RABAT, MOROCCO, May 31 — The women’s 400 hurdles is going through a transition this season, with Olympic gold medalist and World Record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone on maternity leave and world champion and Diamond League stalwart Femke Broeders-Bol focusing on the 800. In the event’s first DL appearance of ’26 (as the tour made its third stop of the season), the stage was set for someone new to stake her claim as standard-bearer.
American Anna Cockrell, the silver medalist in the Paris Olympics, took the race out hard, with Jamaica’s Rushell Clayton running strong on the outside. But it was Emma Zapletalová who rose to the challenge, closing the gap on Cockrell between the ninth and tenth and winning in a world-leading 52.82, a Slovakian record. Cockrell (53.18) held on for 2nd ahead of Clayton (53.75).
“I am really surprised and shocked because this is my first race of the season,” said the winner, who won World Champs bronze in September. “I am happy with the victory, my first in the Diamond League, but the time means a bit more to me.”
For her part, Cockrell was encouraged with the performance but sees room for improvement. “It was on OK race. I mean I made some mistakes in the last 100 meters so I am definitely going to watch the race back and clean that up,” she said. “But overall it’s my best opener by far so I will take it.”
There doesn’t appear to be any change coming at the top of the discus pecking order. Valarie Sion grabbed the lead in the second round with a 219-3 (66.84) effort and dominated from there, topped by a final-round throw of 225-6 (69.75). Jorinde van Klinken took 2nd at 218-11 (66.72) while ’23 world champion Lagi Tausaga was 3rd at 216-4 (65.94).
“I feel like I really had to work for it today,” said Sion, who won her first world title last fall to go along with her two Olympic gold medals. “Some meetings have an incredible atmosphere and you feel ready to go, but you’re just kinda off at the start. I felt like each round I started [more and more] to find my groove.”
Switzerland’s Audrey Werro was the only athlete to follow the rabbit in the 800 and managed to hold her advantage over the field to the line, winning in 1:56.56. Tsige Duguma (1:57.24), the silver medalist at the Paris Olympics, held off reigning world champion Lilian Odira (1:57.27) in a crowded battle for the runner-up spot.
Tina Clayton had the best start in the 100 and extended her lead the entire way, winning easily in 10.85 ahead of fellow Jamaican Lavanya Williams (10.95).
“I had a few little mishaps in the race. Nothing that can’t be fixed,” said Clayton, who won silvers in the 100 and 4 x 100 at the World Championships last fall. “I think it was a solid performance overall. I am happy with the result, especially because I managed to get a season’s best, which shows I am moving in the right direction. However, I still need to fix a few things.”
In the 200, Cambrea Sturgis prevailed in a tight duel with Kayla White, 22.21 to 22.28. “I came out of the curve hard and fast, and although I feel I could have been even stronger coming out of it, I stayed composed and pushed through all the way to the finish line,” said Sturgis, who has started the season with her best form since winning the 2021 NCAA 100/200 double for North Carolina A&T.
“Overall, I am happy with the result. The main challenge was that moment coming off the curve, I saw Kayla, but I focused on staying calm, running my own race and finishing strong.”
Yaroslava Mahuchikh, in her first competition since winning the World Indoor title in March, took the high jump in a relatively modest 6-5½ (1.97). The World Record holder then missed twice at 6-6¾ (2.00) and once at 6-7½ (2.02). Eleanor Patterson and Angelina Topic cleared 6-4¼ (1.94) to place 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
After missing the entire 2025 season due to injury, Australia’s Nina Kennedy marked her return to international pole vaulting with a winning clearance at 15-9 (4.80). Imogen Ayris took 2nd, while Katie Moon and Angelica Moser tied for 3rd, all three topping out at 15-5 (4.70).
“I haven’t jumped off the full approach for a year and 8 months, so I am very rusty,” said Kennedy, the Olympic champion in Paris. “I have Rome in a few days so I didn’t take any further jumps. The competition intensity is very high, so I will definitely be sore tomorrow.”
Tobi Amusan won the 100H, a non-DL race, in 12.28 ahead of Devynne Charlton (12.40) and Nadine Visser (12.47).
Freweyn Hailu used a surge down the final backstretch to win the 1500, also a non-DL event, and won easily in 3:58.25 over Ethiopian compatriot Haregeweyn Kalayu (3:59.28) and France’s Agathe Guillemot (3:59.60).
