XIAMEN, CHINA, May 23 — Another 100H showdown that featured an array of global champions produced a sensational performance from Masai Russell at the Xiamen Diamond League on a warm and steamy evening. The ’24 Olympic gold medalist took the lead from the fast-starting Devynne Charlton with four barriers to go and blasted through the line in 12.14. That improved on her year-old American Record by 0.03 and threatened the WR of 12.12 set by Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan at the ’22 World Championships.
Amusan was in the field and closed well to catch Charlton for the runner-up spot in 12.28, while the three-time world indoor champion (who trains with Russell in Kentucky) lowered her week-old Bahamian record in 12.37.
“I’ve been saying all year that I’m gonna break the World Record. I don’t know when it’s gonna come, but I keep getting closer and closer. I’m ecstatic and all the hard work is truly showing,” said Russell, who won against a nearly identical loaded field at the Shaoxing stop of the DL tour in 12.25 a week earlier. “With the right pressure and the right day, I don’t know what time will come up.”
Earlier in the program another No. 2 all-time mark was reached when Ziyi Yan, the ’24 World U20 champion, threw 235-4 (71.74) in the first round of the javelin. Yan, who turned 18 the day before the meet, smashed her previous best of 216-2 (65.89) — the World U20 Record she set last year — to move just behind Barbora Špotáková’s 2008 WR of 236-6 (72.08).
“I came to this meet with the goal of 65 meters, so it really blew mind to see that result coming,” said Yan, who was too young to compete in the World Championships last year. “After that very first throw, I decide to pass the rest since I feel it will be smart to save some energy since I will have quite some international meets coming soon.… What I want for myself now is consistency. I don’t want this 71.74 to be just a one-time thing.”
Peruth Chemutai won her second straight steeplechase, once again using a strong finish to hold off a late challenge. The race featured the winners of the past five global titles, dating to the ’21 Olympics, and there was buzz that a World Record was possible.
Indeed, Chemutai’s early tempo was so intense that the pacemaker was overhauled on the first lap and promptly dropped out. The Ugandan, who won Olympic gold five years ago, passed 1000 in 2:53.75 — ahead of the pace (and the pace lights) needed to surpass Beatrice Chepkoech’s 8:44.32 WR — with only Faith Cherotich and Winfred Yavi bold enough to follow. Cherotich, a close 2nd to Chemutai in Shaoxing, drifted back by 2000 (5:51.99), but as the pace continued to ease slightly she was able to catch the leading duo by the bell.
Down the homestretch, Yavi appeared poised to take the lead, but a bad stutter-step before the final barrier dulled her momentum. Chemutai cruised home in 8:51.06 (improving her world leading time from Shaoxing), followed by Yavi (8:51.54) and Cherotich (8:52.53).
Shericka Jackson led the 200 from start to finish and clocked 21.87 to hold off a strong finish from two-time world 400 champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo (22.04). Anavia Battle (22.29) and Sha’Carri Richardson (22.38) took 3rd and 4th.
“I’m a good curve runner, I wanted to run the curve as hard as possible,” said the Jamaican winner, who appears on target to return to the form that won her world titles in ’22 and ‘23. “That’s probably the hardest I’ve run a curve since 2023.”
Double Olympic champion Valarie Sion would have won the discus with any of her six throws, led by a second-round 224-7 (68.45). Bin Feng was the runner-up in 213-4 (65.03). “I always think the first Diamond League meet of the year is the most stressful, to find your rhythm, find your timing, [with] the best in the world all together,” said Sion, who has won the past five DL titles. “It felt really good to compete. I love coming to Xiamen. The energy was awesome. It was so fun to be later in the program and have such an intensity to it.”
Australia’s Abbey Caldwell used a big kick to take a come-from-behind victory in the 1500 in 3:57.26 from the front-running Birke Haylom (3:57.79). Emily Mackay (3:58.13) finished strong for 3rd ahead of Dorcus Ewoi (3:58.91) and Jessica Hull (3:58.97).
Yuliya Levchenko cleared 6-6¼ (1.99) to win the high jump over fellow Ukrainian Iryna Gerashchenko, who went over 6-5½ (1.97).
XIAMEN DL WOMEN’S RESULTS
200(0.2): 1. Shericka Jackson (Jam) 21.87; 2. Shaunae Miller-Uibo (Bah) 22.04; 3. Anavia Battle (US) 22.29; 4. Sha’Carri Richardson (US) 22.38; 5. Jenna Prandini (US) 22.46; 6. McKenzie Long (US) 22.63.
