Xiamen Diamond League meeting: Kipyegon to race 1000m, Warholm in 300m hurdles, and you know what Mondo is doing!

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Kipyegon 1000, Warholm 300H, and Mondo

XIAMEN (CHN): Futuristic Egret Stadium will be the beginning of the Wanda Diamond League as last year. But this time with increased prize money (more than 9 million USD for the whole series). African and American athletes no longer consider April too early for a top event, and Europeans are coming in, still in small numbers. Fresh with the Laureus Award, Mondo Duplantis opens the season with his usual aim to attack the WR. Last year, he achieved that in this stadium. More records are in the works for women 1000 m, potentially in a new official event, 300 m hurdles, and women 5000 m is not out of the question. A series of World Leads and meet records (the meet has only been held in two editions in the past) are expected. Loaded men 100 m, women 100 m hurdles, some home hopes in women’s throws and men’s jumps. In summary, 10 WR holders and 23 reigning individual global champions are the best quality in the third edition of Xiamen. For example, Akani Simbine said “I came here to win”, Valarie Allman said “I love coming to China”, Faith Kipyegon said “The impossible can be possible,” and Mondo Duplantis said “I never really rule out anything”.

Short event-by-event previews

Women

200m – World champion Shericka Jackson faces a strong American contingent including Jenna Prandini, Twanisha Terry, and European champion Mujinga Kambundji. For all of them, the first 200 of the year.

1000m—Faith Kipyegon targets the long-standing world record of 2:28.98 set by Svetlana Masterkova in 1996. The pace aimed at was 59.8, which was sub 2 (1:59.35) by 2019 World champion Nakaayi. Olympic 800m silver medallist Tsige Duguma also competes.

5000m – Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet renews her rivalry with world record-holder Gudaf Tsegay, who holds the global mark at 14:00.21. Ethiopian Kiros Muaz and Ugandan Winnie Nanyondo should pace for 8:30 at 3000 m, targeting 14:06.

100m hurdles – World record-holder Tobi Amusan faces a loaded field including five other women with sub-12.4 lifetime bests, including Americans Nia Ali (12.30) and Grace Stark (12.31 PB), world champion Danielle Williams (12.32), and world indoor record-holder Devynne Charlton (12.44). To note a rare, high-quality European presence by Polish Skrzyszowska.

High jump – Last year’s winner (202), Yaroslava Mahuchikh, renews her rivalry with Australians Nicola Olyslagers and Eleanor Patterson.

Shot put – Excellent line-up features seven throwers with 20 metre-plus lifetime bests, including world indoor champion Sarah Mitton, European indoor and outdoor champion Jessica Schilder, world champion Chase Jackson, and legendary Chinese thrower Gong Lijiao.

Discus: Valarie Allman should rule; she is unbeaten since the Budapest Worlds. World champion and teammate Laulauga Tausaga and seven-time European champion Sandra Elkasevic are also competing in the field. 2022 world champion Feng Bin also competes.

Javelin (non-DL) – 2022 European champion Elina Tzengko and Olympic medalist Jo-Ana Van Dyk are featuring in the non-Diamond League javelin.

Men

100m – All 10 sprinters have lifetime bests of 10.00 or faster. The line-up includes Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo (9.86 PB), current world leader Akani Simbine (9.82), and world and European indoor champion Jeremiah Azu (9.97). The only US sprinter in the field is former World champion Christian Coleman (9.76 PB), who won two previous Xiamens.

400m – Kirani James makes his season’s debut as winner here in 2023 against a strong field including Botswana’s Bayapo Ndori and World indoor champion Chris Bailey, while European champion Alexander Doom returns from injury.

110m hurdles – Olympic champion Grant Holloway will aim to return to winning ways after a defeat last week. The line-up features four other sub-13-second performers, including former Olympic champion Hansle Parchment, who has the MR 12.96.

3000m steeplechase—World and Olympic 3000m steeplechase champion Soufiane El Bakkali faces a field including Olympic bronze medallist Abraham Kibiwott and fourth-placer Mohamed Amin Jhinaoui. The pace is set for 2:41 and 5:25, aiming at 8:05 WL.

300m hurdles—Karsten Warholm makes his season’s debut in the new official event, the 300m hurdles. He holds the world record at 33.26. This race will also be the debut of the DL scoring event.

Long jump – Wide open line-up including Jamaicans Tajay Gayle and Wayne Pinnock, European indoor champion Bozhidar Saraboyukov, and in-form Australian Liam Adcock. Zhang Mingkun leads Chinese challenge.

Wayne Pinnock, Tajaye Gayle, Omar McLeod, photo by World Athletics

Triple jump (non-DL) – Reigning world champion Hugues Fabrice Zango is the standout entrant, home interest in Zhu Yaming, recent silver medalist at World Indoors in Nanjing.

Pole vault – Outdoor season’s debut for Armand Duplantis. World record watch on? Last year, he made it (624): Fellow Olympic medallists Sam Kendricks and Emmanouil Karalis also compete.