Anavia Battle (200), Cordell Tinch (110 Hurdles) and Valarie Allman (Discus) Open Diamond League Season With Wins In Xiamen

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Photos courtesy Diamond League

INTERVIEWS

World Athletics' embrace of the 300-meter hurdles got off to a flying start on Saturday at the Diamond League opener in Xiamen, China where Karsten Warholm closed the program by running an all-time world best of 33.05 seconds. 

The Norwegian took .21 seconds off his previous best and unofficial world record from 2021. The event will soon have official world records. 

“I was a little bit surprised by how easy my legs were feeling off the last bend,” Warholm said. “Of course you feel it a little bit in the end, but I managed to really push in the last 45 meters. This shows that the speed is there and the speed over the hurdles is there.”

Anavia Battle picked up a big early season win the women's 200 meters, where she ran a meet record 22.41 to beat Jamaican Shericka Jackson (22.79) and fellow American Jenna Prandini (22.97).

Cordell Tinch ran a world-leading time of 13.06 seconds to win the 110-meter hurdles, surpassing the time of 13.09 that Trey Cunningham put up on April 19 at the Tom Jones Memorial in Gainesville, Fla.

Jamaica's Danielle Williams ran a time of 12.53 to win the women's 100-meter hurdles and defeated world leader Grace Stark of the U.S., who ran 12.58.

In the men's 100 meters, Akani Simbine was the only man to go under 10 seconds, wih 9.99. Kenya's Ferdinand Omanyala was second at 10.13 and American Christian Coleman was fourth in 10.18.

Faith Kipyegon ran a meet record in the 1,000 meters with 2:29.21, just .06 seconds off her pesonal best. American Sage Hurta-Klecker was fourth in 2:33.45.

"It was all good. It went how I wanted just to start my season in a good way," Kipyegon said. "I wanted to do my personal best which was very close to world record. It was a very good start to my season."

Olympic gold medalist Valarie Allman's best throw in the women's discus sailed 68.95m (229-6), which was good enough to win the competition by more than two meters over Cuban Yaime Perez. 

Bayapo Ndori from Botswana edged American Christopher Bailey in the men's 400 meters. Ndori ran 44.25 seconds and Bailey ran a personal best 44.27.

Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis made three heights, including a best of 5.92m (19-5) but couldn't get over 6.01m on three tries with swirling winds. 

"It was not the easiest day out there," the world record holder said. "I think probably for most of the guys. 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. "

American Sam Kendricks was eighth and cleared 5.62m (18-5.25).

Samuel Firewu from Ethiopia ran a meet record and world leading time of 8:05.61 to win the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase. Twelve men ran 8:12 or faster.

Beatrice Chebet of Kenya ran a world-leading 14:27.12 and beat Ethipian Gudaf Tsegay (14:28.18) in the women's 5,000 meters. 

Jessica Schilders of The Netherlands won the women's shot put with a meet record mark of 20.47m (67-2). 

American Chase Jackson was second with an encouraging 20.31m (66-7.75). 

"For the coming Tokyo World Champiship, I want my third title," Jackson said. "After the Olympics last year, I want some redemption. Right now I think I’ve already started the redemption already this season. I’ve been just working on my mentality."

Ukraine's Yaroslava Mahuchikh, already the world leader this year with 2.01m, jumped to a victory with 1.97m (6-5.75) and it was her second straight win in Xiamen. 

Australians Eleanor Patterson and Nicola Olyslagers both made 1.94m and finished second and third, respectively.

Jordan Scott from Jamaica jumped a personal best 17.27m (56-8) to win the men's triple jump. 

Elina Tzengko from Greece broke the meet record in the women's javelin with her winning distance of 64.75m (212-5). 

China's Zhang Mingkun won the men's long jump with 8.18m (26-10).