too quick, and had to

work very hard in the final 100 metres down the straight. He came

off the hurdle well and was reaching for the line, wishing the line to

come forward, and that little lunge forward at the end just gets it as

the quality. Dai Greene was a little heavy over that hurdle, but he ran

it sensibly. A little heavy over the first 200. Looking good in his first

the season. Yes, straight in at the deep end. It was about how I

thought, to be honest. A great disappointment last summer in

London. You got back into training, and then the double hernia. "

frustrating. Yes, but I have had a fantastic winter. I took a lot of

positives from the way I've pushed through last year. The hernia pop

wasn't anything too serious. It took a lot out of me to get the intensity

up there. It shows that when you are racing against the top guys, you

have got to be on points. And in terms of your build-up towards

Moscow, are you happy? You have lost some training because of that

operation. I am not too concerned, because I was injury free until that

point. It was just a few not being able to run, I could only do slow

stuff. It was a little bit scrappy with a handful of herbal sessions,

but I will take that. Plenty of time to get better. Thank you for the

rest of the season. There are plenty more besides you same bolt coming up

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 52 seconds

That man certainly is a legend. You sometimes wonder where track and

field would be without him. This meeting was languishing a few years

ago, but there is a big crowd here now. If you take a look at the

timetable, you can plan your evening. That big game with Usain

Bolt is at 8:30pm. Allyson Felix goes in the women's 200 metres at

field events here at Diamond League. We don't point the cameras, so we

before, 17.59, just one centimetre off your stadium record. We are

definitely looking forward to that. And a word on Dai Greene's

performance? Excellent. It was a very strong performance, and it

shows he is in decent shape, and when he gets race fit, we will see a

special performance from him. little information about the Diamond

League. It is a worldwide series of 14 meetings. Athlete earn points for

finishing in the top three. This is the fifth of the Diamond League

series. Let's look at what happened good shape over 400 metres.

Botswana's Amantle Montsho has a few record of two metres 40 has held for

almost 20 years. Justin Gatlin has a couple of 100 metres sprints to his

name, but it is Shelly Ann Fraser Price who is tearing up the track.

Long jumper Greg Rutherford has two third-place finishes. Alexander

Minkoff jumped eight metres and 39 5000 metres, coming second best to

Kenya's Soi. No Jenny Meadows for the entire

season, she has a stress fracture of her femur column which is a very

serious injury. It is a serious weight loading bone, so she can

imagine how upset she is. She got that fourth place in Gothenberg, and

we had high hopes for her to return, for her own sake as well as

ours. So it is a little bit of a disappointment for us, but you can

imagine how she feels. You must wonder now with the Achilles problem

and now this if we are perhaps looking towards the end of her

career. She said if you look on the BBC website that she was in the best

state she had ever Bosse a baby name, so she was looking forward to

coming out and focusing. -- the best state she had ever been in. From the

British point of view, Lisa Dobriskey and Hannah England are

here for the 1500 metres. This is a track race. It is a little different

than what happened in Westminster. There is Hannah England, a big smile

as always. She knows this is a world-class field. But the

conditions are absolutely perfect, and we will see a quick time today,

no doubt. And I think it will come from the Swedish athletes. Kipyegon

has been running very well indeed, running, it has been getting to the

bell and then running a big last lap, so when we get to the last 400,

we will see who struggles. I was talking to our colleague in the

commentary box about Jenny Simpson, we have mentioned her. She is the

defending world champion. In the dark strip, right in the centre of

would expect. It is a big field, and go with it or not. You can't go with

that! She is just not experienced. She is going to go through 300

metres here at 43 seconds. This is even faster than the 800. It is a

waste of time. So now we are left with a more tactical run, which will

The tall, long figure. And that is The tall, long figure. And that is

just ridiculous, is no way the pace is going to be a sensible pace. Ara

Gabi in the middle in the yellow top. They have gone very slow

through the second lap here. But this isn't the race that a lot of

them would expect. They have to change the mindset. They would come

here thinking it would be a quick race, it is not bad, so they have to

think, what am I going to do? Am I going to sit and wait or am I going

to push on? The Times are just coming up and as we said, it is

nowhere near what they asked for. It is too: 12. We have a race on here

if nothing else, and it is going to be a good race. The two Russians are

up there. I can see Jenny Simpson moving into that leading group. So

is Kibiwot. Jenny Simpson moving up on the outside. Soboleva is still

leading. Since moving almost from the back and as I said, you have to

make a decision. -- Simpson moving. She has used the back straight

well, got herself onto the leader's shoulder and she is in a good

position. It is going to be a fast last lap and this could be

anybody's race. Let's see what Aregawi does. In previous races, she

has gone for it, but it is Jenny Simpson who is really motoring at

the front of this race. She has taken it on, Aregawi in second

place, Dibaba in third place. Two of the big three. Kibiwot is following

hard, but Simpson, the world champion from 2011 is leading. Here

goes Aregawi, followed by Dibaba. They are attacking now. Aregawi,

Dibaba and Simpson. The rest are trailing with less than 200m to go

in this 1,500 metres. Aregawi, true to form. Has Dibaba got the pace to

come Pasteur? This is a real test. -- asked her. Simpson has done well,

she got herself into a good position but this is Aregawi and Dibaba.

Aregawi comes away with another fine win. A very quick last lap. Dibaba

in second place, Simpson in third. Hannah England coming through into

fourth place. That was a good run and certainly not the run we

expected, just outside four minutes, but it speeded up at the end,

certainly. That gives us more clues. We have seen her do so well

indoors, she has got great pace and used it to good effect in

Gothenburg. That was a different race to the once we have seen but

she still had the legs for Dibaba. Aregawi, even in this sort of race,

has got what it takes and as we move ever closer to the World

Championships, she looks to have the armoury, she has the ability to run

fast and the ability to run a big fast last lap. 58:13, something like

that. Simpson, a good return from her. And the others were a long way

behind, to be honest. Aregawi is just strong, nice and balance, nice

and relaxed on a big last lap and it looks like there is even more for

her to call on a she needs it. Dibaba, it is going to be

interested, because she has a choice to make. She is maybe thinking she

cannot beat this girl over 1,500 metres. Maybe she should think about

Hannah England forth in that race, pretty please with that? I am, I was

pretty please. I wasn't that pleased with the position, so I am more

pleased with that. And obviously a big season after the disappointment

of last year. Yes, so far it is more fun. That is

my fourth fastest time ever and my third fastest time, so that is good.

