Wikipedia

London Athletics Meet

The London Athletics Meet, formerly known as the London Grand Prix and subsequently as the Anniversary Games and London Diamond League, is an annual athletics event held in London, England. Previously one of the five IAAF Super Grand Prix events, it is now part of the Diamond League. As the London Grand Prix, until 2012 all editions were held at the National Sports Centre in Crystal Palace. The 2013 edition was renamed the Anniversary Games as it took place at the Stadium in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, exactly one year after the Olympic Games were held in the same venue and have been followed by an IPC London Grand Prix, making it a three-day event. In 2014 the meet was held in Glasgow, Scotland, as preparation for the Commonwealth Games held there later that month.

London Athletics Meet
London Stadium, current host of the annual event
DateJuly – August
LocationLondon, England (Glasgow, Scotland in 2014/Gateshead, England in 2021/Birmingham, England in 2022)
Event typeTrack and field
World Athletics Cat.GW[1]
Established1953; 71 years ago (1953)
Official siteLondon Anniversary Games

Event names

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The event has been sponsored by a variety of companies including Norwich Union, Sainsbury's and Müller.

Event names for the London Athletics Meet
Years Name Sponsor
1953–1979 International Games Rotary Watches Ltd[2]
1980–1988 British Games Peugeot / Talbot[2]
1989 British Games Royal Mail[3]
1990–1991 British Games Parcelforce
1992 London Grand Prix none
1993 IAAF Grand Prix Final
1994 London Grand Prix Trustee Savings Bank
1995–1996 London Grand Prix KP Nuts
1997–1998 London Grand Prix none
1999–2001 British Grand Prix CGU plc[4][5][6]
2002–2007 London Grand Prix Norwich Union
2008–2012 London Grand Prix Aviva
2013, 2015 Anniversary Games Sainsbury's
2014 Glasgow Grand Prix
2016–2019 Anniversary Games Müller
2020 Not held[7]
2021 British Grand Prix[8] Müller
2022 Birmingham Diamond League Müller
2023 London Diamond League[9] / London Athletics Meet[10]
2024 London Athletics Meet (Wanda Diamond League series)[11] Wanda

Event locations

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Event locations for the London Athletics Meet
Years Venue Region Country
1953–2012 National Sports Centre Crystal Palace, London England
2013, 2015–2019, 2023-2024 London Stadium Stratford, London England
2014 Hampden Park[12] Mount Florida, Glasgow Scotland
2021 Gateshead International Stadium Gateshead England
2022 Alexander Stadium Birmingham England

Emsley Carr Mile

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The Emsley Carr Mile remains a fixture at the annual meeting, with a history spanning back to 1953 at the White City Stadium. Emsley Carr, an athletics fan and the editor of The News of the World, created an annual mile race in the hope that the first four-minute mile would be achieved on British soil. Gordon Pirie won the first race, but Roger Bannister had run under 4 minutes in Oxford by time that the second race was competed. However, the tradition continued, with the winner signing his name in a red leather-bound book identical to the Bible used in Queen Elizabeth II's coronation. Derek Ibbotson achieved the first sub-4-minute run at the race in 1956, and many of the best middle-distance runners have won at the Emsley Carr Mile since, including Sebastian Coe, Steve Ovett and Hicham El Guerrouj.[13]

Millicent Fawcett Mile

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The Millicent Fawcett Mile, a women's race, was first held in the 2018 Anniversary Games and won by Sifan Hassan in 4:14.71.[14] It commemorates suffragist Millicent Fawcett.[15] There had been a women's mile event at previous games, without this title, the previous record being held by Hellen Obiri who ran in 2017 in 4:16.56.

