XIAMEN, CHINA, September 02—Finally, after years of pandemic-related postponements in this southeast Chinese city of 4 million, the Diamond League made its long-awaited appearance in a beautiful new $1.2 billion Egret Stadium.
Forget 9 lanes — so cutting-edge is the facility that 10 lanes were occupied for the men’s 100, which brought together Christian Coleman and the long-awaited rematch between Fred Kerley and Olympic champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs.
Coleman, only 5th in Budapest, could not be caught this time around, leading every step of the way to win in a 9.83 that tied the yearly world lead held by Zharnel Hughes and Noah Lyles.
Kerley and Jacobs never posed a threat to Coleman; instead it was unheralded Jamaican Kishane Thompson, who was not even on the Budapest squad, who finished like a rocket for a PR 9.85 from lane 10. Kerley was 3rd in 9.96, ahead of Brandon Carnes (10.01 PR) and Marvin Bracy-Williams (10.02). Jacobs ran 7th in 10.05.
“I was not very happy [about Budapest],” said Coleman. “So I came here and got my seasonal best. After Worlds, everyone is tired.”
Organizers saved the best matchup for last, as 3-time world champion Grant Holloway lined up against Olympic gold medalist Hansle Parchment of Jamaica as well as WC 3rd-placer Daniel Roberts. Holloway got out best, dominating the first 6 hurdles before losing the thread. Parchment charged from well behind into the lead over the final hurdles, crossing in 12.96 with Roberts (13.03) also finishing in front of Holloway’s 13.12.
On the field, world champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh dispensed with the competition when she cleared 6-4¾ (1.95), then went on to 6-6 (1.98) and then an =WL 6-7½ (2.02). “I did not expect that because I felt a bit tired,” she said.
Fans got to see a tremendous 400 match between former world champion Kirani James and current bronze medalist Quincy Hall. The two pulled away from the field off the final turn and were virtually inseparable as they battled down the straight. At the line, it took a camera to distinguish their matching 44.38s, with the Grenadian getting the nod. Jamaican Rusheen McDonald finished 3rd (44.82) over Vernon Norwood (44.99).
The women’s 400 featured world champion Marileidy Paulino, who cruised a 49.36 to take an easy win over Candice McLeod of Jamaica (50.19) and Lynna Irby-Jackson (50.45).
In the lap with hurdles, it was a Jamaican sweep as Rushell Clayton (53.56) closed strongest against Andrenette Knight (53.87) and Janieve Russell (54.01).
Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet, 3rd in the world 5000, here improved her world leader at 3000 to 8:24.05, finishing with a 57.74 lap to stay clear of Laura Galván and her Mexican Record 8:28.05. In 3rd, Margaret Akidor of Kenya ran 8:29.88.
The men’s 800 also produced a world leader. After a 49.68 opener by Erik Sowinski, Budapest winner Marco Arop moved on the frontrunners, silver medalist Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Wycliffe Kinyamal of Kenya. With 200 left the Canadian reached Wanyonyi’s shoulder, where he stayed until he made his move coming off the turn. On the straight it appeared that Arop got ahead had the momentum to get in front by inches and stay there, but Wanyonyi dug deep in the final strides to triumph in a PR 1:43.20, as Arop hit a best of his own, 1:43.24.
The final women’s race of the night was a fast 1500, with Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu outkicking Kenyan Nelly Chepchirchir, 3:56.56–3:56.72. Aussie Linden Hall ran 3rd in 3:57.92. Back in 8th, American Dani Jones ran a PR 4:01.66.
In the triple jump, world champ Hugues Fabrice Zango struggled but could not get ahead of Cuban Andy Díaz, who had a 56-7¼ (17.25) in round 2 and closed with a 57-2¼ (17.43). Zango’s best also came in the final round, a 56-6 (17.22).
Laulauga Tausaga-Collins, the unlooked-for world champ in the discus, opened the competition with a decent 211-0 (64.31), but then watched as China’s Bin Feng and Croatian great Sandra Perković went well past that, Feng grabbing the wind with her last-round 221-2 (67.41) as Perković, with three throws past 67m, topped out at 220-10 (67.32).
