In a stunning opening to the Wanda Diamond League, Xiamen delivered top-notch performances, highlighted by Mondo Duplantis’ world record and near-world-record feats from Gudaf Tsegay, alongside outstanding runs from Marco Arop and Beatrice Chepkoech.
Despite high expectations, the sprints fell short with Richardson notably losing her race. The event witnessed four of the best-ever April performances, 4 world leads, and two additional top outdoor marks for the year. With the competition taking place in the remarkable Egret Stadium for only the second time, new meet records in 11 out of 15 events came as no surprise.
Rainfall preceding the televised program dampened some events. Out of nine individual champions from Budapest competing, only four clinched victories. ALSO READ: OMORPHO Joins Forces with TrackTown USA as Official Partner for The Prefontaine Classic and U.S. Olympic Trials
Xiamen Diamond League Event Summaries:
Men:
- 100m: Christian Coleman triumphed over Fred Kerley with times of 10.13 and 10.17, respectively, in a headwind, defying expectations for faster results.
- 800m: World champion Marco Arop confirmed his status, clinching the race in the final stretch with a time of 1:43.61, edging out Kinyamal’s 1:43.66 and Masalela’s 1:43.88 PB, with Kramer setting a European lead at 1:44.81.
- 5000m: Steeplechase world record holder Lamecha Girma debuted impressively with a 12:58.96 finish, the fastest ever for April and the top outdoor time this year.
- 110m Hurdles: Daniel Roberts led the race to finish in 13.11, achieving a world lead, with Cordell Tinch and Shunsuke Izumiya close behind.
- High Jump: The rain-impacted event saw JuVaughn Harrison claim victory at 2.27m, while favorite Mutaz Essa Barshim managed third.
- Pole Vault: Mondo Duplantis excelled, clearing heights up to 6.24m for a world record, showcasing his potential for even greater heights.
- Triple Jump: Pedro Pichardo returned with a best outdoor jump of 17.51m, with only world champion Hugues Fabrice Zango surpassing 17 meters.
Women:
- 200m: Australian rising star Mia Lewis shocked with a win in 22.96 against world champion Sha’Carri Richardson.
- 400m: Marileidy Paulino lived up to expectations with a 50.08 finish, with Natalia Kaczmarek trailing at 50.29.
- 1500m: Gudaf Tsegay, in extraordinary form, achieved the third-best ever time at 3:50.30, setting a world lead and a personal best.
- 3000m Steeplechase: World record holder Beatrice Chepkoech dominated with 8:55.40, marking the fastest ever April time and the 11th fastest overall.
- 100m Hurdles: Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn led a competitive field with a 12.45 finish, narrowly edging out world indoor record holder Devynne Charlton and Cyrena Samba-Mayela.
- Shot Put: Gong Lijiao clinched a satisfying home win at 19.72m, with Maddison Wesche and Chase Ealey following with personal bests and strong finishes.
- Discus Throw: Olympic winner Valarie Allman threw over 69 meters twice, outperforming Yaime Perez and Chinese athlete Bin Feng.
- Javelin Throw (non-DL): Dai Qianqian triumphed in her Diamond League debut with a 61.25m throw amidst rain, outclassing the competition.
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