Karsten Warholm in action in Xiamen (© AFP / Getty Images)
One week after a series of record-breaking contests in Shanghai, many of the same athletes will renew their rivalries when the Wanda Diamond League moves on to Xiamen on Saturday (23).
The men’s 400m hurdles brings together three-time world champion and world record-holder Karsten Warholm and 2022 world champion Alison dos Santos, just seven days after the Brazilian held off the Norwegian to win the 300m hurdles in Shanghai.
That result continued Dos Santos’ recent edge in their head-to-head contests. Not only did he beat Warholm over the shorter distance in Shanghai, he has also finished ahead of him in their past two races over 400m hurdles.
They will be joined in Xiamen by world leader Trevor Bassitt, the 2022 world bronze medallist, two-time world bronze medallist Abderrahman Samba and two-time Diamond League Final winner Kyron McMaster.
There will also be a rematch in the women’s 100m hurdles, where Olympic champion Masai Russell returns after her meeting record and world-leading 12.25 in Shanghai.
Russell will again face a loaded field that includes world champion Ditaji Kambundji, three-time world indoor champion Devynne Charlton, world record-holder Tobi Amusan and two-time world champion Danielle Williams. Charlton finished second behind Russell in Shanghai, setting a national record of 12.38, while Amusan was third.
The women’s 200m will also feature three global gold medallists from the Shanghai race, with two-time world champion Shericka Jackson taking on two-time Olympic 400m champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo and 2023 world 100m champion Sha’Carri Richardson.
Jackson won in Shanghai in 22.07, her fastest time since the 2023 Diamond League Final, while Miller-Uibo was second in 22.26 and Richardson fourth in 22.42.
The men’s 100m in Xiamen features the top eight finishers from Shanghai, including South Africa’s Gift Leotlela, Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala and USA’s Kenny Bednarek. Leotlela won in Shanghai from lane one in 9.97, edging Omanyala and Bednarek, who both clocked 9.98, with just 0.04 separating the first five men.
The men’s 110m hurdles field will also be familiar, as all nine athletes from Shanghai line up again. Jamal Britt, who came through late to win there in an equal PB of 13.07, faces world champion Cordell Tinch and Japanese record-holder Rachid Muratake.
Chemutai and Cherotich renew steeplechase rivalry
The women’s 3000m steeplechase produced one of the tightest finishes in Shanghai, and the top two will clash again in Xiamen.
Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai won in 8:51.47, just 0.01 ahead of world champion Faith Cherotich. They will be joined this time by Olympic champion Winfred Yavi, who makes her season debut.
The field also includes Tunisia’s Marwa Bouzayani and Ethiopia’s Kena Tufa, who both dipped inside nine minutes in Shanghai.
Surprise Shanghai 3000m winner Mohamed Abdilaahi steps up to the 5000m in Xiamen after his German record of 7:25.77 last weekend. He faces Sweden’s world 10,000m bronze medallist Andreas Almgren, one of six men in the field with a PB faster than 12:50.
In the women’s 1500m, Birke Haylom heads to Xiamen after her meeting record of 3:55.56 in Shanghai. The Ethiopian will face world silver medallist Dorcus Ewoi and the quintet of Australians who broke four minutes in Shanghai, including Abbey Caldwell and Jessica Hull.
In his first race since anchoring Botswana to 4x400m victory at the World Relays on home soil in Gaborone, Collen Kebinatshipi heads the men’s 400m field in Xiamen. The world champion lines up against teammate and fellow world 4x400m champion Bayapo Ndori, world indoor champion Christopher Morales Williams of Canada, South Africa’s Zakithi Nene and Olympic bronze medallist Muzala Samukonga.
Crouser returns to Diamond League action
World record-holder Ryan Crouser will make his first Diamond League appearance since September 2024 when he contests the men’s shot put in Xiamen.
The multiple world and Olympic champion has not competed since winning his third world title in Tokyo last year. His most recent Diamond League appearance was also his last defeat, and the last time he failed to throw beyond 22 metres in a final was in April 2022.
Crouser takes on world leader Leonardo Fabbri, world silver medallist Uziel Munoz, world indoor champion Tom Walsh and Olympic bronze medallist Rajindra Campbell.
The men’s long jump brings together world champion Mattia Furlani and Olympic champion Miltiadis Tentoglou. Furlani jumped an outdoor world lead and PB of 8.43m to win in Shanghai, where Bozhidar Saraboyukov was second with 8.07m. Both men compete again in Xiamen, where they will be joined by 2019 world champion Tajay Gayle.
The women’s discus features Valarie Sion, the world and Olympic champion, along with Jorinde van Klinken, 2023 world champion Laulauga Tausaga and 2022 world champion Feng Bin.
In the women’s javelin, Diamond League champion Elina Tzengko faces Olympic champion Haruka Kitaguchi, European silver medallist Adriana Vilagos, world U20 record-holder Yan Ziyi and 2023 world silver medallist Flor Denis Ruiz Hurtado.