World High Jump Champion, Blanka Vlasic was voted athlete of the Meeting. Photo by Picture Alliance

A 26,500 capacity crowd was packed into Zurich’s brand new Letzigrund Stadium last night, with fans promised a night of heroes and exciting duals – and they were not disappointed! 

The stars from Osaka were out in force, but so were the underdogs with something to prove after World Championship disappointment. 

One such spectacular attack was delivered by European 100m Hurdles Champion, Susanna Kallur.  The 26-year-old Swede narrowly missed out on a podium position in Osaka, despite running a new Swedish record of 12.51.  However her 12.66 sprint was enough to put her ahead of the entire Osaka podium, and snatch the chance of a share of $1 million Golden League Jackpot from World Champion, Michelle Perry (USA), who had to settle for third place with 12.68.  Kallur was delighted with her performance,

“This win feels like revenge! I knew I was in great shape. I had quite a good start and then kept rolling my legs.  I haven’t spoken to Michelle yet, but she won’t be very talkative tonight!”

The seemingly unstoppable World, European and Olympic Pole Vault Champion, Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS), won the women’s Pole Vault despite a somewhat average performance that saw her falter at both the 4.75m and 4.80m marks. It was a near battle between Isinbayeva and World Bronze medallist Svetlana Feofanova (RUS) who cleared 4.75m on her first attempt. 

It wasn’t the usual effortless performance from the incredible Russian, but it was enough to keep her position as the only European Golden League contender, now head-to-head with USA 400m superstar, Sanya Richards.

However the true ‘Golden Girl’ of the evening, was definitely the newly-crowned World High Jump Champion and European Athlete of the month of July, Blanka Vlasic. The young Croatian equalled the meeting record of 2.04m to win, then went on to perform two very near attempts at the illusive 2.10m World record,

European 100m Hurdles Champion Susanna Kallur Photo by Picture Alliance.

“It was very cold. So I did not expect such a good result!  I was so surprised at my third attempt which came pretty close.  I liked the hard surface it really worked for me.  Every morning I wake up at the moment and just say ‘good morning World Champion!’”

The fun loving Croatian celebrated with her usual victory dance, and went on to be voted Athlete of the Meeting by the excited crowd.
 
With double World sprint Champion, Tyson Gay, pulling out of the individual events due to hamstring complaints and fatigue, it opened the men’s 100m field up for another European Champion.  Portugal’s Francis Obikwelu, more than made amends for his disappointing Osaka disqualification, with a nail-biting 10.17 sprint that snatched the 100m victory by 0.03seconds from Britain’s Marlon Devonish.

“It’s the biggest win of the season and a very important one.  To win in Zurich is always very special, and after Osaka, where things did not go well for me, it’s even more important. The stadium is great, the best I’ve ever seen. After the win today, I will have enough confidence to race against the bigger guys in the future.”

The French camp made an impressive bounce back from their disappointing medal count in Osaka, with a double track victory. France’s Mehdi Baala, was another European Champion who faced a disappointing disqualification in Osaka, but his unexpected surge in the finishing straight of the men’s 1500m allowed him to claim a 0.22sec victory over Algeria’s Tarek Boukensa,

“It was hard for me after Osaka. I came home and everybody was telling me, ‘you’re the best’ so it was very important for me to win today.  It was a nice tactical race, pure track racing.  I had a very simple plan; stay in the middle of the pack and then attack at the end.  I like the new stadium, and the atmosphere was just the same as the old one!”

European 1500m Champion, Mehdi Baala. Photo by Picture Alliance

European record holder, Christine Arron, brought France its second victory, with her comfortable 100m win,

“It was for me a small revenge after Osaka. It was very important for me to win as it is always a big honour for anyone to win here in Zurich.”

Arron blasted down Letzigrund’s new surface in 11.17, ahead of World Relay Champion Torri Edwards (USA) and World 100m Champion, Lauryn Williams, who had to settle for a disappointing 7th place after her Osaka exertions.  

European Javelin Champion Andreas Thorkildsen (NOR) recovered from his disappointment at a silver podium position in Osaka to pip newly crowned World Champion, Tero Pitkamaki (FIN), to the medal with a seasons best throw of 89.51m in round one of the men’s Javelin,

“I was not happy to win only silver in Osaka.  I wanted the gold.  Tero had his day then, and I had mine today.”

It took an exhausted Pitkämäki (FIN) until the fourth round to respond to Thorkildsen’s only throw, with an 87.44m that placed him in second position ahead of World bronze medallist Breaux Greer (USA)
 
It was second place also for new World Triple Jump Champion, Nelson Evora (POR), whose third effort of 17.18m was two centimetres short of Osaka bronze medallist, Walter Davies (USA).
 
Former World Indoor champion Ivor Pavlov (RUS) won the men’s Pole Vault by clearing 5.75m on his first attempt, this was enough on count back to take victory from Björn Otto (GER) and Evgeniy Lukianenko (RUS) who cleared the same height.

Results