So how has training gone to feel so confident and strong early in the

year? I was in this kind of shape last year but I just didn't have the

opportunity to keep running. just keeping the training going, it

is all going well. Lisa Dobriskey, just come over, we will speak to you

too. Lisa, how about that view? was OK, did I get the time? Colin is

going to look at the time. Just outside. Yes, not bad for the first

race out. It was so slow, I'm not too sure what the pacemaker was

doing, but it was a good first outing and a nice thing to get the

first one out of the way. Good performance from Dai Greene and from

Hannah England and from Lisa, and earlier on, a good performance in

earlier. Shara Proctor produced a season's best. 6-.91. The wind was

changing around a little bit, it briefly put her in second place.

That was responded to by Janay Deloach Soukup. She briefly took the

lead with an excellent effort, just less than 7m, and the women's long

jump has been excellent this year. It has been topped by Brittney

Reese, who got seven point to five in Dohar. And she got it -- numeric

Reese. Unbeaten in the major championships since 2009, two times

world champion and Olympic champion and top of the pile in the Diamond

League. Showing that when the chips were down, as they were briefly,

that she can respond and respond she did in fine style.

JONATHAN EDWARDS: A fraction away from Brittney Reese, you must be

delighted? Yes, this season, I'm just trying to stay relaxed. It is a

lot more fun this year. I do want to beat the British record and jump 7m,

that is at the back of my mind but I just want to prove it at each meet,

and get some points. You say it is all about fun, but some

disappointment last year. Perhaps something to prove? Well, for the

most part of the season, I was pretty average. I just so happens to

not produce that in the Olympics, and this year I'm just trying to do

better than that and come home with a medal this year and just jump far.

You did it tonight, well done. you.

Shara Proctor there, and the Bolt-down clock is ticking, so that

is coming up soon. Hopefully, we will be wearing this. This is the

poster advertising the meat in Rome. The Italians are renowned for their

fashion, but that gets the thumbs down! I have been dressed by Italian

designers before and I would rather have not have been dressed like

that. What will Usain Bolt be doing, and our ad? A bit of massage, he

will stride out, and you can imagine, nothing too taxing. He's a

very laid-back character. But I can assure you, he knows his competition

is pretty tough today, so he has prepared mentally for a reasonable

battle, because he will need all of his strength to overhaul the talent

in that field. One athlete who has looked supreme in the season so far,

the champion over 400m, Montreux, then she is -- Montsho. Yes, we were

always focused on Allyson Felix and Williams, but Montsho was always

left out of it. This year, she is looking determined and I think she

will savour this moment and produce something special. One athlete who

is not here this evening but has been doing more on the circuit is

Christine Ohorugu. It is good to see that she is saving herself for the

championships. She did try hard in the Diamond League races and only

produced the goods at the major championship races, which is not a

bad place to do it, but this year she has come out with all guns

blazing, going sub 51 honourees regular basis -- on a regular basis,

and she will be hungry to get her world title back. Tanya Richards

Ross is the champion, going head-to-head with this woman.

always want to see head-to-head competition, that is always the key

and when athletes are at their best, it change things -- changes things

to something sensational. But you never know today, Hastings in lane

five is a class act. I'm rubbing my hands together when it comes to the

Diamond League, the best athletes in the world all battling, wonderful.

And something which hasn't always been the case for this Diamond

League season so far, the weather is good. The conditions in New York,

the wind was blowing, it was freezing in New York. Yes, these

athletes appreciate when it is warm and it is still. I think only the

discus throwers hate those conditions, unfortunately, but on

the track, if you are going all the way round, you wanted to be as calm

as possible, with good support. And looking around the stadium, it is

packed, so there is a buzz going all the way around. These athletes will

appreciate all of the cheering, all of the shouting and encouragement to

see them down the back straight and around that final bend until they

hit the home straight, whether fatigue carries in their legs and,

boy oh boy... I'm glad I only went in one line. Let's get down to the

track for the 400m. The only question is how quick is Montsho

going to run? I'm sure Hastings will give her

something to run out in line five. Tyre looking relaxed, as she should

be. -- Road to looking relaxed, as she should do. She has chosen Lane

crowd, just waiting for it to settle. The women's 400. Away

cleanly. Montsho not that hard out of the blocks, Hastings set of

quicker out of the big names. You cannot miss in the pink strip.

Really storming down the back straight. Now Montsho is starting to

move a bit. Francena Mccorory still a long way behind. Also going well

is: Is Emily act. Amantle Montsho storming around that bend. As the

stag unwinds, Montsho in the lead as Hastings starts to fade. They are

well clear of the rest of the field. Montsho with a bit of a battle on

with Francena Mccorory. It is going to be great. That will be a world

leader by 100th of a second. Francena Mccorory once more keeping

Montsho honest. I'm not sure if you told me she was going to run a world

leader, she would only be half a metre head in the last fewm. --

ahead in the last few. Montsho worked at Francena Mccorory, it was

a good scrap in the home straight. As we look at the finishing bend,

her start was dreadful, she ambled out of the blocks to the first bend

and had to work hard between two and three to get back to Francena

Mccorory and Hastings. Hastings did as well as she could, perhaps a

little too fussed over the first 200, but she had to try hard to get

to Montsho -- a little too fast. At the last championships, the

Olympics, she was dominant during the season and when it came to the

major championships, she wasn't there again. It was all about the

rounds, the whole experience of a major championship, isn't it?

also about, how many times you want to run 49 seconds and then not get

any quicker when the championships happen? I think she races too much.

