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USA Track & Field
Diamond League: Khadevis Robinson Wins Men's 800m in Rome
By Katie Landry, USA Track & FieldJune 3, 2011
Khadevis Robinson won the men's 800m, and Allyson Felix won the women's 400m with a world-leading time at the Rome Golden Gala Diamond League event on Thursday, May 26. Fellow Americans Sara Hall (women's 3000m steeplechase) and Kara Patterson (women's javelin) turned in Olympic A-standard performances at the third stop of the Samsung Diamond League series. For more information on the IAAF Samsung Diamond League series, see www.diamondleague.com.
Noteworthy American Distance Performanaces in Rome
In one of the biggest upsets of the day, Khadevis Robinson, 34, started the race in the back of the pack, but moved through the field during the final 500m to win the men's 800m (1:45.09). The competition included Olympic 1500m champion Asbel Kiprop. It is Robinson's first major European win since 2006.
Robinson noted that his many years of racing experience prepared him for just that scenario.
"I’ve learned to be more patient. In years past, I would be upset at myself and start pressing,” Robinson explained. “This year, I’m like ‘okay, it is what it is’; I don’t panic.”
Khadevis Robinson took the lead in the final 100m to clinch the win. Now in the 13th year of his professional career, Robinson has four USA Outdoor 800m titles (1999, 2005-2007) and four USA Indoor titles to his credit. As he has matured, his perspective on life as a track and field athlete has gained balance.
“Right now, running is important, but it is not the most important thing in my life,” Robinson commented. “If you ask me, ‘who is Khadevis Robinson?’ I’ll describe myself as a father, a husband, then as a coach and then as a runner.” If you had asked me that same question in 1999, when I was right out of college, a professional track and field athlete may have been the very first thing I identified myself as.”
Robinson serves as head cross country/assistant track and field coach at UNLV.
Sara Hall stormed to a personal best time of 9:39.48 (seventh) to improve her previous best by nearly 9 seconds and secure the Olympic “A” Standard.
American Sprinters and Field Event Athletes
Allyson Felix ran to a world-leading time 49.82 in her first event of the day, the women’s 400m. Felix ran smoothly and extended her lead to several meters for the win. Amantle Montsho of Botswana finished second, with American Francena McCorory in third (50.70). In Sanya Richards-Ross’ first Diamond League appearance, she finished fifth in a season best 50.98.
Bianca Knight won the women's 200m in a season best time of 22.64. With only forty-five minutes between races, Felix and Richards-Ross were unable to reach the podium in their second race of the day; Felix finished fourth and Richards-Ross was fifth.
Kara Patterson threw 62.76m/205-11 to secure the Olympic “A” standard, and placed fourth in the women’s javelin.
For the second race in a row, Dawn Harper won the women’s 100m hurdles in a season best time of 12.70 seconds. Kellie Wells (12.73) finished in second, followed by Danielle Carruthers (12.80) to complete the U.S. podium-sweep.
In the women’s long jump, Brittney Reese and Funmi Jimoh finished 1-2. Reese twice leaped to her season best mark of 6.94m/22-9.25 to take the win, and Jimoh took second in 6.87m/22-6.5.
The American shot putters were lead by Reese Hoffa's third place (21.13m/69-4); Christian Cantwell threw a season best of 21.09m/69-2.5 to take fourth.
Angelo Taylor placed third in the men’s 400m hurdles (48.66).
For more information and full results, see www.diamondleague-rome.com/en/