The Swiss top athletes in athletics are beginning to feel the strain of the season. There were no top placings at the Diamond League meeting in Rome.
A world record attempt had once again been announced for the men's 5000 m race. The candidates who were in line to do so tackled the task with corresponding vigor, but after around half the distance it became clear that the global best, which Joshua Cheptegei from Uganda had lowered to 12:35.36 in Monaco four years ago, was not within the realms of possibility that evening.
Dominic Lobalu was initially unable to keep up with the pace of the competitors running in front. The athlete from South Sudan, running for Switzerland, did catch up with the leading group once again, but fell back a little in the end and finished the race in eighth place.
Mujinga Kambundji finished fifth in the 200 m - in the same stadium where she successfully defended her European title over this distance two and a half months ago. She was nevertheless satisfied with her performance. "That's okay for a race towards the end of the season," said the athlete from Bern in an interview with Swiss television. Olympic bronze medallist Brittany Brown from the USA won in superior style.
Ditaji Kambundji was unable to keep up with the best in the 100 m hurdles. The athlete from Bern finished seventh. With her time of 12.78, she was 38 hundredths off her Swiss record, which she set at the same venue in June when she won bronze at the European Championships. Former U20 world champion Ackera Nugent from Jamaica won the race in the annual world best time of 12.24 ahead of Olympic champion Masai Russell from the USA.
Pole vaulter Angelica Moser also fell well short of her potential. The Texas-born Zurich native failed three times at 4.53 m and had to settle for eighth place with a height of 4.43 m.
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