2nd September 2022
SUPERB WIGHTMAN WINS AT BRUSSELS DIAMOND LEAGUE
Jake Wightman scored another superb win on the Wanda Diamond League circuit as he won the men’s 800m in Brussels at the Memorial van damme.
World 1500m champion Wightman (coach: Geoff Wightman, club: Edinburgh) produced the best 800m performance of his career as he moved to sixth on the UK all-time list for the distance on his way to victory in a time of 1:43.65. It also revised the long-standing Scottish record, previously held by Tom McKean from 1989 (1:43.88).
He showed great composure as he moved into the lead with 220m to go after sitting in fifth at the bell, and his final 200m echoed his world final triumph in Eugene as he streaked away from the field to claim another memorable win during the 2022 season. Djamel Sedjati (ALG) pipped Emmanuel Kipkurui Korir (KEN) on the line for second; their times 1:44.12 respectively.
In an entertaining women’s 1500m, world silver medallist Laura Muir (Andy Young, Dundee Hawkhill) came home in second place behind Ireland’s Ciara Mageean who clocked an Irish record of 3:56.63 to Muir’s 3:56.86.
Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji led the race for most of the contest after going with the pacemaker, but she was overhauled down the back straight on the final lap with Mageean and Freweyni Hailu taking on the race with Muir chasing close behind. As the Irish athlete kicked on in the final 100m, Muir won the battle with Hailu to seal second place overall.
Earlier in the programme, Mel Woods (Rodger Harkins, Red Star) finished second in the women’s 100m wheelchair, going close to her personal best with a time of 17.33 (0.2). Belgian, Lea Bayekula won on home soil as she clocked 16.41.