Rhasidat Adeleke Falls Short Again at Diamond League Meeting in Silesia

Rhasidat Adeleke once again found herself in fourth place at the Diamond League meeting in Silesia, narrowly missing out on a podium finish as the Olympic 400m final placings were replicated.

In a race that showcased the world’s top talent, Dominican Republic's Marileidy Paulino clinched victory with a time of 48.66 seconds, just shy of her personal best from the Olympics. Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser and Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek followed in second and third place, respectively.

Adeleke, who had an aggressive start and led for the majority of the race, faded in the final 50 meters. Her final time of exactly 50 seconds was insufficient to secure a podium spot, as Kaczmarek edged her out in the closing stages. The race featured seven of the eight Olympic finalists, with Great Britain’s Amber Anning being the only notable absentee from the Paris field.

In the men’s 3,000m event, Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsten stole the limelight by shattering Daniel Komen’s 28-year-old world record. Ingebrigtsten completed the race in an astounding 7:17.55, slicing 3.12 seconds off Komen’s previous record. The Norwegian athlete's performance was aided by precise pacemaking from Belgian 800m runner Pieter Sisk, who set a brisk pace that Ingebrigtsten maintained throughout.

Nick Griggs, hailing from Tyrone, clocked his second-fastest time for the distance, finishing in 7:39.52. Despite being positioned towards the back for much of the race, Griggs showcased commendable resilience. The men’s 3,000m race also saw impressive performances from Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi, who set a new Ethiopian record with a time of 7:21.28, and Yomif Kejelcha, who finished third with 7:28.44. 

Canadian Mohammed Ahmed, South African Adriaan Wildschutt, and Dutch Mike Foppen also set national records, emphasizing the race’s high caliber.

In the women’s 1500m, Ireland’s Sarah Healy secured fifth place with a time of 3:59.65, marking her second-fastest metric mile.

Diribe Welteji from Ethiopia emerged victorious with 3:57.08, closely followed by Freweyni Hailu, also from Ethiopia. Great Britain’s Olympic bronze medallists Georgia Bell and Melissa Courtney-Bryant finished ahead of Healy, showcasing strong performances across the board.

The Diamond League meeting in Silesia highlighted the ongoing competitive spirit and remarkable athletic achievements in track and field, with world records and impressive personal bests setting the tone for the rest of the season.