She is in good form, she is obviously going to be asked to run

all of the 400s. I would like to see her take a bit of a break, if you

like. She wants to be ready for the three field event going on at the

same time. So far, 16.85 is the leader. Into a slight headwind of

pedigrees, and he is the champion performer. That is 16.78. The wind

has been moving around the back straight, it has been with them,

been against them. There is hardly any wind to speak of. And here is

our first sight of Phillips Idowu. 34 years of age now, he has watched

Christian Taylor coming and dominate over the last couple of years. He is

back from injury himself. We have waited a long time to see them.

Idowu is probably the one with more question marks about his shape. It

was wet and cold in France when he competed. He didn't go to New York.

week, for a start, but not good by his standard. No one has gone to 17

metres yet. There was good river minute. Very nice rhythm in the

three phases, nice Hubble arm action. That augurs well. He hits

the board well, looks rhythmic. 16.44, a season's best, but he is

should really give us your comments on it. You have done the event.

was better than I was expecting after last weekend. You wonder how

much last year took out of him. you get to a certain age, when the

excitement is gone, it is about the strength of your mind, whether you

have got the grit to continue. And it was far -- hard for him last

year. There were problems with coaching. It was a difficult time.

Perhaps now he can just breathe. There is no pressure on him. He can

just focus on Phillips Idowu and his family. He enjoys athletics. We will

keep our eye on that event as it progresses. The women's high jump is

clearance, it really is. 5.95, his best performance this year. He is so

dominant on the runway, and the French have always had reasonable

vaulters throughout history. Look at the height he gets above 5.60. That

promises six metres to me, if he can against the poll and got the result

he wanted. Disappointment for Steve Lewis in that competition, three

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 52 seconds

failures. The bolts down continues. Bolt takes to the track. Not quite

trash talking from Justin Gatlin, but he is talking up the fact that

he can beat him. It is good that the sprinters really believe they can

beat him, because that is important. There is no point in going into a

competition thinking, he is the leader. Here is a race from earlier

on that we can catch up from. James Ellington inlay nine. I wanted to

see how the British guys went in this race. They got reasonable

starts, but it was the result we expected. It was Ellington that

time, 10.32. I think he would be disappointed with that little, in

this condition. And particularly for Harry. He hasn't really fulfilled

that potential. We hope for more from him. These young athletes will

be scratching their heads. Just when they suffer from young injuries, it

is tough for them. The world of sprinting at the moment is electric,

and to get in there is difficult. And now it is the Women's 100m

the start-up's request to get set, I think they will have a word with

her. I don't think it was a false start, she just lifted late. It was

Lolo Jones got away well. Here comes Crawford on the far side, but

Harper-Nelson wins this, Lolo Jones second. It went pretty well with the

script, actually. Harper-Nelson got into the running, and she is a very

quick. She has a big trailing leg, and pulls it through well. We saw

her in Manchester at the city games. She has maintained her form. She

enjoys her run, so close to an Lolo Jones. Harper-Nelson has been

so dominant this year, but Lolo Jones hangs onto her. But

Harper-Nelson is so good at the finish. Crawford was always half a

metre down, and Harper-Nelson knew she had to be on top form. Jones

never gives this up. Always close. She looked as though she were

starting to come back a little bit, and it is almost as though Harper

Jones -- Harper-Nelson senses it. You could see the comparison between

the trail legs of the two. There it is, 12.65, and a season's best for

Harper-Nelson has eight points now, going well on the season.

posters around here, with Usain Bolt next to him. 17.70 in doors in

Gothenberg. This is his first team-mate Schembri, . I was getting

exciting -- excited on his behalf, that would have taken the lead. But

he was well over the board. But it was still a very good job. He is a

powerhouse. He looks more in the Jonathan Edwards mode, it is a bit

out. She missed the Olympics last year with surgery. She came back in

New York and won it, and it is going to be a big test tonight. She clears

1.88. It was a shame that she missed the whole of that year, with the

operation and the infection her first two jumps. Glass which was

such a favourite in 2008. Here is Chicherova. That looked good,

very much on Usain Bolt, the fastest sprinter the world has ever seen.

But also, the greatest Italian sprinter who has ever been seen, he

died earlier this year, and here it is a tribute to him. The blue vest

of Pietro Minear of Italy. Away they has run a magnificent race. Leonard

is coming up on the inside. And he is hanging on, but the gap is

to say that he ran the most superbly that was held here back in 1980,

just eight days after winning the Olympic title in Moscow. And that

record stood until Michael Johnson broke it. It was for a nominal, and

when you think of all the great sprinters that went before, Carl

Lewis, none of them could get it. It was a quality world record indeed.

Let's get back to action on the Mo Farah was going to go

head-to-head, but you chose the 5000m, but it wasn't an easy race

for the champion. Moving up on the outside now. We

take the bell here. As the Olympic champion still got it in his legs?

It is Mo Farah leading. Thomas longer see Longosiwa? is right on

his shoulder. Trying to chase Mo Farah. Trying to chase the Olympic

champion. He has been in this position before, he looks as though

he is fighting at the moment. Hard around the outside, he gets ahead of

Mo Farah, that is not normal. This isn't over, Mo Farah might have

something in the home straight. But look at Soi, he is three metres

clear. Mo Farah working hard, having a look behind. It is going to be the

first defeat for the Olympic champion. Soi kicking away hard.

13:04 the winning time. A 53 winning last lap. Superb running from the

Kenyan, you cannot take it away from him.

So second place for Mo Farah, but it was, in all honesty, a pretty

comprehensive defeat by Soi. This is the problem when you become such a

great champion as Mo Farah, world champion, Olympic champion, the

expectations are huge that every single day, you can produce huge

performances. We knew he had pulled out of the 10000m because he didn't

feel in the best condition, he went to the 5000m, which is still a long

way and he competed and finished second. I don't think it is a bad

performance at all. Are you suggesting, with the benefit of

hindsight, he shouldn't have run? Dai Greene said that sometimes you

have to just get in there and mix it with the top athlete and Mo Farah is

not afraid to run, so why hide? You may think that because he is the

Olympic champion and world champion, he shouldn't get beaten, but why

not? He needs to compete and now he nowhere is -- kiddos when he stands

in this kind of situation. He still is the whole season ahead of them

and will forget about that performance in three or four time.

