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≡ LONDON DIAMOND LEAGUE ≡
Huge anticipation for the Novuna London Athletics Meet, the 11th chapter in the 2026 Diamond League, in London’s Olympic Stadium, with home hero Josh Kerr, the 2023 World 1,500 m champ, aiming at the mile world record of 3:43.13 of Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) from 1999.
It was a command performance, with Kerr calling his chase “Project 222″ for the 222 seconds that a 3:42 time represents and heavily supported with custom shoes and a “speedsuit” by sponsor Brooks.
Once the race started, Kerr was third behind the two pacers, with 400 m in 54.75, then 800 m in 1:50.63. Kerr took over at 1,000 m, with American Yared Nuguse, the Paris Olympic 1,500 m bronzer, chasing. He led through 1,200 m in 2:46.39 with only Nuguse close and Kerr moved away with 300 to go.
Kerr was clear with 200 m to go and the massive crowd was roaring and Kerr rolled to the finish and completed his called shot with a world record of 3:42.66! Nuguse was second in 3:45.69, then Britain’s Jake Heyward in 3:46.73. American Nathan Green got a lifetime best of 3:48.05 in fifth, Ethan Strand was seventh in 3:49.13 and Sam Prakel was ninth in 3:49.63.
There was a historic moment after, with Kerr being congratulated by World Athletics President Sebastian Coe (GBR), himself an iconic mile world-record holder. Kerr ran 400 m splits of 55.3, 55.8, 54.4 and 54.9, and 1.2 seconds for the final 9.34 m to get the record.
That was one of two world-leading marks on the day:
● Men/Mile: 3:42.66, Sam Kerr (GBR) ~ World Record
● Men/400 m hurdles: 46.61, Karsten Warholm (NOR)
World-record holder Warholm got his usual hot start in lane seven and was still challenged by German Emil Agyekum on his outside in eight. But it was over off the eighth hurdles and Warholm pulled away for a world-leading 46.61, with Agyekum getting a national record of 47.45 in second. Qatar’s Anderrahmane Samba was third in 48.10; American Caleb Dean was seventh in 50.45.
There was an absolute stunner in the women’s discus, with 2025 NCAA champ Cierra Jackson of the U.S., coming in with a best of 67.25 m (220-7) from earlier this season at the wind tunnel at Ramona, Oklahoma, standing third at 67.07 m (220-0) behind U.S. Olympic and World champ Valarie Sion (68.39 m/224-4) and Worlds runner-up Jorinde van Klinken (NED: 67.99 m/223-0) after five rounds.
But in the sixth, Jackson got the throw of her life and landed the disc at 71.72 m (235-4) and took the win! She’s now no. 15 all-time and no. 2 all-time U.S., with the no. 3 performance … and in the (more doping controlled) 21st Century, she no. 3! She got a 7% improvement over her lifetime best on her last chance. Sion was second; American Lagi Tausaga, the 2022 World Champion, was sixth at 63.15 m (207-2).
These were the most amazing of what was a hot meet from top to bottom:
The men’s 800 m was aimed at the world record of 1:40.91 and Olympic champ – and 1,000 m world-record-setter Emmanuel Wanyonyi (KEN) took over after the pacesetter moved away, with Britain’s Paris Olympic finalist Max Burgin and American Brandon Miller – the Pre Classic winner and a late addition – going with him.
Wanyonyi had the lead coming off the final turn, but Miller had another gear and shot past with 90 m to go and ran away to win in a lifetime best 1:42.19, crushing his prior PR of 1:43.14 from 2025. He’s now no. 5 all-time U.S.!
Ireland’s Mark English came hard in the final 50 m to get second in 1:42.97, then Burgin in 1:43.30 and Wanyonyi faded to fourth in 1:43.41. American record holder Bryce Hoppel was 10th in 1:45.32.
World Champion Oblique Seville (JAM) got out well in the men’s 100 m, but NCAA champ – and Nigerian record-holder – Kayinsola Ajayi was right there and took over by 55 m. Ajayi moved away in the final 15 m and crossed first in 9.84 – equaling his own national record – and turned to his left to stare down Seville as they finished! And he did it into a 0.7 m/s headwind. Seville ran 9.87 in second, with Britain’s Romell Glave getting a lifetime best at 9.97 in third.
The crowd was cheering for British star Olympic silver winner Matthew Hudson-Smith, but he was challenged by U.S. Olympic 400 m hurdles winner Rai Benjamin and fellow American Jacory Patterson. Down the straight, Benjamin had a small lead with 50 m left, then Hudson-Smith moved up but Benjamin fought him off to win in a lifetime best of 44.05. Hudson-Smith was 44.18 and Patterson was a close third in 44.25. Americans Khaleb McRae (44.90) and Vernon Norwood (44.97) were 6-7.