History

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In 2009 pole vault favourite Yelena Isinbayeva lost for the first time in 18 competitions, beaten by Anna Rogowska. Kate Dennison set an eighth British record in the pole vault.[16]

On 24 January 2013 it was announced that London Grand Prix would be moved to the Olympic Stadium for 2013. The London Legacy Development Corporation had expressed interest in holding an athletics event at the stadium to coincide with the first anniversary of the start of the 2012 Summer Olympics.[17] After the 2013 event, a return to Crystal Palace was ruled out as according to Ed Warner it would be a backward step.

Hampden Park, which was due to host the athletics events at the Commonwealth Games and a temporary venue in Horse Guards Parade and the Mall, were mooted for the 2014 edition, before a return to the Olympic Stadium in 2015 due to a gap in the reconstruction schedule.[18] A four-year sponsorship deal with Sainsbury's was announced in January 2014.[19] In February 2014 it was confirmed that the Grand Prix event would move to Hampden Park and be known as the Glasgow Grand Prix. The event returned to London in 2015 and continued to be known as the Anniversary Games until 2021.

The 2021 event, due to be held on 13 July, was moved away from London Stadium to Gateshead International Stadium due to the difficulty of reconfiguring the stadium for a single athletics event.[20]

World records

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Over the course of its history, a number of world records have been set at the London Grand Prix.

World records set at the London Athletics Meet
Year Event Record Athlete Nationality
2004 Pole vault 4.90 m Yelena Isinbaeva   Russia
2005 Pole vault 5.00 m Yelena Isinbaeva   Russia
Pole vault 4.96 m Yelena Isinbaeva   Russia
2016 100 m hurdles 12.20 (+0.3 m/s) Kendra Harrison   United States
2018 T38 200 m 25.93 Sophie Hahn   United Kingdom
T34 100 m 16.80 Kare Adenegan   United Kingdom
3000 m walk (track) 10:43.84 Tom Bosworth   Great Britain
2023 U20 5000 m 14:16.54 [note 1] Medina Eisa   Ethiopia

Meeting records

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Men

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Men's meeting records of the London Athletics Meet
Event Record Athlete Nationality Date Place Ref. Video
100 m 9.78 (−0.4 m/s) Tyson Gay   United States 13 August 2010 Crystal Palace
200 m 19.47 (+1.6 m/s) Noah Lyles   United States 23 July 2023 Stratford [22]
400 m 43.74 Matthew Hudson-Smith   Great Britain 20 July 2024 Stratford [23]
800 m 1:42.05 Emmanuel Korir   Kenya 22 July 2018 Stratford [24]
Mile 3:45.96 Hicham El Guerrouj   Morocco 5 August 2000 Crystal Palace
3000 m 7:27.64 Mohamed Katir   Spain 13 July 2021 Gateshead [25]
5000 m 12:55.51 Haile Gebrselassie   Ethiopia 30 July 2004 Crystal Palace
110 m hurdles 12.93 (+0.6 m/s) Aries Merritt   United States 13 July 2012 Crystal Palace [26]
400 m hurdles 47.12 Karsten Warholm   Norway 20 July 2019 Stratford [27]
3000 m steeplechase 8:06.86 Brimin Kiprop Kipruto   Kenya 27 July 2013 Stratford [28]
High jump 2.41 m Javier Sotomayor   Cuba 15 July 1994 Crystal Palace
Pole vault 6.03 m Renaud Lavillenie   France 25 July 2015 Stratford [29]
Long jump 8.58 m (+0.2 m/s) Luvo Manyonga   South Africa 22 July 2018 Stratford [30]
Triple jump 17.78 m (+0.6 m/s) Christian Taylor   United States 22 July 2016 Stratford [31]
Shot put 23.07 m Ryan Crouser   United States 23 July 2023 Stratford [32]
Discus throw 68.56 m Daniel Ståhl   Sweden 21 July 2019 Stratford [33]
Javelin throw 90.81 m Steve Backley   Great Britain 22 July 2001 Crystal Palace
3000 m walk (track) 10:43.84 Tom Bosworth   Great Britain 21 July 2018 Stratford [34]
4 × 100 m relay 37.60 Chijindu Ujah
Zharnel Hughes
Richard Kilty
Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake 		  Great Britain 21 July 2019 Stratford [35]
37.46 Racers Track Club
Daniel Bailey
Yohan Blake
Mario Forsythe
Usain Bolt 		  Antigua and Barbuda /
  Jamaica 		25 July 2009 Crystal Palace [36] [1]

