Richardson Near Top Form In Winning 100; Hodgkinson Dominates Women's 800; Holloway Lowers Season Best Time In 110m Hurdles; Ethiopians Gebreselama (5,000) and Welteji (1,500) Run World Leaders; Rogers Jumps Price To Break Diamond League Hammer Record

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

John Nepolitan photos

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EUGENE -- Joe Kovacs hit the second-longest put of his career Saturday at the Prefontaine Classic. 

But even at 75-10.75 (23.13m), a 2024 world leader, Kovacs wasn't ready to declare it a mulch-masher. 

At Friday's press conference, Kovacs discussed his backyard shot put ring and the expanse of lawn that he fires 16-pound balls of lead into. Beyond the grass, he said, is the mulch. And he's hit that a few times. 

Saturday? 

"Nope, not yet," Kovacs said. "I think if I hit the mulch throw here I'd be doing some landscaping at Hayward."

Kovacs would love to send one over the sector at Hayward and hit the manicured grass. But that'd be 80-feet plus. 

"We had a good practice here earlier in the week where I got close to that grass, but I'd love to come here for Trials and put something in that grass," he said. 

With world record holder Ryan Crouser a scratch this week, Kovacs won the only men's field event at the Prefontaine Classic and came within two centimeters of Crouser's meet record. 

Kovacs also hit a 23.03m throw on his second attempt. All six of his throws would have won the competition. 

Sha'Carri Richardson looked the part of a world champion in the 100 meters, cruising through the finish tape in a season's best 10.83 seconds. It was her first 100 meters of the season and came after a pair of lackluster results in the 200 in China in April. 

"I wouldn't be human to say I wasn't nervous," Richardson said. "My coach said use that nervousness as motivation."

Winner of the last two Olympic gold medals in the 100 meters, Jamaican Elaine Thompson-Herah, finished last in 11.30. 

Great Britain's Keely Hodgkinson ran to a dominant win and world lead in the women's 800 meters with 1:55.78. With American Athing Mu scratching earlier in the week, Hodgkinson still faced stiff competition from Mary Moraa of Kenya, the reigning World champion. 

Moraa was second in 1:56.71 and Jemma Reekie of GB was third in 1:57.45.

Ethiopia's Tsigie Gebreselama ran a world-leading time of 14:18.76 to win a competitive 5,000 meters. She outkicked second-place finisher Ejgayehu Taye of Ethiopia, who ran 14:18.92. 

American Weini Kelati ran an 18-second personal best for ninth with 14:35.43.

Grant Holloway lowered his season best and the world lead in the men's 110-meter hurdles with a time of 13.03 seconds. He lost a bit of ground over the final two hurdles to Daniel Roberts, who placed second in 13.13 seconds. 

Christian Coleman led from start to finish of the men's 100 meters, holding off a late rush by Kenya's Ferdinand Omanyala to win 9.95 seconds to 9.98.

Kenny Bednarek continued his winning ways in the 200 meters with a decisive victory in 19.89 seconds. 

Ethiopia's Diribe Welteji ran a personal-best 3:53.75 to win the women's 1,500 meters by more than two seconds. 

Jessica Hull broke her own Australian national record for second with 3:55.97, barely ahead of Elle St. Pierre, the top American in 3:56.00. 

Ugandan Peruth Chemutai, the reigning Olympic champion, ran a national record and world-leading time of 8:55.09 to win the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase over Beatrice Chepkoech of Kenya, who was second in 8:56.51.

In the race within a race, four top Americans went 5-6-7-8 in potential preview of the U.S. Olympic Trials, with Val Constien running a personal-best 9:14.29 to beat the group. One year ago, she was coming out of surgery on her knees.

Cyrena Samba-Mayela matched the French national record in winning the women's 100-meter hurdles in 12.52 seconds. The top six finished within 0.13 seconds. 

In the women's discus, Valarie Allman survived a challenge from Cuba's Yaime Perez, who connected on her sixth and final throw with 67.25m (220-7). Allman had one chance to retake the lead, and did it with 67.36m (221-0). 

The meet record in the women's hammer fell to two different athletes. First DeAnna Price broke it with her first attempt of 76.71m (251-8) and then increased it on her second throw with 76.74m (251-9). 

But then, Canadian Camryn Rogers threw a big mark of 77.23m in the fifth round (253-4) and then increased it to 77.76m/255-1, a Diamond League record. 

Six women threw beyond 72 meters. Brooke Andersen was third with 76.34, also beyond the previous meet record.

Emily Grove won the women's pole vault in swirling winds, clearing 4.63m (15-2.25) and dealing Olympic and World champion Katie Moon a rare loss. 

Cuba's Leyanis Perez Hernandez caught the most favorable wind reading of the competition on her first jump and took advantage of it to jump 14.73m (48-4) to win the women's triple jump.

Gerald Drummond from Costa Rica won the men's 400-meter hurdles in 48.56 seconds. 

Salum Ageze Kashafali of Norway won the men's mixed para 100 meters in 10.80 seconds. 

Ireland's Orla Comferford won the women's mixed para 100 in 12.13.

Troy Davis won the mixed para wheelchair 100 meters in 17.05 seconds. He also won the wheelchair 400 meters in 1:04.84.