British athletics superstar Mo Farah eased to victory in the 3000m at the Diamond League meet in the London Stadium on Sunday and said off the track matters didn’t concern him.
The 34-year-old — a quadruple Olympic and World champion having achieved the 5000 and 10000m double twice in both sporting showpieces — said he could do little about his medical records being hacked by Fancy Bears and then leaked to the press as happened last week.
Whilst Farah posted an impressive warm-up run for the World Championships and his track swansong in London in three weeks time there were others too who landed psychological blows.
Jamaica’s 100m and 200m women’s champion Elaine Thompson won the 100m coming from behind to edge out her great rival Dutch woman Dafne Schippers despite the winner wearing shoes which resembled trainers.
“I do have on spikes but they are very petite. They are built especially for me and made lighter,” said Thompson.
There was a cracking race in the women’s 100m hurdles with world record holder Kendra Harrison pushed the whole way by Australia’s Sally Pearson who experienced her greatest moment on the same track in 2012 taking Olympic gold.
The British national anthem also rang out — an oddity in itself at a Diamond League meeting — as the British men’s 4x400m relay quartet from the 2008 Beijing Olympics received bronze medals.
The quartet received their medals, with IAAF president Sebastian Coe attending the ceremony, because the Russians had been disqualified for doping.
The results (winners only): Men: 100m: Chijindu Ujah (GBr) 10.02s; 200m: Ameer Webb (USA) 20.13; 400m: Michael Cherry (USA) 45.02; 800m: Nijel Amos (Bot) 1:43.18; 1500m: Chris O’Hare (GBr) 3:34.75; 3000m: Mohamed Farah (GBr) 7:35.15; 110m hurdles: Aries Merritt (USA) 13.09; 400m hurdles: Kerron Clement (USA) 48.02; 4x100m relay: Australia 39.08; Long jump: Jeff Henderson (USA) 8.17m; Discus: Daniel Stahl (Swe) 66.73.
Women: 100m: Elaine Thompson (Jam) 10.94s; 400m: Allyson Felix (USA) 49.65; 800m: Charlene Lipsey (USA) 1:59.43; Mile: Hellen Onsando Obiri (Ken) 4:16.56; 100m hurdles: Kendra Harrison (USA) 12.39; 400m hurdles: Janieve Russell (Jam) 54.02; High jump: Mariya Lasitskene (Rus) 2.00m; Pole vault: Ekaterini Stefanidi (Gre) 4.81; Long jump: Tianna Bartoletta (USA) 7.01; Javelin: Barbora Spotakova (Cze) 68.26 .
