SHAOXING, CHINA, May 16 — Coming off a breakthrough world title in the shot put in Tokyo last September, Jessica Schilder’s confidence was high. But a disappointing 4th-place showing at the World Indoor Championships in March quickly served as a reality check. The Dutch star got her groove back in a big way at the opening stop of the ’26 Diamond League tour, held in Shaoxing (standing in for nominal host Shanghai as the stadium there is under renovations.)
American Chase Jackson (who won World Indoors in Poland) opened the competition with a 65-6¼ (19.97) then improved to 67-1½ (20.46) in the fifth round. Then Schilder popped a monster 69-2½ (21.09), the longest throw in the world since 2012, which easily clinched the win.
“I’ve never thrown 21, so I don’t know how it feels, but I do now,” said Schilder, who obliterated her own national record of 67-10¾ (20.69) from last year. “It feels nice, but because it felt so easy.”
She credits a post-indoors recalibration of her training and mindset for the improvement. “I do think that 4th place at Worlds needed to happen be able to throw 21 here, so all good now,” she said.
In the 100 hurdles, a race littered with global champions, Olympic gold medalist Masai Russell overhauled 3-time world indoor champion Devynne Charlton after the ninth barrier and stormed to a convincing win in 12.25 (=No. 10 performance on the U.S. all-time list). Charlton’s Bahamian record 12.38 held off World Record-holder and ’22 world champ Tobi Amusan of Nigeria (12.41).
“I just ran 12.40 two weeks ago in the cold, so I knew I’m in good shape to come out here and run something fast,” said Russell, who last year became the second-fastest woman in history with her American Record of 12.17. “I felt like I got a really good start [then] I fell asleep a little bit in the middle of the race and then I just took it home.”
The steeplechase came down to a thrilling homestretch duel, with ’21 Olympic gold medalist Peruth Chemutai of Uganda holding off an aggressive charge from ’25 world champion Faith Cherotich of Kenya by 0.01, 8:51.47 to 8:51.48, the Nos. 8 and 9 performances in history. Marwa Bouzayani (8:58.09 Tunisian record) and Ethiopia’s Kena Tufa (8:59.66) also broke 9:00 in one of the deepest races ever.
Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson, the world champion in 2022 and ’23, established a slight lead coming off the curve in the 200 and then increased her cushion in the final 50 for a 22.07 win over Shaunae Miller-Uibo (22.26), Anavia Battle (22.40) and Sha’Carri Richardson (22.42).
“Last year I was a little bit timid of how I trained and how I raced because I’ve had two hamstring injuries and a quad injury to come back from,” said Jackson, who bounced back from missing the ’24 Olympics with a World Champs bronze in the 200 in September. “This year I’m super healthy, I ensured that I stayed healthy during last season and would take breaks when I needed to.”
In the 400, Aaliyah Butler got out strong and looked headed for a dominant win before Nickisha Pryce started closing quickly down the homestretch. The Jamaican moved ahead only in the final step of the race, clocking 49.75 over last year’s NCAA champ (49.78).
Ethiopia’s Birke Haylom and Kenyan Dorcus Ewoi slid past Australian star Jessica Hull with 250 to go in the 1500, with Haylom closing best and winning in a world-leading 3:55.56. Her countrywoman Tsige Duguma (3:55.71 PR), the Olympic silver medalist in the 800, closed well for 2nd, followed by Aussie Abbey Caldwell (3:56.12) and Ethiopian Worknesh Mesele (3:57.56). Ewoi (3:57.74), the surprise silver medalist at last year’s Worlds, and Hull (3:57.91) finished in 5th and 6th as 11 women broke 4:00.
Monae’ Nichols of the U.S. took the long jump lead in the third round with a 22-4¼ (6.81) effort, then improved twice more, with a best of 22-7¼ (6.89). Colombia’s Natalia Linares was 2nd at 22-3 (6.78), followed by American Alexis Brown at 22-1¾ (6.75).
Before the main program, Kenyan superstar Faith Kipyegon demonstrated her trademark savvy and acceleration to win the 5000, a non-DL event. The three-time Olympic 1500 champ followed a strong early pace through 3000. Then as the tempo slowed, she led a group of 5 Ethiopians over the closing circuits before using a 13.8 final 100 to win in a world-leading 14:24.14, just ahead of Likina Amebaw (14:24.21).
SHANGHAI DL WOMEN’S RESULTS
200(0.3): 1. Shericka Jackson (Jam) 22.07; 2. Shaunae Miller-Uibo (Bah) 22.26; 3. Anavia Battle (US) 22.40; 4. Sha’Carri Richardson (US) 22.42; 5. Amy Hunt (GB) 22.48; 6. Jenna Prandini (US) 22.68; 7. Yujie Chen (Chn) 22.84 PR; 8. McKenzie Long (US) 22.85.
