Riseley 3:52 in Oslo and Hungry for More

Riseley arrived in Norway in great form, having already set new Personal Bests in both the 800m and 1000m, both of which followed his 1500m national championship title in Melbourne.

And the 24-year-old was hopeful of yet another fast time given that the field included four of the fastest athletes this season, Haron Keitany (KEN), Silas Kiplagat (KEN), Asbel Kiprop and Mekonnen Gebremedhin (ETH).

With the rain falling hard at the Bislett Stadium, Riseley maintained a position in the middle of the pack for the first two laps. When the pacemakers dropped out he stepped 

up onto the shoulder of leader Nixon Chepseba (KEN) but ran out of gas in the home straight.

Kiprop won in 3:50.86 while Riseley, who believed who could have won the race, finished fifth in 3:52.53.

Riseley said: “I’m in better shape than that. I felt a bit flat tonight. I was right up there with a lap to go but I knew I wasn’t quite going to make it how I wanted to.

“I lost a little bit of time in the last 200m. I came here thinking I could win the race to be honest. After Ostrava I was feeling good and full of confidence.

“I needed to be aggressive and hold my position throughout as I was having to deal with some elbows.

“I wanted the A-standard qualifier tonight [for the World Championships]. I thought I could run it either tonight or on the way to here.

“That’s it for now, I’m heading back to Australia for four or five weeks to train. Then I’ll come back and race in Monaco.

“The plan is just to consolidate on all the work that’s been done and train hard. I need some miles in my legs now.”

The other Australian in action was long jump Commonwealth champion Fabrice Lapierre who recorded his season’s best in Eugene in the last Samsung Diamond League meet.

For the second time within a week Lapierre found himself up against Greg Rutherford (GBR), whom he beat to gold at the Commonwealth Games, and Godfrey Mokoena (RSA).

Rutherford had been victorious in Eugene, where Lapierre finished fifth, however this time Mokoena dominated. The Olympic silver medalist landed his first blow, in round one, with a leap of 8.07m while Lapierre managed 7.47m.

In the next round Lapierre went one better with an effort of 7.74m. But as they entered the back end of the competition the rain fell hard and Lapierre was unable to improve upon his second-round jump. Mokoena took the top spot with his final jump of 8.08m.

The ExxonMobil Dream Mile is usually the main event, but with Jamaican Bolt making his debut in the city the 200m was the star attraction and he didn’t disappoint.

It was Bolt’s first 200m in over a year and he stormed to the finish line in 19.87, which the fastest time in the world this year.

He said: “As I said the 200 is my favourite event so it comes natural. It’s about technique and execution over 200m and less about speed.

“I feel great and I also can tell the problems I have so it’s just for me to go into training now and figure out what I need to do.

“I was never out of business, I think business was just slow. I think people just expect too much from me now. Yes I set a high standard but I’m only human.

“So for me I’m working my way back up. I’m getting there, I have two and half months to go so I’m getting it done.”

Elsewhere in the pole vault only one athlete equaled 4.60m, which is the height Alana Boydrecorded in Perth, and that was current world-leader Fabiana Murer (BRA). With only two jumps for the evening the Brazilian opted straight for 4.71m in an attempt to beat her current world-lead height, but she could only muster three failed attempts.

A fast women’s 800m was expected, with the pacemaker having been asked to go through the first 500m in 56 seconds. But with all eyes on world champion Caster Semenya (RSA) along the home straight, Halima Hachlaf (MAR) snuck past to set a new world-lead of 1:58.27.

The Samsung Diamond League returns to America on Saturday, when New York plays host. Australia will be represented by David McNeill in the 3000m and Lachlan Renshaw in the 800m.

To download and view all results from Round 5 of the Samsung Diamond League, please click here.

ENDS