American world-record setter Ja’Kobe Tharp was the headliner in the men’s 110 m hurdles and he was out well, with 2022 Worlds silver winner Trey Cunningham of the U.S. right with him. But Tharp rolled away in the middle of the race and was unchallenged to the finish in 12.89 (+0.3). Cuba’s Kendry Menendez moved up in the final third to get second in 13.01, with Cunningham third (13.12) with fellow Americans Jamal Britt (13.16) and World Champion Cordell Tinch (13.17) in 4-5.
In the vault, five were still in at 5.85 m (19-2 1/4), with two-time World Champion Sam Kendricks of the U.S. and two-time Worlds bronzer Kurtis Marschall (AUS) over on their first tries. Worlds silver winner Emmanouil Karalis (GRE) and Norway’s Sondre Gottormsen were over on their second tries and world-record man Mondo Duplantis (SWE) missed once and passed.
At 5.95 m (19-6 1/4), Duplantis was over immediately, as was Kendricks, Marschall and Karalis cleared on their second and Guttormsen was out and finished fifth. Next was 6.04 m (19-9 3/4), and Duplantis retired, worried about a left leg strain. No one cleared, and Kendricks got the win from his 5.95 first-time clearance; Marschall got third. It was Kendricks’ first win in a Diamond League meet since 2019.
The women’s 200 m had Paris 100 m gold winner Julien Alfred (LCA) rolling off the start and in the lead in lane six. But Paris 200 m champ Gabby Thomas of the U.S. was right there off the turn, but Alfred moved away in the final 50 m to win in 21.66 (+0.1), with Thomas second in 21.81. Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH), the two-time women’s 400 m Olympic champ – now 32 – was third in 22.24. Americans Anavia Battle (22.55) and Cambrea Sturgis (22.57) were 7-8.
Alfred is now undefeated outdoors in seven races in the 100 (3) and the 200 (4).
Olympic champ Marileidy Paulino (DOM) was out well in the women’s 400 m, but Jamaica’s former NCAA champ Nickisha Pryce was in front through 300 m outside in lane eight. But Paulino turned on the jets, used her arms and rocketed to the front and won in 48.97. Norway’s Henriette Jaeger came up for second in 49.15 and Pryce finished fourth in 50.09.
The women’s 800 m was all focused on Olympic champ Keely Hodgkinson (GBR), who took over with 300 m to go, but had 400 m hurdles star turned 800 m runner Femke Broeders-Bol (NED) settling in behind. Broeders-Bol moved up but Hodgkinson had more speed and got to the line in 1:56.21 to 1:56.46. Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma, the Olympic silver winner, came up for third on the straight in 1:56.92; American Addy Wiley was seventh in 2:00.01.
The women’s 3,000 m had Britain’s 2024 European 10,000 m bronzer Megan Keith in front at 2,000 m, but countrywoman Hannah Nuttall took the lead at the bell over Paris 1,500 m silver winner Jessica Hull (AUS). But with 200 to go, Hull took over and she ran away from the field to win in 8:24.69, no. 6 in the world for 2026. Fellow Australian Rose Davies moved up on the straight to get second in a lifetime best of 8:25.38, then Sarah Healy (IRL: 8:25.63) and Nuttall (8:26.48).
Australia’s 2025 women’s World high jump champ Nicola Olyslagers grabbed the lead with a first-time clearance at 1.99 m (6-6 1/4) and only Olympic champ Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR) the only other to clear, on her second. The bar moved to 2.01 m (6-7), and both made on their third tries! Neither could clear 2.03 m (6-8), so Olyslagers won on misses. Eleanor Patterson (AUS), the 2022 Worlds winner was third at 1.96 m (6-5).
American Claire Bryant took the lead in the women’s long jump with 6.71 m (22-0 1/4) in the first round, with Italy’s World Indoor runner-up Larissa Iapichino taking over at 6.82 m (22-4 1/2) in round two. Bryant came close at 6.80 m (22-3 3/4) in round four.
Olympic champ Malaika Mihambo (GER) fouled her first four jumps, then everything came together in round five and got out to 7.05 m (23-1 3/4) and took over. That was good enough to win, but Bryant got a seasonal best of 6.94 m (22-9 1/4) in round six to take second.
That was quite a meet. With a break for national championships, the Commonwealth Games and more, the Diamond League is on hiatus for over a month until 21 August in Lausanne (SUI).
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