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≡ RABAT DIAMOND LEAGUE ≡
The third stop of the 2026 Diamond League circuit was in Rabat (MAR) for the Meeting International Mohammed VI, with four world leads:
● Men/800 m: 1:42.98, Max Burgin (GBR)
● Men/Steeple: 7:57.25, Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR)
● Men/Shot: 22.58 m (74-1), Joe Kovacs (USA)
● Women/400 m hurdles: 52.82, Emma Zapletalova (SVK)
In the men’s 800 m, Britain’s Burgin was in the lead (behind the pacer) and taking the bell in a fast 49.78. He extended his lead into the final turn and was never headed, finishing in an outdoor world lead of 1:42.98. Kenya’s Olympic champ Emmanuel Wanyonyi came into second with 200 m to go and held on in 1:43.56, ahead of hard-charging Algerian Slimane Moula in third (1:43.73). American star Donavan Brazier finished fifth in 1:44.03.
The men’s Steeple was the final event, starring Morocco’s two-time Olympic champion El Bakkali, as well as 2025 World Champion Geordie Beamish (NZL). El Bakkali was in front with Kenyans Edmund Serem and Simon Koech after 2,000 m, and then El Bakkali took over just before the bell. He was challenged by German Fredrik Ruppert, but won in world-leading 7:57.25.
Ruppert was second in a national record 7:57.80 and then Koech was third in 7:59.44. American Matthew Wilkinson was fifth in a lifetime best of 8:09.56; Beamish was never in it and finished 13th (8:16.80).
The much-anticipated men’s shot saw two-time World Champion Kovacs of the U.S. into the lead in round two at 22.58 m (74-1) and that held up to win. Olympic and World Champion Ryan Crouser was second at 21.59 m (70-10) from round three and Jordan Geist got out to 21.56 m (70-9) for a U.S. medals sweep.
American Anna Cockrell, the Paris Olympic runner-up, had the lead by the second hurdles, but with Slovakia’s Zapletalova was close and taking the lead over the ninth hurdle and winning, 52.82 (national record!) to 53.18. Jamaica’s two-time Worlds bronzer Rushell Clayton was third (53.75).
The last two Olympic champs were in the men’s 200 m in Andre De Grasse (CAN) and Letsile Tebogo (BOT), plus medalist Kenny Bednarek of the U.S. in his 200 m season opener. Bednarek exploded out of the blocks and had a clear lead off the turn and won easily in a sensational 19.69 (+0.4), just 0.02 off the world lead. Tebogo came on in the final 40 m to get second in 19.96 and then Sinesipho Dambile (RSA: 20.03) in third. De Grasse was fifth in 20.16 and American Courtney Lindsey was seventh in 20.21.
While Paris 400 m champion Quincy Hall (USA) was back, he was not ready and finished eighth in 45.54. Hungary’s Attila Molnar was the early leader, but 2025 World Indoor bronze winner Jacory Patterson of the U.S. came on on the straight and won in 44.12, holding off Olympic silver medalist Matthew Hudson-Smith (GBR: 44.25) and American Khaleb McRae at 44.40 in third.
The men’s 1,500 m rolled through 800 m in 1:53.55 with the pack closely bunched and American Olympic bronze winner Yared Nuguse had the lead by 1,000 m and at the bell. France’s Azeddine Habz and 2025 World Champion Isaac Nader (POR) moved up on the turn and Nader pressed Nuguse hard in the final 50. But Nuguse held on and won in 3:30.55 with a hard lean, with Nader at 3:30.43, then Habz (3:30.68). Fellow American Vincent Ciattei was fourth in 3:30.90.
The men’s javelin saw Grenada’s Anderson Peters reach 86.08 m (282-5) in round four, overtaking Rumesh Pathirage (SRI) at 85.97 m (282-0) in round one. American Worlds bronze winner Curtis Thompson was sixth at 77.88 m (255-6).
Jamaica’s Tina Clayton exploded out of the blocks in the women’s 100 m and rolled to the finish in 10.85 (+0.3), ahead of countrywomen Lavanya Williams (10.95 lifetime best) and Jonielle Smith (11.00). McKenzie Long of the U.S. was fifth in 11.19.
In the 200, American Cambrea Sturgis, the 2021 NCAA champion, rolled on the straight and passed fellow American Kayla White and won a tight one, 22.21 to 22.28 (+1.3). Canada’s Audrey Leduc was third in 22.41; McKenzie Long of the U.S. was fifth in 22.43.
Swiss star Audrey Werro, the 2025 Diamond League Final winner, had control of the women’s 800 m, in front once the pacesetter moved away and was never challenged on the way to a 1:56.56 win. The blanket finish for second saw Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma at 1:57.24 and then Lilian Odira (KEN: 1:57.27). Sage Hurta-Klecker was the top U.S. finished in eighth (1:58.18).
Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu, a two-time World Indoor gold medalist, had the lead by 800 m in the women’s 1,500 m, and she took the bell ahead of France’s Agathe Guillemot. Hailu moved away from the field with 200 m to go and won easily in 3:58.25; Ethiopian teammate Haregeweyni Kalayu – age 17 – moved into second on the final turn and got a lifetime best of 3:59.28 in second with Guillemot third (3:59.60).
In the women’s 100 m hurdles, world-record holder Tobi Amusan (NGR) took over by the eighth hurdles and was a clear winner in 12.28 (+1.2) over faster-starting World Indoor 60 m hurdles champ Devynne Charlton (BAH: 12.40) and Nadine Visser (NED: 12.47). Keni Harrison was the top American in fifth at 12.65.
The women’s high jump came down to Olympic champ Yaroslava Makuchikh (UKR) and 2022 World Champion Eleanor Patterson (AUS), both over 1.94 m (6-4 1/4) on their first tries. Serbia’s World Indoor runner-up Angelina Topic cleared on her third try for third and retired. Mahuchikh took the lead at 1.97 m (6-5 1/2) on her second try and Patterson missed all three. Mahuchikh moved to 2.00 m (6-6 3/4; missed twice) and 2.02 m (6-7 1/2: missed once), but could not go higher. American star Vashti Cunningham cleared 1.83 m (6-0) and finished ninth.
Four made it to 4.80 m (15-9) in the women’s vault, with Olympic Champion Nina Kennedy over on her first try and that was good enough to win over New Zealand’s World Indoor bronze winner Imogen Ayris, Tokyo Olympic champ Katie Moon of the U.S. and Swiss Angelica Moser, all at 4.70 m (15-5).
Olympic and World Champion Valarie Sion had to wait to round two to get untracked in the women’s discus, taking the lead at 66.84 m (219-3) then extending to 68.08 m (223-4) in round five and to 68.75 m (225-6) in round six. Dutch star Jorinde van Klinken, the 2025 Worlds runner-up, took second at 66.72 m (218-11) and 2022 World Champion Lagi Tausaga of the U.S. was third at 65.94 m (216-4). American Cierra Jackson got fourth at 65.79 m (215-10).
Next up is the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea in Rome (ITA), on Thursday, 4 June, followed by the Bauhaus Galan in Stockholm on Sunday, 7 June.
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