Karsten Warholm produced a spectacular performance to smash the 300m hurdles world best at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Xiamen, China on Saturday (26), the Norwegian superstar clocking 33.05 seconds to obliterate the previous mark of 33.26.
It brought him home well clear of Brazil’s Matheus Lima (33.98) and Japan’s Ken Todoya (34.22), his performance electrifying the large crowd at Egret Stadium and getting the 2025 Wanda Diamond League season off to a scintillating start.
“It was a very good race and I was a little bit surprised over how easy my legs were feeling on the last bend,” said Warholm. “It is the level I am pushing for and that is where I want to be, so this shows that the speed is there and the speed over the hurdles is there. I knew it was in my body to perform that, but you obviously have to do it.”
There was nearly another world record in the women’s 1000m, where Kenyan great Faith Kipyegon clocked 2:29.21 to take victory, just fractions of a second outside the record of 2:28.98. She was followed home by Australians Abbey Caldwell (2:32.94) and Sarah Billings (2:33.45).
“I wanted to do my personal best which was very close to world record, it was a very good start to my season,” said Kipyegon. “I hope to stay healthy, injury free and continue to focus myself for a beautiful 2025.”
Mondo Duplantis sealed victory in the men’s pole vault with his first-time clearance at 5.92m, and the Swedish superstar missed three times at the subsequent height of 6.01m. Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis took second with 5.82m while Dutch athlete Menno Vloon was third with 5.82m.
“It was not the easiest day out there for most of the guys,” said Duplantis. “We had a little bit of trouble with the wind. Hopefully we can be a little more sharp in the second leg on the China trip, but overall it was good fun and to be able to come away with a win was good.”
There was a thrilling finale in the women’s 5000m as Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet unleashed a superb kick to take victory in 14:27.12, with Gudaf Tsegay second in 14:28.80 and Birke Haylom third in 14:29.29. “I am so happy to see that my speed is still there,” said Chebet. “For now I just want to race well. When my body is ready, I will chase world records.”
Botswana’s Bayapo Ndori produced a meeting record to edge victory in the men’s 400m in 44.25 ahead of USA’s Christopher Bailey (44.27), with Botswana’s Busang Colle Kebinatshipi third in 44.25.
Cordell Tinch was an impressive winner of the 110m hurdles, the US athlete clocking 13.06 (0.3m/s) ahead of Japan’s Rachid Muratake (13.14), while Danielle Williams powered to victory in the women’s 100m hurdles, clocking 12.53 (-0.2m/s) ahead of Grace Stark (12.58) ad Marione Fourie (12.62).
Akani Simbine was an impressive winner of the men’s 100m, the South African hitting the line in 9.99 (0.2m/s) ahead of Ferdinand Omanyala (10.13) and Jeremiah Azu (10.17). “The race felt good, I stumbled a bit after the 60 so I had to catch myself but I happened to catch the wind while catching the win,” said Simbine.
USA’s Anavia Battle clocked a meeting record of 22.41 (0.4m/s) to win the women’s 200m ahead of Shericka Jackson, the Jamaican running well to finish second in 22.79 with Jenna Prandini third in 22.97. “I was so nervous because I had not run a 200 yet but I am happy I did it here,” said Battle. “Me and my coach have been working on the first half of the race for my 100 so I feel like that has helped a lot.”
Samuel Firewu showed impressive closing speed to take the men’s 3000m steeplechase, the Ethiopian clocking a meeting record of 8:05.61 to defeat Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali (8:06.66) and Simon Kiprop Koech (8:07.12).
Yaroslava Mahuchikh secured victory in the women’s high jump with a first-time clearance at 1.97m, the Ukrainian then putting the bar up to 2.03m but she was unsuccessful there on her three attempts. Eleanor Patterson of Australia was next best with 1.97m, while her compatriot Nicola Olyslagers was third with 1.94m.
“I am so happy that I opened my season with a win,” said Mahuchikh. “It is a great sign. For me it is important to not feel any pain and now I am sure that I am fully recovered.”
Valarie Allman continued her winning ways in the women’s discus, the two-time Olympic champion throwing 68.95m for a comfortable victory, with Yaime Perez second with 66.26m.
Jessica Schilder of the Netherlands threw a meeting record of 20.47m to win the women’s shot put, with Chase Jackson also well beyond the 20-metre barrier in second with 20.31m.
China’s Mingkun Zhang won the men’s long jump with a best of 8.18m ahead of Australia’s Liam Adcock (8.15m) and Marquis Dendy (8.10m).
In the non-Diamond League events, Jamaica’s Jordan produced a big PB of 17.27m to win the men’s triple jump, with Yaming Zhu of China next best with 17.03m and USA’s Donald Scott third with 16.85m.
In the women’s javelin, Greece’s Elina Tzengko claimed victory with a meeting record of 64.75m ahead of New Zealand’s Tori Moorby (62.50m) and China’s Lingdan Su (61.62m).