XIAMEN DL MEN’S RESULTS
100(0.4): 1. Christian Coleman (US) 9.83 (=WL, = AL);
2. Kishane Thompson (Jam) 9.85 PR; 3. Fred Kerley (US) 9.96; 4. Brandon Carnes (US) 10.01 PR; 5. Marvin Bracy-Williams (US) 10.02; 6. Yohan Blake (Jam) 10.04; 7. Lamont Marcell Jacobs (Ita) 10.05; 8. Zhenye Xie (Chn) 10.12; 9. Rohan Watson (Jam) 10.18.
400: 1. Kirani James (Grn) 44.38; 2. Quincy Hall (US) 44.38; 3. Rusheen McDonald (Jam) 44.82; 4. Vernon Norwood (US) 44.99; 5. Gilles Biron (Fra) 45.10; 6. Attila Molnár (Hun) 45.19; 7. Yuki Joseph Nakajima (Jpn) 45.19; 8. Zandrion Barnes (Jam) 45.29; 9. Alex Haydock-Wilson (GB) 45.34.
800: 1. Emmanuel Wanyonyi (Ken) 1:43.20 (WL) PR;
2. Marco Arop (Can) 1:43.24 PR; 3. Benjamin Robert (Fra) 1:43.88; 4. Wycliffe Kinyamal (Ken) 1:44.04; 5. Daniel Rowden (GB) 1:44.27; 6. Yanis Meziane (Fra) 1:44.28 PR; 7. Saul Ordóñez (Spa) 1:44.54; 8. Gabriel Tual (Fra) 1:44.65; 9. Ben Pattison (GB) 1:44.87; 10. Andreas Kramer (Swe) 1:44.97; 11. Isaiah Harris (US) 1:45.10;… rabbit—Erik Sowinski (US) (49.68).
St: 1. Soufiane El Bakkali (Mor) 8:10.31 (5:32.15); 2. Samuel Firewu (Eth) 8:11.29; 3. Amos Serem (Ken) 8:14.41; 4. Abraham Kibiwot (Ken) 8:15.87; 5. Avinash Sable (Ind) 8:16.27; 6. Daniel Arce (Spa) 8:17.68; 7. Ryuji Miura (Jpn) 8:18.32; 8. Benjamin Kigen (Ken) 8:20.15; 9. Mohammed Tindoufti (Mor) 8:21.16; 10. Hailemariyam Amare (Eth) 8:22.68;… 16. Isaac Updike (US) 8:27.37; 17. Andy Bayer (US) 8:33.38;… rabbit—Abderrafia Bouassel (Mor) (2:46.99).
110H(0.0): 1. Hansle Parchment (Jam) 12.96; 2. Daniel Roberts (US) 13.03; 3. Grant Holloway (US) 13.12; 4. Wilhem Belocian (Fra) 13.17; 5. Rachid Muratake (Jpn) 13.19; 6. Freddie Crittenden (US) 13.26; 7. Cordell Tinch (US) 13.38; 8. Rafael Henrique Pereira (Bra) 13.42; 9. Joshua Zeller (GB) 13.45; 10. Zhuoyi Xu (Chn) 13.56.
(best-ever mark-for-place: 10)
Field Event
TJ: 1. Andy Díaz (Ita) 57-2¼ (17.43) (54-9½, 56-7¼, 55-7½, f, p, 57-2¼) (16.70, 17.25, 16.95, f, p, 17.43); 2. Hugues Fabrice Zango (Bur) 56-6; 3. Donald Scott (US) 54-7½ (16.65); 4. Yasser Triki (Alg) 54-1 (16.48); 5. Praveen Chithravel (Ind) 53-10½ (16.42); 6. Abdulla Narangolintevida (Ind) 53-3¾ (16.25); 7. Chris Benard (US) 53-¾ (16.17); 8. Ruiting Wu (Chn) 52-9½ (16.09); 9. Christian Taylor (US) 52-¾ (15.87).
XIAMEN WOMEN’S RESULTS
400: 1. Marileidy Paulino (DR) 49.36; 2. Candice McLeod (Jam) 50.19; 3. Lynna Irby-Jackson (US) 50.45; 4. Sada Williams (Bar) 50.95; 5. Victoria Ohuruogu (GB) 51.24; 6. Talitha Diggs (US) 51.27; 7. Martina Weil (Chl) 51.30; 8. Ama Pipi (GB) 51.51; 9. Makenzie Dunmore (US) 53.85.