If he runs well. He has been Olympic champion, he has done all sorts of

things to distract him from doing the hard yards that you need to do

to run quick times and it is too late now to go back? I think Mo

Farah is a sensible young man, I don't think we need to worry too

much about that, and when you look at the fastest time in the world,

nobody has gone under 13 minutes. It is not like anyone has had a really

smoking season. This year, it is pretty calm. In the middle of that,

Hagos Gebrhiwet of Ethiopian. I think many people thought he was

going to win last year, he could be Mo Farah's main rival. That is not

saying that any of these athletes don't have the ability to win.

has run very quickly indeed, faster than Mo Farah, so we can always

expect a good competition. And they have also got Soi, who beat Mo Farah

in Eugene. Let's guide to the looking for good things here, but

reason. So here we go again. The pay is that they have asked for is

around 61, 62 seconds, and that will be quick, but these guys are

reasonably good at it. Hopefully it won't be too silly and the guys can

settle into a good rhythm. The question is that when they do drop

out whether the big names want to keep it moving along. The tendency

is that it tends to drop between three or four that have big last

couple of laps. They have moved We are going back to the triple

jump. This is Christian Taylor. first jump of 16.78, he will be

jumping to defend his title. He drops off in the middle, has to work

together out of it in the jump phase at the end. Not as smooth as he can

16.93, and that takes him into the lead ahead of the Italian. Christina

Obergfoll in the javelin. The event is coming thick and fast here. That

has come down very early, I fancy. It is about 63. The javelin throwers

enjoy a breeze over the shoulder behind them. It is very difficult

when you don't have those conditions. It is a bit blustery, we

have seen the wind up and down a little bit in the stadium, as it

often is. 62.43, that is, just behind the leader at 62.42. Just

coming round to complete the first 1,000 metres, and the pacemakers

have tried to take the field with them. It is a reasonable pace,

sensible, and for a little while, in main murder was the one who thought

he would chase it. That Imane Merga. As soon as Imane Merga thought I am

not going to leave you guys, I have worked hard to bridge the gap, you

can see that the big gap has appeared. Gebrhiwet? has never been

too far from the front, but these guys are trying to do good work

here, doing what they are asked to do and haven't attacked it too hard.

They find themselves out on their own. Gebrhiwet? has gone to the

leader of that group, taking over the duties, if you like, but they

are a long way behind. There he is. Imane Merga trying to get onto the

shoulder of his team-mate. There is an opportunity for a quick time

tonight and I know that Bikele will be running on Saturday at 10000m, so

there is this jostling between the older guys and the younger guys.

That usually plays into the hands of people like Mo Farah, who can

prepare for the championships, where is the Ethiopians keep having to

post the times. The women's high that in a moment. There are several

early in the competition. At her best, a few seasons ago, a two metre

jumper, but she runs very wide and comes down onto the bar. The high

point was just a little ahead of the bar. Just drops down on it, doesn't

she? A little adjustment in the approach, I would fancy. The

approach is so vital. Sunette Viljoen in the javelin. Responding

to 62.52. And that looks better. That looks better. That is better. A

world championship bronze medallist in 2011, a solid citizen, very fast

arm. It's that lead foot down, really hammers against it and uses

it as a brace. Let's see, that does look as though it is better. Yes,

she is in the lead, 63 point for nine.

This 5,000 has been incredible to watch, because that big gap you saw

last time, Gebrhiwet? thought enough was enough and must have run

sub two minutes for the last two laps. He has dragged everybody back

to the pacemakers. You can see what it did to the field, they all

thought it was really on. Imane Merga try to go with him and it's

paying for it. Soi, Albert Rob, they all decided they should go with it.

You have got to be really good to do that in the middle of the race when

they are moving at this sort of pace. They are now back at the sub

13 pace. Gebrhiwet? using Geofrey Barusei, the last of the pacemakers.

Gebrhiwet? really means business. He didn't want to lose the opportunity

of a good time tonight but that is not really the way to do it. After a

nice steady first couple of laps, a couple of slow laps and a couple of

really fast laps to get the group moving again, and we had just had a

62. Gebrhiwet? will be at the front but the others are starting to get

closer to him again. This is hard suspect Geofrey Barusei might be

the canyons. But Gebrhiwet? is effectively leading the race. Let's

go back to the polevault. Yes, indeed. I tell you what, it is

getting into the bounce of respectability. Five points 70

metres, an absolute clearance. --5 points 70 metres. He really motors

down the runway and gets himself a planned. The high point is a little

bit ahead. And Vlasic means business as well at 1.92 metres. Let's see if

she can go clear. She stays in, of course. They are all still there.

The competition is in its early days, even though the bar has

reached 1.92. The lead for her venom, at the moment. This race is

really warming up here and it is a bit of a surprise to see Isaiah Kip

Langat John Kipkoech narrow the gap. They will speed up again as they go

Championships last season. What has he got to beat? He has got to beat

noticeably down the runway. It is a bit ragged, he is up and down. He is

hitting the deck and collapsing a little bit, and there was nothing

left for the jump at the end, which and you could see that. There is

still some work to do for this young fellow, years 24. 16.98, he is in

the lead, but there are more to come some --. Things have just slowed a

little. Gebrhiwet is being chased down. Alamirew is having a good race

here. We are heading for some thing under the teen minutes here. But

look at Ndiku, he has got good pace at the mile. He was the world junior

champion in 2010 at 1500m. This is his first ever big 5000m, and he is

doing really well. He has got onto the back of this group. And that is

Koech. He is trying to get back onto these. In Ndiku is trying hard to

bell. Gebrhiwet for the first time. Alamirew looks a little tired, too.

If we get a big lap here, we will still get under 13 minutes. A big

kick already down the back straight. Gebrhiwet will be tested again. We

saw him kick once and kick again in the last race. There were a couple

of slow laps, couple of hard laps and then the pace picked up again.

