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≡ DIAMOND LEAGUE OPENS ≡
The 2026 Diamond League opened in Shaoxing (CHN) with strong fields and some excellent marks, including eight outdoor world-leading performances:
● Men/3,000 m: 7:25.77, Mohamed Abdilaahi (GER)
● Men/Pole Vault: 6.12 m (20-1), Mondo Duplantis (SWE)
● Men/Long Jump: 8.43 m (27-8), Matteo Furlani (ITA)
● Women/1,500 m: 3:55.56, Birke Haylom (ETH)
● Women/Steeple: 8:51.47. Peruth Chemutai (UGA)
● Women/5,000 m: 14:24.14, Faith Kipyegon (KEN)
● Women/100 m hurdles: 12.25, Masai Russell (USA)
● Women/Shot: 21.09 m (69-2 1/2), Jessica Schilder (NED)
Perhaps the best events were on the infield, where 2025 World Champion Furlani got a lifetime best in the second round to win at 8.43 m (27-8). Bulgaria’s World Indoor bronze winner Bozhidar Saraboyukov was a distant second with 8.07 m (26-5 3/4).
Swedish superstar Duplantis won the men’s vault, of course, for his 40th straight victory, clearing 6.12 m (20-1) on just his fourth vault of the competition. He did take three shots at a world record of 6.32 m (20-9), but didn’t clear. Australia’s World bronzer Kurtis Marschall finished second at 5.80 m (19-0 1/2); American Sam Kendricks tied for third at 5.70 m (18-8 1/4).
World women’s shot winner Schilder also got a lifetime best and world leader in the women’s shot at 21.09 m (69-2 1/2) in the fifth round, taking the lead from World Indoor champ Chase Jackson of the U.S., who reached 19.97 m (65-6 1/4) in the first round. Jackson got out to 20.46 m (67-1 1/2) in round five, but could not catch Schilder.
American Monae Nichols, the 2024 World Indoor runner-up and no. 2 on the 2026 world list, won the women’s long jump at 6.89 m (22-7 1/4), ahead of Natalia Linares (COL: 6.78 m/22-3), and Americans Lex Brown (6,75 m/22-1 3/4) and 2025 World Indoor champ Claire Bryant, fourth at 6.70 m (21-11 3/4).
On the track, Russell’s 12.25 (wind: +0.4 m/s) is the equal-10th fastest performance in American history, of which she has six! She blasted an excellent field, with three-time World Indoor champ Devynne Charlton (BAH) second in 12.38 and world-record holder Tobi Amusan (NGR: 12.41) in third.
Uganda’s Chemutai, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic champ, won a duel with 2025 World Champion Faith Cherotich (KEN) down the home straight and got to the line first,8:51.47 to 8:51.48, in the nos. 8-9 performances all-time!
Ethiopia’s Haylom took the lead from Australian star Jessica Hull with 200 m to go in the women’s 1,500 m and won in 3:55.56, with countrywoman Tsige Duguma coming on in the final straight to get second in 3:55.71, a lifetime best. Australia’s Abbey Caldwell also sprinted in for third in a lifetime best of 3:56.12, as Hull faded to sixth. Emily Mackay was the top American, in seventh (3:58.54).
Kipyegon was pressed in the women’s 5, barely winning over Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw (14:24.21) and Senayet Getachew (14:24.71).
In the men’s 3,000 m, Germany’s Abdilaahi got a national record and the win in 7:25.77 to move to no. 11 all-time. He led the final 600 m of the race and out-lasted Kenyan Reynold Cheruiyot, second in 7:26.11 and Swedish star Andreas Almgren, with a national record 7:26.48 in third.
Ireland’s Mark English won the 800 m in the familiar mass sprint finish in 1:43.85 to 1:43.89 for Botswana’s Ketho Haingura and 1:44.00 for American Brandon Miller.
The men’s 100 m was wild, with Americans Trayvon Bromell and Christian Coleman out best, but five coming to the line almost together, with a surprise win for South Africa’s Gift Leotlela out of lane one in 9.97 (+0.6), over Kenyan Ferdinand Omanyala (9.98), and Americans Kenny Bednarek (9.98) and Bromell (10.01). Coleman faded to eighth in 10.19.
American Jamal Britt took the 110 m hurdles and moved to no. 2 on the 2026 world list by beating country and 2025 World Champion Cordell Tinch, 13.07 to 13.10 (+0.1), taking over on the run-in.
The 300 m hurdles was a duel between 400 m hurdles stars Tokyo Olympic champ Karsten Warholm (NOR) and 2022 World Champion Alison dos Santos (BRA) and dos Santos had the lead off the turn, but Warholm almost caught him on the run-in, 33.01 to 33.05. Trevor Bassitt of the U.S. was fourth in 34.02.
Slovenia’s Kristjan Ceh dominated the men’s discus, winning at 70.58 m (231-7) and had four throw beyond second-place Matt Denny (AUS: 67.54 m/221-7).. American record man Sam Mattis was seventh at 64.83 m (212-8).
Two-time World women’s 200 m champ Shericka Jackson (JAM) looked the part, winning 22.07 (+0.3) over Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH: 22.26) and Americans Anavia Battle (22.40) and Sha’Carri Richardson (22.42).
Jamaica’s Nickisha Pryce, the 2024 NCAA champ for Arkansas, won the 400 m in 49.75, just ahead of American Aliayah Butler, the 2025 NCAA champ for Georgia, in 49.78.
The Diamond League stays in China for meet no. 2, next Saturday (23rd) in Xiamen.
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