Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati broke his national record and strengthened his place at No.3 on the world 800m all-time list at the 2024 Herculis EBS Wanda Diamond League meeting in Monaco on Friday.
Sedjati stormed to victory in the men’s 800m, crossing the finish line in 1:41.46 – a performance that made him the third-fastest 800m runner in history.
He not only smashed the Algerian record (1:41.56) he sets a week ago in Paris, but also the Diamond League record of 1:41.54 that was set by Kenyan world record-holder David Rudisha in Paris in 2012.
Kenya’s Aaron Cheminingwa finished fourth in 1:42.13.
“I would like to thank everyone, especially my family and my coach. It´s the fourth time I run a World Lead and the second time an Algerian Record, I have worked really hard for that,” said Sedjati after the race.
“Now I am thinking of the World Record, I hope to run it at the Olympic Games. I have two more weeks to prepare it. I will focus on that and put in the necessary work so that I can achieve my goal. I will keep the preparation the same. My mindset is that the hard work I have put in will pay off.”
Wins for Tebogo and Akidor
Botswana’s world bronze medallist Letsile Tebogo clocked 19.87 (0.6m/s) to win the men’s 200m. Dominican Republic’s Alexander Ogando (20.02) and Uganda’s Tarsis Orogot (20.32) finished second and third respectively.
“The signs during my celebration were mainly for my mom. Everything I do now is for her, not for me,” said Tebogo, who lost his mother a few months back, of his post-race celebrations.
“The race and crowd were really amazing. Now we just need to get to the Olympics with a healthy body. The race was perfect, we just shut it down and went to the line. I believe I am in the right shape for top performances, it´s good that the Olympics come about.”
Kenya’s Margaret Akidor won the women’s 5000m by almost a second, running a personal best of 14:39.49 ahead of Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw, who was second in 14:40.44.
“I was not expecting to win because it is my first time in Monaco. I am so proud of myself because this is my first Diamond League victory,” Akidor said after the race.
“After 3000m the pacemaker slowed down but I just decided to push through because I knew I was strong. After the trials for the Olympics, when I didn´t make the team, we decided to run in Monaco. I am not racing soon, I will go back to Japan where I train and live.”
In the seldom-run women’s 2000m, Edinah Jebitok finished in third place – clocking a Kenyan record of 5:26.09. Australia’s Jessica Hull sets a world record of 5:19.70 for victory ahead of Melissa Courtney-Bryant, who ran a British record of 5:26.08 in second.
