In terms of surprise victories, Amel Tuka from Bosnia and Herzegovina produced one of the biggest of the night. The 24-year-old was making his IAAF Diamond League debut, but looked as though he had been on the circuit for years, defeating the likes of world champion Mohammed Aman and Olympic silver medallist Nijel Amos in the 800m.
France’s Pierre-Ambroise Bosse was closest to the pacemaker at half way, passing 400m in 50.1. But most of the field were still in contention with half a lap to go.
Amos swung wide approaching the home straight and looked to be on his way to victory, but Tuka held his form and strode past the Botswanan athlete, catching him just metres before the line to smash his own national record for the third time this year, clocking 1:42.51.
Tuka’s world-leading time was just 0.06 outside the meeting record Amos set last year and moves him to fourth on the European all-time list.
Amos finished second in 1:42.66 and Djibouti’s world bronze medallist Ayanleh Souleiman set a national record of 1:42.97 in third in a race in which seven men ran faster than 1:44.
