XIAMEN, China, May 23 – Olympic champion Masai Russell from the United States moved within striking distance of the women’s 100-meter hurdles world record Saturday, running 12.14 seconds at the Diamond League meet in Xiamen. The event also saw China’s Yan Ziyi launch the javelin 71.74 meters, marking the second-longest throw ever recorded by a female athlete.
In other standout performances, Brazil’s Alison dos Santos defeated Karsten Warholm in a showdown between Paris Olympics medalists in the men’s 400m hurdles, and Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala narrowly beat Gift Leotlela in the men’s 100-meter dash.
Russell, who established herself as the world’s second-fastest woman in the 100m hurdles with a 12.17-second performance last year, delivered on her Friday commitment to steadily work toward the world record this season. She maintained her lead from start to finish in the race.
Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan, who established the current world record of 12.12 seconds in 2022, came in second place, trailing Russell by 0.14 seconds.
“I don’t know when (the world record) is going to come but I keep getting closer and closer. I’m blessed, I’m ecstatic and all the hard work is truly showing,” said Russell.
The 18-year-old Yan generated tremendous excitement from the local spectators when she established a new under-20 world record on her opening attempt, coming tantalizingly close to the 72.28-meter mark set by Czech athlete Barbora Spotakova for the current world record in 2008.
Yan chose not to make additional attempts and dominated the competition, while Norway’s Sigrid Borge claimed second place with a 65.00-meter effort.
“I came to this race with the goal for 65m, so it really blew my mind to see that result coming,” said Yan.
“A flash in the pan is not what I want, I don’t want this 71.74 to be just a one-time thing… I think I can push harder. I’ll see how it will go for the next couple of years and prepare for breaking the world record.”
In the men’s 100-meter sprint, Omanyala accelerated at the race’s midpoint. Leotlela, who claimed victory the previous week, closed the gap in the final stretch, but the South African runner had to accept second place as the Kenyan athlete drove to triumph with powerful knee drive, finishing in 9.94 seconds.
Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson dominated the women’s 200-meter race for the second consecutive week, while American Jamal Britt captured the men’s 110-meter hurdles. His fellow American and world champion Cordell Tinch faded in the closing meters and placed fifth.
In the men’s 400-meter hurdles, two-time Olympic bronze medalist Dos Santos ran shoulder-to-shoulder with Warholm, the former Olympic gold medalist who earned silver in Paris. However, in the final sprint, Dos Santos surged ahead to win in 46.72 seconds.
A late surge also benefited Ethiopia’s Addisu Yihune in the men’s 5,000-meter race. He initiated his move just before the final curve and pushed through to cross the line in 12 minutes and 57.32 seconds before collapsing while holding his knee.
“It is good. It was all good,” Yihune said, confirming he was not seriously injured.
Three-time Olympic shot put champion Ryan Crouser displayed no effects from his persistent elbow problem, placing third with a 21.41-meter throw in his first major competition since capturing the World Championship last year.
Jamaica’s Rajindra Campbell achieved a 22.34-meter throw to earn his inaugural Diamond League victory.