1500: 1. Freweyni Hailu (Eth) 3:56.56 (3:11.67); 2. Nelly Chepchirchir (Ken) 3:56.72 PR; 3. Linden Hall (Aus) 3:57.92; 4. Melissa Courtney-Bryant (GB) 3:58.22; 5. Worknesh Mesele (Eth) 4:00.84; 6. Saron Berhe (Eth) 4:00.86 PR; 7. Sarah Healy (Ire) 4:01.48; 8. Dani Jones (US) 4:01.66 PR; 9. Tigist Girma (Eth) 4:03.27; 10. Helen Schlachtenhaufen (US) 4:03.69; 11. Purity Chepkirui (Ken) 4:05.15; 12. Josette Andrews (US) 4:05.52; 13. Claudia Bobocea (Rom) 4:06.07; 14. Emily MacKay (US) 4:06.45;… rabbit—Kristie Schoffield (US) 62.44, 2:07.80.
3000: 1. Beatrice Chebet (Ken) 8:24.05 PR (WL);
2. Laura Galván (Mex) 8:28.05 NR; 3. Margaret Ekidor (Ken) 8:29.88 PR; 4. Aynadis Mebratu (Eth) 8:30.99 PR; 5. Caroline Nyaga (Ken) 8:31.98 PR; 6. Mekides Alemshet (Eth) 8:36.71 PR; 7. Melknat Wedu (Eth) 8:36.81 PR; 8. Selah Busienei (Ken) 8:36.91 PR;… 13. Abby Nichols (US) 8:52.75 PR;… rabbit—Tegab Berhe (Eth) (2:51.00).
400H: 1. Rushell Clayton (Jam) 53.56; 2. Andrenette Knight (Jam) 53.87; 3. Janieve Russell (Jam) 54.01; 4. Ayomide Folorunso (Ita) 54.08; 5. Anna Ryzhykova (Ukr) 54.35; 6. Anna Cockrell (US) 54.56; 7. Viktoriya Tkachuk (Ukr) 55.25; 8. Viivi Lehikoinen (Fin) 55.44; 9. Gianna Woodruff (Pan) 55.45.
Field Events
HJ: 1. Yaroslava Mahuchikh (Ukr) 6-7½ (2.02) (=WL) (6-2¼, 6-3½, 6-4¾ [3], 6-6, 6-7½) (1.89, 1.92, 1.95 [3], 1.98, 2.02);
2. Lia Apostolovski (Slo) 6-3½ (1.92); 3. Eleanor Patterson (Aus) 6-3½; 4. Elisabeth Pihela (Est) 6-2¼ (1.89); 5. Yuliya Chumachenko (Ukr) 6-1¼ (1.86); 6. Nawal Meniker (Fra) 6-1¼; 7. Heta Tuuri (Fin) 5-11½ (1.82); 8. Erin Shaw (Aus) 5-10 (1.78).
LJ: 1. Ivana Vuleta (Ser) 22-7 (6.88) (22-3½, 22-1½, 21-4¾, 22-2½, 22-7, 22-1½) (6.79, 6.74, 6.52, 6.77, 6.88, 6.74); 2. Marthe Koala (Bur) 22-3½ (6.79); 3. Ese Brume (Ngr) 22-¼ (6.71); 4. Agate De Sousa (STP) 21-5½ (6.54); 5. Brooke Buschkuehl (Aus) 21-4¾ (6.52); 6. Maryse Luzolo (Ger) 21-4¼ (6.51); 7. Milica Gardašević (Ser) 21-2½ (6.46); 8. Quanesha Burks (US) 21-2 (6.45).
DT: 1. Bin Feng (Chn) 221-2 (67.41) (203-11, 214-2, 220-2, 211-11, 219-9, 221-2) (62.17, 65.28, 67.11, 64.59, 66.99, 67.41); 2. Sandra Perković (Cro) 220-10 (67.32) (220-10, 220-9, 211-6, 216-5, 220-1, f) (67.32, 67.30, 64.48, 65.97, 67.08, f); 3. Laulauga Tausaga-Collins (US) 211-0 (64.31); 4. Izabela da Silva (Bra) 204-9 (62.40); 5. Liliana Cá (Por) 204-1 (62.21); 6. Claudine Vita (Ger) 202-7 (61.76); 8. Mélina Robert-Michon (Fra) 197-1 (60.08).