He is under real threat here, with Alamirew right on his shoulder. And

Alamirew kicks out on his shoulder. Gebrhiwet has not got enough in his

legs here. This will be a surprise victory for Alamirew. Kipkoech

struggles over that last lap will stop 54 point 02. Surely the

Ethiopians have got to find a better way to pick their team than to allow

these guys to race each other over and over again, and maybe run each

other into the ground? Tonight, that is a bit of a surprise, because

everyone has been looking at Gebrhiwet is the new man, the guy to

beat come the World Championships. Well, he has found someone to beat

him here tonight, his team-mate, Alamirew. It is really hard for

them, racing at this sort of level. Look at the intensity in these last

60 or 70 metres. All of a sudden, the favourite is left for speed.

Alamirew a little glance over his shoulder, just confirms he has got

away, but he works hard all the way through. These two represented

Ethiopian at the Olympics last year, and they are both huge talents. They

have traded world junior record in doors. But they may be need a bit of

help from the selectors. Gebrhiwet, 12:50 5.73. That was a season's

sure that you don't miss that, he will up against Justin Gatlin,

Michael Rodgers as well. But he is not the only triple Olympic champion

on display. -- triple champion on display. It is Allyson Felix all the

way. She has the broadest smile in track and field athletics, and the

fastest legs this year over 200m. Graduating from college was

something that was really big for me. I was doing a lot with running,

so I was proud of that. Variety Campbell Brown, we have been racing

each other for a long time, and I know when I race her, she brings out

the best in me. I am really good at and I love a good comedy, and that

is one of the best. Ice cream. After my final in London, and made my

My First Song. Martin Luther King Jr., especially right now, because

of seeing President Obama and our one that perhaps people don't know

that well. It is very strange, because she is so talented and she

has won everything. But she really doesn't show her real personality,

because as we saw there, she is bubbly, she is lovely, easy for

people to get on with. But perhaps she needs to beat people like Sanya

Richards-Ross. She could protect -- project her personality are little

more. Yes, she runs well, and that is it, but Usain Bolt has set the

mantle for what people can achieve, you can be a personality in this

sport. Allyson Felix has got the success, now she can show her

personality. She is a beautiful runner, liquid. Over to the javelin

there. But back to Allyson Felix, she reminds me a little bit of

Dudley Wiggins. She doesn't look like she has much muscle on her

body, and yet she has incredible power. When you talk about somebody

who runs effortlessly and is flawless technically, you find it

difficult to criticise her technique. She covers so much ground

with every strike that she makes, and that is the reason why she is so

quick. She doesn't like the 100m so much because she is not sharp out of

the blocks. 200m and 400m are more suited to her. The local director

chooses what we watch, not us here at the BBC. The Men's Triple Jump is

going on, as well. It is the raise everyone wants to see, Allyson Felix

against Sanya Richards-Ross. Allyson Felix keep dabbling with the

200m and the 400m. If she wants to do the 400m, she should focus on

that event, perhaps a whole season on it would see a real difference in

her 400m running. Blanka Vlasic, the bar at 1.95 now. At the moment, it

is Svetlana Shkolina who is in the lead. And Phillips Idowu over on his

triple jump, it is still Daniele Greco in the lead. These triple

jumpers are right next to the track. They could have jumped out into a

5000 metre runner. I think Allyson Felix will be looking to run her

season's best. They are good conditions. It is time to hand over

to our commentary team. She started quite well last year,

this is Stewart, medal in the Olympics. Lauryn Williams has been

around a while. And this is Jenny for, but she has got Muriel Ahoure

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 52 seconds

has gone off very well. So has Lauryn Williams. Allyson Felix has a

lot of work to do to catch of array. Ahoure is going to win this

comfortably! Allyson Felix in second place. 22.37, what a run by a Ahoure

of the Ivory Coast. I said she had started the season quite well, but

that underlines a fine performance. Allyson Felix is in great form at

the moment, and that is a new national record for Ahoure. She is

being congratulated by Lalova, the European champion. We didn't quite

expect that at all. Felix didn't get the bends right. I don't think she

ran all that well. She just looks tight here. You don't often see

Felix running like this in the closing stages. Ahoure had the race

one coming off the bend. For someone who is more renowned as a good

indoor runner, 60 metres, but look at this form here. A really good

bend, got the lead, no question about the time. Her knees are coming

up nicely, the arms. She kept the form really well. No weakness from

Ahoure. I don't think she started that well in the 100m last week, and

I know it was windy, but she still national record. Ivet Lalova just

held up Kerron Stewart, what a great held up Kerron Stewart, what a great

race. So a break surprise, Ahoure. -- a big surprise. Let's have

another look at this. JONATHAN EDWARDS:. Colin, let's have

a look at that. We will get a reaction shortly, what is your

reaction? I am very surprised indeed. But Ahoure is a class

athlete, we shouldn't underrate what she can do. It was this time I share

that she broke through in the 100m and beat a very strong field -- this

time that year. She has returned to Rome and done very well. Allyson

Felix is about to join us. Not the result we were expecting or I

suspect you were expecting? It is an interesting year for me, I'm trying

to piece things together and hoping to make the team in a few weeks.

what you expected from the season, why is that? It is what I expected,

I am taking a different approach this time. I'm taking it slowly,

putting things together. And your plans for Moscow? Well, you have the

US trials first of all, let's not take anything for granted.

Definitely, just trying to make the team and we will see what happens.

What will Bobby saved when he sees this result? He knows we have a plan

and it is his plan, so I am trusting him. It has worked in the past.

Yes, and whatever happens later in the season is what counts. A great

night of athletics here so far and there is plenty more to come over

amazing summer of athletics, live After we are Rob Bear, go to the red

button or the BBC sport website -- after we are off air. And next week,

Oslo, we will be there, BBC Three once again, for the prestigious

Bislett Games. Usain Bolt will be there, hopefully. And maybe Jessica

Ennis, but she has a slight Achilles problem. And on the weekend of June

the 22nd and 23rd, two days of action from Gateshead as it hosts

the European Championships. Mo Farah So the Boltdown continues, and it is

a head-to-head with Justin Gatlin. It is going to be some watch, I

Just talking about Usain Bolt versus Justin Gatlin and let's not forget

Michael Rodgers. Usain Bolt will have a few question marks in his

mind, won't he? Add to seeing what happened to Allyson Felix, you can

imagine he is thinking, I hope I don't go the same way. It is going

to be a tough race. It is getting a little bit cooler, since the sun has

gone down in Rome. I think it must be three or four degrees it has

dropped from earlier today, so it is getting chillier by the minute.

