by Alfonz Juck
SUZHOU (CHN, Apr 27): The Yangtze Delta Athletics Diamond Gala in the new DL venue of Suzhou (replaced Shanghai due to stadium renovation) was the second Chinese Diamond League meeting within a week. An estimated 20,000 visitors saw an early world lead, two outdoor world leads, two meeting records, and, of course, WR attempts by Mondo. Paulino, B. Chepkoech, JCQ, Roberts and Duplantis recorded their second DL victories of the season. Surprising losses for champions – Richardson, Gidey, US sprinters, and Barshim. The next Wanda Diamond League stage is in Doha on May 10.
Short reviews by event
Women
200m: Richardson is still completely out of form (third in 23.11), but Neita won easily in 22.62 (0.2).
400m: Paulino won clearly, winning time 50.89 behind expectations.
5000m (non-DL): 18-years old Mekedes Alemeshete surprisingly topped the Ethiopian competition (swept for 1-2-3-4) in a PB and early world lead of 14:36.70, also 5th best ever U20, 10,000m WR holder Gidey only third (14:37.13) in her season opener, 11 runners under Paris standard, 12 personal bests (Briton Keith 14:43.24, also EL).
3000m steeple: B. Chepkoech in solo race again, but this time slower (9:07.36), excellent come-back for Krause at third (9:16.24 EL) in her first steeple since Oregon 2022 after maternity break, and PB and Paris standard for fifth Jennings of USA (9:19.59).
100m hurdles: JCQ repeated Xiamen’s victory, however, with 12.63 (0.3) only, after jitters at the start when Amusan was false-started/disqualified (although she defeated the field when running under protest).
Long jump: Versatile Marthe Koala of Burkina Faso dominated with 668 (0.1) in the first series.
Shot put: Victory for World champ Jackson with first outdoor 20+ mark of the season (20.03), Xiamen winner Gong this time only fourth (19.61).
Discus (non-DL): Allman led from the beginning, improved her SB to 69.86 SB in fifth, and won again over Feng (67.11), fourth Izabela da Silva of Brazil with PB and Paris standard (64.66), World champion Tausaga with three fails.
Javelin: It was a tough season opener for World champion Kitaguchi, starting with 55m attempt, she made the Top 3 in fifth, and took the victory in the last attempt (62.97).
Men
100m: American champions Coleman (10.04) and Kerley (10.11) were defeated by South African champion Simbine in 10.01 (-0.1).
800m: Moula (1:44.55) kept the lead in the straight over Kinyamal (1:44.88), after a very fast first lap (49.76).
5000m: Barega showed good shape with a meeting record and outdoor world lead of 12:55.68 (also fastest ever in April); the 17-years-old fellow Ethiopian Biniam Mehary, almost unknown in the previous season, was not far behind (12:56.37 PB / U20WL, 13th best ever U20), top 5 under Paris standard.
110m hurdles: Roberts confirmed his Xiamen form and won comfortably in 13.12 (0.8).
High jump: World Indoor champion Kerr, this time in better shape than in Xiamen, cleared 231. Barshim also improved (229).
Pole vault: Duplantis dominated with a new meeting record (600) and failed at new WR attempts (625).
Long jump: Dendy outperformed Chinese rivals, but with average performance of 805 (-0.2).