RABAT DL WOMEN’S RESULTS
100(0.3): 1. Tina Clayton (Jam) 10.85; 2. Lavanya Williams (Jam) 10.95 PR; 3. Jonielle Smith (Jam) 11.00; 4. Patrizia van der Weken (Lux) 11.08; 5. McKenzie Long (US) 11.19.
200(1.3): 1. Cambrea Sturgis (US) 22.21; 2. Kayla White (US) 22.28; 3. Audrey Leduc (Can) 22.41; 4. Shaunae Miller-Uibo (Bah) 22.42; 5. McKenzie Long (US) 22.43.
800: 1. Audrey Werro (Swi) 1:56.56 (WL);
2. Tsige Duguma (Eth) 1:57.24; 3. Lilian Odira (Ken) 1:57.27; 4. Oratile Nowe (Bot) 1:57.32; 5. Anais Bourgoin (Fra) 1:57.39; 6. Prudence Sekgodiso (SA) 1:57.41; 7. Sarah Billings (Aus) 1:57.61 PR; 8. Sage Hurta-Klecker (US) 1:58.18.
1500: 1. Freweyni Hailu (Eth) 3:58.25 (2:08.23, 3:12.79);
2. Haregeweyn Kalayu (Eth) 3:59.28 PR; 3. Agathe Guillemot (Fra) 3:59.60; 4. Patrícia Silva (Por) 4:00.40 PR; 5. Laura Muir (GB) 4:00.77.
100H(1.2): 1. Tobi Amusan (Ngr) 12.28; 2. Devynne Charlton (Bah) 12.40; 3. Nadine Visser (Neth) 12.47; 4. Marione Fourie (SA) 12.62; 5. Kendra Harrison (US) 12.65; 6. Ditaji Kambundji (Swi) 12.66; 7. Sacha Alessandrini (Fra) 12.70 =PR; 8. Alaysha Johnson (US) 12.71.
400H: 1. Emma Zapletalová (Svk) 52.82 NR (WL);
2. Anna Cockrell (US) 53.18; 3. Rushell Clayton (Jam) 53.75; 4. Gianna Woodruff (Pan) 54.08; 5. Amalie Hammild Iuel (Nor) 54.35; 6. Savannah Sutherland (Can) 54.91.
HJ: 1. Yaroslava Mahuchikh (Ukr) 6-5½ (1.97); 2. Eleanor Patterson (Aus) 6-4¼ (1.94); 3. Angelina Topić (Ser) 6-4¼; 4. Yuliya Levchenko (Ukr) 6-3¼ (1.91); 5. Lamara Distin (Jam) 6-3¼ (1.91); 6. Charity Hufnagel (US) 6-3¼; 7. Elena Kulichenko (Cyp) 6-1½ (1.87); 8. Maria Żodzik (Pol) 6-0 (1.83); 9. Vashti Cunningham (US) 6-0.
PV: 1. Nina Kennedy (Aus) 15-9 (4.80); 2. Imogen Ayris (NZ) 15-5 (4.70) =PR; 3. tie, Katie Moon (US) & Angelica Moser (Swi) 15-5; 5. Olivia McTaggart (NZ) 15-1 (4.60); 5. Emily Grove (US) 15-1; 7. Molly Caudery (GB) 15-1; 8. Tina Šutej (Slo) 14-7¼ (4.45); 9. Sandi Morris (US) 14-7¼.
DT: 1. Valarie Sion (US) 225-6 (68.75) (206-6, 219-3, 217-9, 223-4, 221-6, 225-6) (62.94, 66.84, 66.38, 68.08, 67.51, 68.75); 2. Jorinde van Klinken (Neth) 218-11 (66.72); 3. Lagi Tausaga (US) 216-4 (65.94); 4. Cierra Jackson (US) 215-10 (65.79); 5. Bin Feng (Chn) 211-7 (64.51); 6. Jayden Ulrich (US) 208-3 (63.48); 7. Shanice Craft (Ger) 205-4 (62.59); 8. Liliana Cá (Por) 202-11 (61.86); 9. Marike Steinacker (Ger) 202-11 (61.84); 10. Erika Beistle (US) 202-0 (61.59).