1500: 1. Abbey Caldwell (Aus) 3:57.26; 2. Birke Haylom (Eth) 3:57.79 (2:04.87, 3:09.95);
3. Emily Mackay (US) 3:58.13 (AL);
4. Dorcus Ewoi (Ken) 3:58.91; 5. Jessica Hull (Aus) 3:58.97; 6. Saron Berhe (Eth) 4:00.32; 7. Gabija Galvydytė (Lit) 4:00.41; 8. Linden Hall (Aus) 4:00.55; 9. Revee Walcott-Nolan (GB) 4:00.78; 10. Joceline Wind (Swi) 4:01.41 PR;… rabbit—Taryn Parks (US) (61.73).
St: 1. Peruth Chemutai (Uga) 8:51.06 (WL) (x, 8 W) (2:53.75, 5:51.99);
2. Winfred Yavi (Bhr) 8:51.54; 3. Faith Cherotich (Ken) 8:52.53; 4. Marwa Bouzayani (Tun) 8:59.25; 5. Kena Tufa (Eth) 9:11.36; 6. Norah Jeruto (Kaz) 9:13.86; 7. Lexy Halladay-Lowry (US) 9:14.96;… 10. Kaylee Mitchell (US) 9:24.54;… 13. Courtney Wayment (US) 9:29.51; 14. Angelina Ellis (US) 9:29.97;… 16. Olivia Markezich (US) 9:38.79.
100H(0.5): 1. Masai Russell (US) 12.14 AR (WL) (old AR 12.17 Russell ’25) (2, 2 W);
2. Tobi Amusan (Ngr) 12.28; 3. Devynne Charlton (Bah) 12.37 NR; 4. Megan Simmonds (Jam) 12.52; 5. Ditaji Kambundji (Swi) 12.62; 6. Ackera Nugent (Jam) 12.64; 7. Danielle Williams (Jam) 12.90;… 9. Tonea Marshall (US) 13.13.
Field Events
HJ: 1. Yuliya Levchenko (Ukr) 6-6¼ (1.99) (out WL) (5-10¾, 6-½, 6-2, 6-3¼, 6-4¼, 6-5½ [3], 6-6¼ [3], 6-7 [p]) (1.80, 1.84, 1.88, 1.91, 1.94, 1.97 [3], 1.99 [3], 2.01 [p]);
2. Iryna Gerashchenko (Ukr) 6-5½ (1.97); 3. Lamara Distin (Jam) 6-4¼ (1.94); 4. Maria Żodzik (Pol) 6-4¼; 5. Eleanor Patterson (Aus) 6-4¼ (1.94); 6. Charity Hufnagel (US) 6-3¼ (1.91); 7. Jiawen Lu (Chn) 6-2 (1.88); 8. Morgan Lake (GB) 6-2; 9. Imke Onnen (Ger) 6-2.
DT: 1. Valarie Sion (US) 224-7 (68.45) (215-0, 224-7, 221-10, 215-0, 222-1, 221-1) (65.55, 68.45, 67.62, 65.55, 67.70, 67.38);
2. Bin Feng (Chn) 213-4 (65.03); 3. Jorinde van Klinken (Neth) 210-10 (64.27); 4. Erika Beistle (US) 210-2 (64.07); 5. Vanessa Kamga (Swe) 210-0 (64.02); 6. Shanice Craft (Ger) 209-10 (63.96); 7. Cierra Jackson (US) 205-7 (62.66); 8. Lagi Tausaga (US) 201-9 (61.51); 9. Veronica Fraley (US) 201-0 (61.27); 10. Silinda Morales (Cub) 193-9 (59.07).
JT: 1. Ziyi Yan (Chn) 235-4 (71.74) WJR (old WJR 216-2/65.89 Yan ‘25) (2, 2 W) (235-4, p, p, p, p, p) (71.74, p, p, p, p, p);
2. Sigrid Borge (Nor) 213-3 (65.00) (213-3, f, 183-0, 176-9, 204-7, 187-8) (65.00, f, 55.79, 53.89, 62.36, 57.21); 3. Adriana Vilagoš (Ser) 208-9 (63.64; 4. Maria Andrejczyk (Pol) 205-1 (62.51); 5. Flor Dennis Ruiz (Col) 199-7 (60.84); 6. Tori Moorby (NZ) 198-0 (60.37); 7. Haruka Kitaguchi (Jpn) 197-1 (60.08); 8. Qianqian Dai (Chn) 194-3 (59.20); 9. Małgorzata Maślak-Glugla (Pol) 192-2 (58.59); 10. Elína Tzénggo (Gre) 183-7 (55.96).