Women

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Women's meeting records of the London Athletics Meet
Event Record Athlete Nationality Date Place Ref.
100 m 10.75 (+1.2 m/s) Marie-Josée Ta Lou   Ivory Coast 23 July 2023 Stratford [37]
200 m 21.82 (−0.9 m/s) Gabrielle Thomas   United States 20 July 2024 Stratford [38]
400 m 48.57 DLR Nickisha Pryce   Jamaica 20 July 2024 Stratford [39]
800 m 1:54.61 Keely Hodgkinson   Great Britain 20 July 2024 Stratford [40]
1500 m 3:57.49 Laura Muir   Great Britain 22 July 2016 Stratford [41]
Mile 4:14.71 Sifan Hassan   Netherlands 22 July 2018 Stratford [42]
3000 m 8:21.64 Sonia O'Sullivan   Ireland 15 July 1994
5000 m 14:12.29 Gudaf Tsegay   Ethiopia 23 July 2023 Stratford [43]
100 m hurdles 12.20 (+0.3 m/s) DLR Kendra Harrison   United States 22 July 2016 Stratford [44]
400 m hurdles 51.30 DLR Femke Bol   Netherlands 20 July 2024 Stratford [45]
3000 m steeplechase 8:57.35 Jackline Chepkoech   Kenya 23 July 2023 Stratford [46]
High jump 2.05 m Kajsa Bergqvist   Sweden 28 July 2006 Crystal Palace
Pole vault 5.00 m Yelena Isinbayeva   Russia 22 July 2005 Crystal Palace
Long jump 7.02 m (−0.5 m/s) Malaika Mihambo   Germany 21 July 2019 Stratford [33]
Triple jump 15.27 m (+1.2 m/s) Yamilé Aldama   Sudan 8 August 2003
Shot put 20.90 m Valerie Adams   New Zealand 27 July 2013 Stratford [47]
Discus throw 69.94 m Sandra Perković   Croatia 23 July 2016 Stratford [48]
Javelin throw 68.26 m Barbora Špotáková   Czech Republic 9 July 2017 [49]
4 × 100 m relay 41.55 DLR Dina Asher-Smith
Imani Lansiquot
Amy Hunt
Daryll Neita 		  Great Britain 20 July 2024 Stratford [50]

Notes

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  1. ^ Not ratified as no anti-doping test was taken after the race.[21]

