Marileidy Paulino and Alexander Ogando give Dominican Republic Olympic gold medal hopes just weeks before Paris 2024 kicks off
At the Paris meeting, eighth stage of the Diamond League, in Paris, there was double gold for the Dominican Republic.
Marileidy Paulino was the winner in the 400 meters and Alexander Ogando triumphed in the 200 meters.
Dominicans Marileidy Paulino (400 meters) and Alexander Ogando (200 meters) achieved victories in their respective events at the Diamond League in Paris on Sunday.
Paulino, the 400m world champion, ran a measured race and clocked a season’s best time of 49.20 seconds, beating Natalia Kaczmarek and Salwa Eid Naser in second and third place, respectively.
Paulino, who already qualified for the Diamond League final in September, had set her sights on a time of 48 in the event; although she failed to do so, she remains undefeated in 2024.
Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh set a world record in the high jump on Sunday, with a mark of 2.10 meters.
Mahuchikh, reigning world champion, improved by one centimeter the previous world record held by Bulgaria’s Stefka Kostadinova since the World Championships in August 1987.
The winner of the discus throw was the American Valarie Allman, the Olympic champion, with a throw of 68.07 meters.
In addition, two-time Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon added another world record to her name by winning the 1,500 meters in an impressive time of 3:49.04, lowering her previous record by seven hundredths.
In the men’s events, Welshman Sasha Zhoya dominated the 110m hurdles with a time of 13.15. The decathlon world record holder, France’s Kevin Mayer, was forced to withdraw from the meet after falling to the ground during the 110m hurdles less than three weeks before the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.
Alexander Ogando, from Quisqueyano, took gold in Paris in the 200 meters with a time of 19.98.
Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati set the fastest time of 2024 in the 800 meters, and the third-fastest time in history, winning the event in 1:41.56. The race provided a number of milestones, including four national records and eight personal bests for the 10 athletes who crossed the finish line.
Brazil’s Alison dos Santos won his fourth consecutive 400 meter hurdles event with a time of 47.78.
The 3,000 meter steeplechase also offered spectacular results. Ethiopia’s Abrham Sime won a race in which eight personal records were set. Sime clocked a lifetime best time of 8:02.36.
Source:espn.com.do