400: 1. Nickisha Pryce (Jam) 49.75; 2. Aaliyah Butler (US) 49.78; 3. Roxana Gómez (Cub) 50.24; 4. Stacey-Ann Williams (Jam) 50.59; 5. Sada Williams (Bar) 50.60; 6. Martina Weil (Chl) 51.06; 7. Salwa Eid Naser (Bhr) 51.56; 8. Paris Peoples (US) 52.25; 9. Kenondra Davis (US) 53.19.
1500: 1. Birke Haylom (Eth) 3:55.56 (WL);
2. Tsige Duguma (Eth) 3:55.71 PR; 3. Abbey Caldwell (Aus) 3:56.12 PR; 4. Worknesh Mesele (Eth) 3:57.56; 5. Dorcus Ewoi (Ken) 3:57.74; 6. Jessica Hull (Aus) 3:57.91 (3:08.77); 7. Emily Mackay (US) 3:58.54; 8. Sarah Billings (Aus) 3:58.81 PR; 9. Claudia Hollingsworth (Aus) 3:58.84; 10. Linden Hall (Aus) 3:58.96; 11. Gabija Galvydytė (Lit) 3:59.74 NR; 12. Gracie Morris (US) 4:00.29 PR;… rabbit—Taryn Parks (US) (62.13, 62.59 [2:04.72]).
St: 1. Peruth Chemutai (Uga) 8:51.47 (WL)
(x, 8 W) (5:55.07);
2. Faith Cherotich (Ken) 8:51.48 (x, 9 W);
3. Marwa Bouzayani (Tun) 8:58.09 NR; 4. Kena Tufa (Eth) 8:59.66 PR; 5. Alemnet Wale (Eth) 9:10.05; 6. Norah Jeruto (Kaz) 9:10.90; 7. Parul Chaudhary (Ind) 9:12.84; 8. Lexy Halladay-Lowry (US) 9:13.99; 9. Angelina Ellis (US) 9:20.53 PR; 10. Cara Feain-Ryan (Aus) 9:21.35 PR; 11. Olivia Markezich (US) 9:22.15; 12. Kaylee Mitchell (US) 9:24.26; 13. Frehiwot Gesese (Eth) 9:25.13 PR (2:56.11); 14. Courtney Wayment (US) 9:27.96.
Non-DL 5000: 1. Faith Kipyegon (Ken) 14:24.14 (WL) (11:34.75);
2. Likina Amebaw (Eth) 14:24.21 PR; 3. Senayet Getachew (Eth) 14:24.71 PR; 4. Medina Eisa (Eth) 14:24.76; 5. Asayech Ayichew (Eth) 14:26.41 PR; 6. Mizan Alem (Eth) 14:29.97 PR; 7. Marta Alemayo (Eth) 14:32.84 PR; 8. Hawi Abera (Eth) 14:35.96 PR; 9. Caroline Nyaga (Ken) 14:36.55; 10. Mastewal Muhabaw (Eth) 14:38.66 PR.
100H(0.4): 1. Masai Russell (US) 12.25 (WL) (x, =10 A);
2. Devynne Charlton (Bah) 12.38 NR; 3. Tobi Amusan (Ngr) 12.41; 4. Megan Simmonds (Jam) 12.73; 5. Ditaji Kambundji (Swi) 12.82; 6. Ackera Nugent (Jam) 12.98;… dnf—Danielle Williams (Jam), Tonea Marshall (US).
Field Events
LJ: 1. Monae’ Nichols (US) 22-7¼ (6.89) (22-¼, 21-9½, 22-4¼, 22-5, 22-7¼, f) (6.71, 6.64, 6.81, 6.83, 6.89, f); 2. Natalia Linares (Col) 22-3 (6.78); 3. Lex Brown (US) 22-1¾ (6.75); 4. Claire Bryant (US) 21-11¾ (6.70); 5. Larissa Iapichino (Ita) 21-11½ (6.69); 6. Shiqi Xiong (Chn) 21-10 (6.65); 7. Pauline Hondema (Neth) 21-9 (6.63); 8. Mengyi Tan (Chn) 21-2½ (6.46); 9. Quanesha Burks (US) 20-6½ (6.26).
SP: 1. Jessica Schilder (Neth) 69-2½ (21.09) NR (WL) (longest throw in the world since ’12) (64-6, 64-1, 64-10¾, 65-3½, 69-2½, 66-2½) (19.66, 19.53, 19.78, 19.90, 21.09, 20.18);
2. Chase Jackson (US) 67-1½ (20.46); 3. Sarah Mitton (Can) 67-0 (20.42) (61-8¼, 65-¾, 62-8½, 65-5½, 67-0, 66-1½) (18.80, 19.83, 19.11, 19.95, 20.42, 20.15); 4. Fanny Roos (Swe) 63-2¼ (19.26); 5. Danniel Thomas-Dodd (Jam) 62-8¾ (19.12); 6. Jiayuan Song (Chn) 61-10¼ (18.85); 7. Jaida Ross (US) 61-7¾ (18.79); 8. Yemisi Mabry (Ger) 60-10½ (18.55); 9. Linru Zhang (Chn) 59-7½ (18.17); 10. Maggie Ewen (US) 58-10¾ (17.95).