These middle distance runners will love it, there is not too much

about. Add the crowd, I don't know if you can hear it above the

microphones, but they are really anticipating a sensational end to

the season in Rome, but for us, we still have a lot of athletics in

front of us and some really strong competition. Will we see a world

league today? You are looking at me going, no chance. We do have David

radicchio, Olympic champion over 1500m back in 2010. Let's go to the

he has run a timed effort in ten year when he ran 1:44, so he is well

capable of taking of these men -- in Kenya. Bram Som will take the

pacemaking duties and has the experience to do that well,

hopefully. So some real talent on display, so much young talent in the

men's 800m in the world this year. Muhammad Ahmad just 19, Kiprop just

18. They will want to stretch it out, it is quite a big deal. Let's

hope we don't get any problems. Bram Som just moving through. Muhammad

Ahmad wants to be near the front. When Solomon coming through and

Kiprop getting involved. It will be interesting to see what sort of

Kiprop we have got, we know he can be erratic in his racing over 1500m

and 800m. He is a pretty good 800m man, he's moving nicely now into

second place ahead of Solomon as you can see. A sensible pace, 50.3, and

it is almost there. Spot on from Bram Som. So Kiprop really going for

it, attacking these 800m men. Muhammad a man is behind him. --

Muhammad a Aman. Look at Kiprop now, as they attack him. The 800m men and

Muhammad a man kicks away from the front. -- Aman kicks away from the

front. Olivier is getting involved. Kiprop is coming back, but no doubt

about the winner. Pierre-Ambroise Bosse is trying to run him down, but

it is Aman all the way. He takes the world lead. Two wins in a row and

only Rhodesia has been better than this man this year. Kiprop finished

strongly, but he could not get into the top three. It was a brave effort

from him to attack these guys and he helped them get the first time, but

Aman looking good, so strong over the last 200m. But what about

Pierre-Ambroise Bosse? It was a fine finished, but -- fine finish, but

Aman really attacked over the last 200m and he is proving to be a

difficult man to beat. Very difficult indeed. Pierre-Ambroise

Bosse was very strong indeed, as was Olivier, the South African. He's 23

no, world junior championship bronze a few seasons ago -- 23 now. And

Pierre-Ambroise Bosse not a personal best in dough ha, he is making some

strides forward in this event. A fine run, it went pretty well to the

script, but it was difficult to predict who might win. And this 100m

coming up, it is also not easy to predict what sort of form Usain Bolt

The result of the 800m. A world lead from Aman. Pierre-Ambroise Bosse

with a personal best. Andre Olivier with the season's vest and a

personal best for Gia Donna -- G race. But Aman really impressive

over the last 200m. Kiprop faded badly. Solomon had nothing left. And

Pierre-Ambroise Bosse was always in a good position. And some men are

running some good times behind these guys. But no doubt about the

winner. He got caught out at the Olympics a little bit when he had

been running well but he looks more consistent this year, getting his

tactics right, puts himself in a good position and runs the first lap

sensibly and is really strong on the last lap. Back to the triple jump.

Getting back to the sort of form we know, that looks good. He was

already leading with 16.98, and that looks to be around about the same.

He has got the white flag. I just wonder if that is 17 metre jump.

Let's have a look at him closely. It's the board well, a good first

phase, a bit better in the middle but he still had to work hard from

the second phase to get into the jump and he had a bit of a fallback

as well. He is really working hard. Perhaps too hard in the middle. It

is not like a stone whipping across the surface of the water. A little

bit heavy, but 17.04, and that extends his lead by six centimetres.

Abakumova a little bit erratic with her form at the moment. But that is

a little bit better. But it won't challenge the lead. Still the

Into second place. Shkolina in the high jump. And that

is another fine clearance. She is going so well. A second attempt at

1.98 metres and she needed that. Still in the lead, along with

Chicherova. She failed on her first place, along with Anna Chicherova,

this woman. She has got a second champion, world champion and defends

her title this year. She is back in some sort of form, as you can see.

She is such a good technician. is, and you can see that these two

women are in good form. They are jumping well. Vlasic is trying to

find that form. He/she is with third attempt. -- here she is. Just

struggling. It is understandable, it is going to take a while to get back

up to the two metre mark and beyond, but it will come. She is too

talented not to get back up there. So Vlasic going out. She will take

third place here tonight. They are JONATHAN EDWARDS: Action is still

going on in the stadium, the triple jump, the high jump, but apart from

Greco, the Italian in the triple jump, there is only one man people

are looking for. We have all of the crowd coming down from their seats,

standing at the railings. They have been sent right back. Usain Bolt

will be about 120 metres up there. You know him well, how cool is he?

He will always be anxious when he competes, and you will see this

year, he has trained well, he's in decent shape, but he has seen people

run quickly quite early, so he will be anxious. He is a great champion

and he will want to deliver a performance for this crowd. He will

have noticed that people have come out of their seats and moved forward

to see him, so he will want to put on a great show. He does hold the

track record, will he improve on it? The track record is? 9.7. He is not

going to run that, is he? You just never know what he's feeling. In

terms of the late line-up, Michael Rodgers alongside him, Justin Gatlin

one lane away. Anything to read into that? Michael Rodgers is a great

starter, so Usain Bolt will appreciate that he will drag him

through the early part of the race. Justin Gatlin, as we have seen, on

many occasions, is a very strong finisher, so Usain Bolt will want to

be as close to Michael Rodgers as they can. Fitness, a slight

hamstring problem he has had, a back issue, which is a chronic thing,

Bolt, you will always have those the same bolt is in the house, would

you? ! I see Jamaican flags flying all over the place, people with

Jamaican flag face paint on. They really do want him to do well.

