The Birmingham Diamond League was Sunday, and you had to get up bright and early to catch all the action. Some of the big names did not live up to expectations, while a certain Mo Farah put together another brilliant performance to the delight of the British faithful. Here’s what went down this morning.

Men’s 2-Mile
Wow. We knew Mo Farah would win, but we did not expect him to go for the British 2-mile record on Sunday. Farah blew the race open after the mile and ran 8:07.85 to best Steve Ovett’s previous record of 8:13.81. Farah’s final mile was around 4:00, and put to rest any idea that he has begun to decline. This exclamation point was effectively a giant ’shhh’ to all the Mobot haters who think he is past his prime. Well done, Mo.

Women’s 800
If Ajee Wilson wasn’t going to win, I would have easily told you that it would be Eunice Sum. However, in Birmingham it was neither as Team GB’s Lynsey Sharp came away the victor in 1:59.14. The Brit used an overwhelming last 150 to swallow up Sum and Brenda Martinez, the latter of which made an aggressive move at 600m to go for the win. Props to Brenda for going for the win, but she went just a bit too early and couldn’t hold off Sharp or Eunice Sum in the last 50 meters. Martinez had to settle for 3rd.

We were surprised to see Wilson have a rare off day, as she ran 2:01.70 to place 6th. The American champion was never in the race, and was especially poor in the last 100m. Sometimes in the 800 you get boxed in and spend all your energy trying to get out, and that may be exactly what plagued Wilson on Sunday. 

Emsley Carr Mile
When Asbel Kiprop is at his best, you wonder how he ever loses. His best was on display Sunday in Birmingham, as he used his dominating speed to kick down Ayanleh Souleiman and Vincent Kibet and win in 3:51.89. The pace wasn’t as fast as advertised, as this talented field chose racing over a time trial attempt.

The Americans chose to hang back in the chase pack through 1200, but were never really able to surge like they had planned. Leo Manzano was 8th in 3:53.05 and was followed by Matthew Centrowitz in 3:53.46 for 9th place. 

In the strangest finish of the race, Silas Kiplagat was 10th in 3:53.52. The Diamond Race leader was never in contention, and looked nothing like the man who ran 3:27 just a month ago in Monaco. Possibly a result of over-racing, Kiplagat was as disappointing as anyone in Birmingham. 

 Men’s 600
While no World Record went down in Birmingham, the half-mile king was still able to flash his brilliance on Sunday. Competing in the rarely run outdoor 600, David Rudisha was unable to capture Johnny Gray’s record of 1:12.81 and had to settle for 1:13.71, beating 2nd place finisher Adam Kszczot by nearly a full second.
Rudisha came prepared for a record this morning, as his 47.65 was on pace to break Gray’s record from 1986. Unfortunately, Rudisha could only manage a 26.16 final 200, and will have to wait for another day to break yet another record.