HSH Princess Charlene and HE Michel Roger with winners Queen HARRISON, Vesely VITEZSLAV, Edwin SOI & Jenny SIMPSON on the Podium

On Friday July 19th, the superstars of track and field gathered at the Stade Louis II for the 26th edition of the international Athletic meeting Herculis, the 10th stop of the Diamond League before world competition in Russia later this summer.

HSH Prince Albert with winners Amantle Montsho (400m) and Duane Solomon (800m) on the Podium

The Jewel of Herculis was the 100m Men - The absence of to the triple World champion and holder of the second best performance of all time Tyson GAY due to doping, as well as Asafa Powell did not overshadow this important competition. The very talented sprinter Justin GATLIN was the winner at with a time of 9.94, followed very closely by the American Dentairus Locke at 9.96 and the sprinter star of France Jimmy VICAUT a close third with 9.99, in an amazing race. 800m Men - The winner was the best performance holder American Duane SOLOMON, with the French Pierre Ambroise BOSSE second and the Spanish Kevin LOPEZ third. 1500m Men – World Champion 2011 and current holder of the best performance Asbel KIPROP from Kenya clocked the best time at 3.27.8, with British Mo FARAH double Olympic champion on 5000m and 10000m coming second at 3.28.9, and another Kenyan Caleb Mwangangi NDIKU third.

Edwin Cheruiyot SOI from Kenya, winner of the 5000 meters

5000m Men - The victory was for Kenyan Edwin Chruiyot SOI at 12.51.40 setting a new world record. 400 hurdles Men – Jehue GORDON from Trinidad came first at 48.00, followed by the American Johnny DITCH and Javier CULSON from Puerto Rico.  200m Women – Sprinter Murielle AHOURE from Cote D’Ivoire won at 22.24, with Tiffany TOWNSEND from USA second at 22.26 and Jamaican Shelly-Ann FRASER-PRYCE third at 22.28. 400m Women - Many track and field superstars are going participated in the 400m race, and the winner was Amantle MONTSHO from Botswana at 49.33, with the Jamaican Stephanie MCPHERSON second and the American Francena MCCORORY third.

American Jenney SIMPSON in the front of the pack, winner of the 1500 meters

1500m Women – The victory went to Jennifer SIMPSON, the American record holder on 3000m SC and current World Champion. 100m hurdles Women – It was an all American show with Queen HARRISSON from the USA taking the lead at 12.64 followed by compatriots Yvette LEWIS and Kellie WELLS. In the 3000m Women Steeple race the winner was Milcah CHEMOS of Kenya.

In other competitions it is worth mentioning the victory of the French Renaud LAVILLENIE that ignited his fans at the Stadium jumping the Pole Vault at 5.96 m.

Renaud LAVILLENIE (FR) winner of the Pole Vault.

The American Taylor CHRISTIAN won the Triple Jump Men at 17,30m. In Javelin it was the Czech Vesely VITEZSLAV who throw the big one at 87,66m.  In the High Jump Women Brigetta BARRET of USA, vice Olympic champion 2012 and holder of the season’s best performance with 2.04, was the winner at 2.01 m and broke in a dance with fellow competitors to celebrate. In the Long Jump Women it was the Nigerian Okagbare BLESSING took the win at 7.04m. In Discus Women it was the Croatian Sandra PERKOVIC Olympic champion 2012 who claimed victory at 65.30m setting a new record.

Herculis celebrated their success with fireworks as a way to thank the public that filled the Stadium Louis II, and the magnificent, powerful athletes who came from all over the planet and proved to be in top form for the upcoming IAAF World Athletics Championship in Moscow August 10-18, 2013. The saga continues.

Photos by: Celina Lafuente de Lavotha