Various Justin Gatlin. He said he feels very relaxed coming into this

race. He got his bronze medal in the Olympic, he is ready. He has the

same preparation, he walks the whole length of the 100m, has a look and

strolls back down. The Boltdown is We don't know what sort of form

Usain Bolt is in. He has had a little bit of an injury, and come

back. Not quite so much theatre. The crowd are waiting for the great man

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 52 seconds

to get away. Will he prevail, all you what, let's bring that up on the

scoreboard here and see what actually happened in the end. But my

goodness me. Gatling gets it, 9.94. He said, when I prepare to run

against Usain Bolt, I expect to run under ten seconds. So I prepare to

run in nine point 95. The party has been spoiled. It promised it might

be. And Kim Collins was going very strongly at the beginning of the

race, really put pressure on. But Jimmy Vicaut it was who came through

to take third place. Usain Bolt on the day got away OK, wasn't the best

away, but Gatlin, who is well raced, he has won all the 100m this season.

He enjoyed that. I am never the biggest fan of Justin Gatlin. We all

know he has been banned and come back. Bolt wasn't very good by his

standard. He had a good start, but Gatlin just was stronger. There is

nothing here from the same bolt. Look how hard he is lowing, and how

hard this is for him to run just under ten seconds. That would

normally have been a stroll for him. He won't like being beaten by Justin

character, some Beeb think he may be shouldn't still be competing, but he

is, he is here, and he is unbeaten this year. Usain Bolt, a season's

best. Jimmy Vicaut equalled his personal best. Bolt was untried this

year. Tyson Gay looked good in New York, as well. The World

Championship was the event in which Usain Bolt was disqualified. Johann

Blake, the Jamaican, has also been injured. Gatling certainly gets away

as well. Look at Kim Collins, third from the left. And Jimmy Vicaut came

through very strongly to take Rogers. He worked so hard out of the

blocks, sandwiched between the two. But Usain Bolt looked heavy. He is

blowing. There is tension there. His face tells the story. There is all

sorts of pressure on this man, and that is a reaction you can

understand. I am sure we will see him come back to his best. But he

knows now that he has got some opposition. Hussain always races --

Usain Bolt always races his best during the season. Good start, but

what happened after that? I think it was the fact that I got a good start

that threw me off! About five steps in, I stumbled a little, and my legs

didn't feel like my legs. It was just one of those things. I was

looking at the start carefully, and you did react very well, but it was

that crucial drive phase. You have to keep that continuous movement. Is

that from your injury, is that on your mind? I think it is just time

to get it back together. This season goes right back to ground zero for

some reason. I was all over the place after the start, and at the

end, it was just not me. How about the 200m to come? I am looking

forward to that. I have been doing a lot of work on that. I am looking

forward to do my best. And in terms of the time, 9.95? At least I got

under ten seconds. So, for a star who has just lost, he seems pretty.

I think so, because he has been here before. He has been here before. He

will return. He doesn't seem to anxious. I have seen him look a

little wobbly before when he has lost competitions, but not this time

around. He feels like it is all there. It almost feel like it

doesn't matter that he lost tonight. He lost to Gatling, but it doesn't

seem to matter. This crowd are just very happy indeed that he is here.

It just tells us all that when you are a superstar, you can fall. But I

have no doubt he will return. for summary as experienced as Usain

Bolt, he said, I got a good start and it shocked me! PE is used to

working his way through the field rather than being there at the

beginning of a race. He got a great start, but he forgot to drive! It is

Justin Gatlin he is up against, and he has run well all season already.

He only lost by one 100th of a second. Hopefully we will speak to

Justin Gatlin shortly. He has returned, everybody wants to take

him seriously, he has won Olympic medals. And we all know that Tyson

Gay is running well, and the US Championships are going well. You

have Bailey, Gatlin and gay. One of the things you mentioned about Usain

Bolt losing the Jamaican trials last year, it is almost a bad thing to

beat him early, because it gets into focus! He is not stressed at this

moment. August is a long way away in the world of athletics. He just

needs to go back to the drawing board. He was hungry to look at the

replay is to back-up what he felt. He will have a chat with the coach,

and the coach will say where things went wrong and what he can improve

on. It is going to be interesting. We nearly had Justin Gatlin, he was

coming towards us, and now he has gone off the other way to the

presentation. We will hopefully get that interview before we go off air,

and if we don't, we will do the interview and it will be on the BBC

website later on. He has got so much in attack. It is a huge luxury to

have, to have so much left in the tank. And I think we will see it.

Last year's 100m, he was disappointed that he didn't get the

world record at the Olympic Games, and I am pretty sure that if he

switches on, he will try to win the world title back. He had that false

start last time. A Jamaican round again. Let's catch up with some

third place, back from injury, Dylan Armstrong. He was fifth last year.

His best throw came in the last American, Cory Martin, took second

place. His first round throw of 20.54 was good enough to hold off

Dylan Armstrong. He hit that very David Storl of Germany went on to

20.70 in round four. The linear technique as opposed to rotating.

Far more consistent across the series. Not happy with the

distance, perhaps, but it is a win. He will defend his title in Moscow

finalist in London was third, and it was her first round throw of 62.85.

Yarelis Barrios of Cuba was fourth in London, and opened with 64.41.

Her second place behind the Olympic champion was a fine effort. But

Sandra Perkovic of Croatia, she began the series and followed up

with over 68 metres. Two world leads, a second round throw of

68.25, good enough to win once close. Teddy Tamgho is just getting

his rhythm together now. A little bit ragged at the end. But that is

very, very close indeed. Greco is in the lead, but how close is this? We

are waiting to see. It is good to see the Frenchman back. He takes

second place. And Christian Taylor needs to find some. And he may have

done! Now, then. He has got the white flag. What has Taylor got? He

needs to be Greco to go into the lead. It looked a little bit better.

