Brits in Monaco
There have been a number of British athletes in motion in Monaco. Jake Wightman broke his personal Scottish report for 1000m, ending second in 2:12.77 to Emmanuel Wanyonyi.
Wightman stated afterward: “I needed to go actually, actually fast and I knew Wanyonyi can be powerful over 1K, however I didn’t know the way it might be within the final 200m. I hoped I might perhaps get my end robust. I used to be practically there, practically there. I’m in a great spot, one in all my greatest runs I in all probability had this 12 months. So I’m glad. This was only a lengthy 800, so I needed to undergo shortly and try to hold on for so long as I might. I want I might have stunned Wanyonyi, however it’s in all probability the perfect 1000m you could have ever had, so it was onerous”.
Right here’s Stuart Weir’s interview, on YouTube, for Scottish Athletics, with Jake Wightman after his very good 1000 meters: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/UdE1Rts_TuA?characteristic=share
Ben Pattison (2:14.11) was fifth in the identical race, recording a PR. He described the race as “An enormous step in the precise path.” I requested him, “How do you strategy a 1000?” He replied with a giant smile that he didn’t actually know! He stated that different athletes had informed him “it’s not like an 800 the place you simply maintain on longer, which was not what I needed to listen to!” He stated that he did run 1000 in coaching however a bit slower than Wanyonyi! Total, he was pleased with the place he was, with the Commonwealth Video games and European Championships to return this summer time.
Jack Kimani, second within the GB Championships excessive bounce final month, was second in Monaco in 2:30 – one centimeter beneath his PR. It was his first ever Diamond League, and he beat Barshim, Tamberi and Harrison! His pleasure comes by way of in his post-race feedback:
“It was my Diamond League debut, and actually that was the perfect meet I’ve been to my whole life. I imply it’s solely a debut I’m not gonna get too gazzed about it however hopefully I can achieve this many extra of those. That is undoubtedly one thing I wanna do; I wanna continue to grow within the sport and bettering. It was begin. Actually, I did count on to leap that top, as a result of I felt excellent earlier than the meet. It didn’t begin as deliberate, however generally that occurs, and it’s about the way you reply. I don’t know but if I’m gonna keep within the NCAA system; my household and I are gonna make the choice after my season is completed. As a result of I nonetheless have the Commonwealth Video games and the European Championships. The group is quite a bit greater, however I’m a type of one that likes that stuff, in order that’s simply superb for me. I wish to compete in addition to I can at these champs; it’s an ideal alternative, and I’m wanting ahead to representing my nation. And I simply wish to have enjoyable, as a result of that’s what the game is about, so we see how issues will go”.
Alex Yee, Olympic triathlon champion in 2024, competed within the 5000m, ending twelfth in 13:27.79. My first query to him was “What are you going right here?” and his reply was “Good query!” I’m right here to expertise the unknown, put myself within the uncomfortable zone, out of my consolation zone. I bought came upon very fast, in all probability about 2K. I struggled to get round. Yeah, that’s the extent it’s right here. The way in which I’ve been working, I believed I might have gotten fairly near half-hour, however in the present day wasn’t that day. It’s effective, but it surely’s a great distance residence at 2.5K.
He assured me he had no plans to modify from triathlon to trace. “No, no, that is all about studying. It’s all about doing one thing totally different. That is about simply expertise”.
Right here’s Stuart Weir’s interview with Alex Yee from Monaco combined zone, for our buddies at Athletics Weekly!
“It’s studying the onerous manner and that’s how I wish to be.”
Olympic particular person triathlon champion Alex Yee talks by way of his first Diamond League race since London in 2019 🗣️
He clocked 13:27.29 within the 5000m in Monaco 🇲🇨
🎙️ @stuartweir pic.twitter.com/Zwodqx4oUT
— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) July 10, 2026
Matt Hudson-Smith was fourth within the 400 in 44.22.