References

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  1. ^ "Events Calendar Diamond League Meetings". World Athletics. 2024.
  2. ^ a b COMPILATION NOTES GBRathletics. Retrieved on 2013-03-08.
  3. ^ Astute Pascoe strikes corporate gold The Herald (1989-07-15). Retrieved on 2013-03-11.
  4. ^ Turnbull, Simon (1999-07-18). Athletics: Palace doubt for mile master The Independent. Retrieved on 2013-03-11.
  5. ^ Norwich Union London Grand Prix Euromeetings.org Retrieved on 2013-03-08.
  6. ^ 2001 Review Brits lining up for victory Archived 2013-08-20 at the Wayback Machine Diamond League London. Retrieved on 2013-03-08.
  7. ^ "Anniversary Games 2020 cancelled because of coronavirus". BBC Sport. 2020-05-12. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  8. ^ Henderson, Jason (27 May 2021). "Diamond League in London moves to Gateshead". Athletics Weekly. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  9. ^ "UK ATHLETICS LINES UP THRILLING LONDON STADIUM RETURN IN JULY 2023". British Athletics. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  10. ^ LetsRun.com. "2023 London Athletics Meet -- London Diamond League". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  11. ^ "London Athletics Meet 2024". British Athletics. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  12. ^ Hampden to host London Diamond League meeting Archived 2019-10-01 at the Wayback Machine. BBC Sport (2014-02-05). Retrieved 2019-10-02.
  13. ^ Powell, David (2003-08-07). Emsley Carr Mile stands test of time[dead link‍]. The Times. Retrieved on 2009-07-31.
  14. ^ "Programme 2018 and results". Muller Anniversary Games. Diamond League. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  15. ^ "First ever Millicent Fawcett Mile to be held at Muller Anniversary Games". British Athletics. 22 July 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  16. ^ Brown, Matthew (2009-07-24). Against the wind Bolt blasts 9.91, Isinbayeva's win streak halted at 18 – London Day 1 – IAAF World Athletics Tour. IAAF. Retrieved on 2009-07-25.
  17. ^ "Olympic Stadium to host Diamond League meeting". BBC Sport. 24 January 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  18. ^ "Athletics could return to the Olympic Stadium in 2015 due to a gap in its rebuilding schedule". 28 July 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  19. ^ http://www.britishathletics.org.uk/media/news/2014-news-page/january-2014/01-01-14-sainsburys-sponsorship/ [dead link‍]
  20. ^ "CHANGE OF VENUE FOR MÜLLER ANNIVERSARY GAMES". UK Athletics. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  21. ^ "Spotlight on Rising Stars: Medina Eisa and Erriyon Knighton". World Athletics. 7 November 2023. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2024. No anti-doping test was taken after the race which meant her time could not be ratified as a record, but it still counts for ranking purposes.
  22. ^ "200m Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 23 July 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  23. ^ "400m Result" (PDF). swisstiming.com. 20 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  24. ^ "800m Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 22 July 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  25. ^ "3000m Result" (PDF). sportresult.com. 13 July 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  26. ^ "110 Metres Hurdles Results". IAAF. 13 July 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  27. ^ "Warholm smashes European 400m hurdles record with 47.12". European Athletics. 20 July 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  28. ^ "3000 m steeplechase Men: Results" (PDF). Diamond League. Omega Timing. 27 July 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  29. ^ "Pole Vault Results" (PDF). static.sportresult.com. 25 July 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 August 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  30. ^ "Long Jump Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 22 July 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  31. ^ "Triple Jump Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 22 July 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  32. ^ "Shot Put Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 23 July 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  33. ^ a b Bob Ramsak (21 July 2019). "Obiri and Fraser-Pryce shine in London - IAAF Diamond League". IAAF. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  34. ^ "3000m Race Walk Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 21 July 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  35. ^ "4×100m Relay Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 21 July 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 July 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  36. ^ Matthew Brown (21 July 2009). "Bolt leads Jamaican club's 400-relay team to 37.46". www.bleacherreport.com. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  37. ^ "100m Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 23 July 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  38. ^ "200m Result" (PDF). swisstiming.com. 20 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  39. ^ "400m Result" (PDF). swisstiming.com. 20 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  40. ^ "800m Result" (PDF). swisstiming.com. 20 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  41. ^ "1500m Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 22 July 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  42. ^ "Mile Run Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 22 July 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  43. ^ "5000m Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 23 July 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  44. ^ "100m Hurdles Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 22 July 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  45. ^ "400m Hurdles Results" (PDF). swisstiming.com. 20 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  46. ^ "Bol blazes to 51.45 Diamond League record in London | REPORT | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  47. ^ "Shot put Women: Results" (PDF). Diamond League. Omega Timing. 27 July 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  48. ^ "Women's Discus Throw Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 23 July 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  49. ^ "Javelin Throw Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 9 July 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2017.[dead link‍]
  50. ^ "Women's 4 × 100m Relay Results" (PDF). swisstiming.com. 20 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
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