He may well have done enough. He is a champion, of course, Olympic and

world champion, I repeat that again because it is worth saying. He

doesn't like losing. And he has gone into the lead! Look at that, four

Renaud Lavillenie in the pole vault, attempting 5.86. The only man

similar to his first effort at 5.80. He lasted a little bit. So

Renaud Lavillenie is certainly well capable of going clear. Can Greco

respond in the triple jump. He has just seen Christian Taylor, the

Olympic and world champion, take his lead. The crowd on the back straight

cheering on the European indoor got the white flag. Trying too

hard, a little march across to his coach, what happened? Really ragged.

The forward rotation in the middle, you could see him desperately trying

to stop himself rotating forward and that interferes with the jump of the

third phase, so he has got some work to do. But he has only got four

centimetres to find. Only. Bad triple jump is not really coming

alive, to be honest. Phillips Idowu, 16.44 in his first round, he

had 2,000 he has passed the next two jobs. He has one jump left. -- he

had two fouls. I think we are expecting much bigger jumping all

around. It is just over 17 metres for the leader, recto. Phillips

hasn't really come alive. Is the area bit heavy? The women's long

jumpers did very well indeed, see you cannot say the runway is not

right. Shara Proctor jumped 16.91 in third place, just four centimetres

short of the British record. After the disappointment last summer, she

has broken the record in the trials and then really bombed in the

finals. She said in the interview, she was quite consistent, around the

same amounts, but it can happen to the best of us. It certainly can.

And Phillips Idowu, here's a Hackney boy, it was in his own backyard, he

had all of those chances and it has gone there, you would hope he could

be brought more back into the fold and you can see the kind he has,

rather than what we saw last year, which was a shadow of what he's

capable of. And it is very difficult now to get into competitions, you

have do speak to the meet organisers to get in when you are not jumping

well. If there are strong people around you, they will take them

first. Phillips Idowu has the get some good jumps in the bag and get

over 17 metres to continue his progress. He went to New York and

did not start, and we thought it was because the runway was too wet, it

is not what promoters want to see. They will always take note that, so

you have to behave yourself when you are invited to the biggest athletic

competition in the world outside of major championships. You have got to

really understand what is expected of you and I don't think they were

expecting that as a result. And one other disappointment for tonight,

Steve Lewis in the pole vault, he has been jumping a lot, but no

height at 5.50. He will be disappointed, because Rome has an

incredible history for very high jumping in deed. 5.94 is the record,

of the top of my head. And even today, Renaud Lavillenie was

struggling a little bit and we thought at one stage he may not lead

the competition, but he is still in and battling. And the bar is at 5.86

metres, so still a major competition going on. We have not had the

fastest times yet it is a beautiful evening. It is interesting, because

I am wondering whether some of the athletes go to and fro, all over the

USA, across to Asia, and are a little bit tired, so that could be

an issue with some of the guys. The final track event of this evening is

underway, the women's 3,000 metres She has shown she has the ability in

the slow running races to finish strongly, particularly on the last

lap. Finally we are underway. Lidya Chepkurui happy to just be halfway

down the pack and watching her main rivals. The pacemakers have been

asked to go to a pretty swift time. Around three minutes for 1,000

the pacemakers. Trying to find a little bit of daylight so they can

put a good side of the barrier. Through the water jump for the first

time. -- a good side of the barrier. Interesting situation in the high

jump. They have gone down from 1.99, but failing. We will come back to

that in a moment, it is a good story. Is still up there at 5.80

plus and that is a good clearance in indeed. The bar is up now at coming

up to 5.91. 5.86 was that clearance, a third attempt. And

now, the bar has gone down to 1.99, and bend down to 1.97 in the high

jump. -- bend down. And there is a tired look about that face,

Charlene, she is the first to go clear. -- Shkolina. The competition

is still on. If Chicherova fails at this height, Shkolina will have won

it. But they are both looking very, very tired. And of course, if they

succeed at 1.97, then the bar has to go up again. It gets very

Justin Gatlin is alongside me. You talked about beating Usain Bolt, you

have done it, how does it feel? It felt good, I couldn't get my race

tragedy that this year. I was not really worried about who was in the

race, but just wanted to put a good pattern together. Usain Bolt is a

great competitor and a great champion so to come out here and

have a victory, it shows I'm having a good season so far, and I just

want to be confident and dominant when I run, no matter what the

timers. So I guess you go to the heart of the issue, it is about

confidence and domination. But beating Usain Bolt is. I guess it

kind of stood up some hairs on the back of the necks of my competitors,

but it is about the dogfight, it is not about the times, it is about

putting on the show for the fans and I think the fans think we put on a

great show. Usain Bolt lost last year and it provided a great focus

for him. Do you think it spurs him on? You can never count him out, he

lost both of the races at his nationals last year and he came back

and was Olympic champion in both races, so you can never count him

out. You just have to come in there with a great strategy and hope it

works. Great job, well done.Thank Hariri is there as well. -- Lidya

Chepkurui. In that group as well is the Moroccan. Just picking up

against a little bit, trying to stretch them out if they can. Salima

El Ouali Alami doing well to stay in is now left to the others to decide

how to beat Lidya Chepkurui. She is looking nice and fresh, and she is

so good in the last 1,000 metres and the others know that we see

Chicherova now. If she clears this, she wins. If she fails it, they know

on or accept it is a time. No, no. They are both absolutely exhausted

and I think the sensible thing would be to accept it is a tight. Renaud

Lavillenie, both failed at this height, I think they both have to go

down to 1.97. This is 5.914 Renaud Lavillenie. It took him to attempt

at 5.86, but he is leader ahead of Malte Mohr. He is the man to beat at

the moment. As we saw in Eugene, 5.95. The conditions are pretty good

here, it is quite calm in the Chemos has things up again. It was

getting so slow, after 3.04, they then went 3.12 for the second 1,000

metres. That is a bit more normal. I don't think Chepkurui is that

bothered, she is on the inside, really happy with this. She has

three Ethiopians with her, she has Chemos with her. Diro in second

place. There is a big gap back to the Moroccan, who tried to keep

will not see the conclusion of it on BBC Three, but if you switch over to

the red button know, or indeed on to the BBC website, you can see the end

of the women's 3,000 metres steeplechase. So that is it from