Competitive field delivers standout performances despite mixed conditions at China’s 2025 Wanda Diamond League series meeting this weekend.
Sweden’s pole vault sensation Armand Mondo Duplantis dominated the competition but couldn’t surpass his own world record, while American hurdler Cordell Tinch established himself among the all-time greats at the Shanghai-Keqiao Diamond League meet on Saturday.
Cordell Tinch Makes History in Hurdles
American Cordell Tinch delivered the performance of the day, clocking an exceptional 12.87 seconds in the 110m hurdles. This result not only shattered Liu Xiang’s meeting record but also elevated Tinch to the fourth-fastest hurdler in history, matching Cuban legend Dayron Robles’s career best.
“I felt like I was going to run something fast, but I didn’t know it would be 12.8 fast,” said Tinch, who now stands behind only fellow Americans Aries Merritt, Grant Holloway, and Devon Allen on the all-time list.
The victory follows Tinch’s win over world record holder Holloway at last week’s Diamond League opener in Xiamen, confirming his status as a major force in the event.
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Rachid Muratake of Japan was the runner-up today with a time of 13.10 seconds with Jamaica’s Olympic bronze medalist Rasheed Broadbell rounding out the podium spots with a third place finish in 13.24.
Armand Mondo Duplantis Falls Short Despite Victory
Olympic and world champion Armand Duplantis easily won the pole vault competition with a clearance of 6.11 meters, finishing ahead of Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis who managed 6.01 meters. However, the Swedish star couldn’t convert his single attempt at 6.28 meters, which would have bettered his own world record set in February by one centimeter.
“The jump did not feel that great, and the run did not feel that great either,” Duplantis commented after the competition. “To have a good attempt while not feeling my best is actually a really good thing.”
Sprint Battles Heat Up
South Africa’s Akani Simbine secured back-to-back Diamond League victories, winning the 100m in 9.98 seconds after a late surge to overtake Jamaica’s Olympic silver medalist Kishane Thompson (9.99). Botswana’s Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo finished third in 10.03.
In the women’s 200m, American Anavia Battle claimed her second consecutive Diamond League victory this season with a time of 22.38, with Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke taking second in 22.72.
Other Notable Performances
Norway’s Karsten Warholm dominated the 400m hurdles in 47.28 seconds despite admitting he “hit a couple of hurdles.” The world record holder remained optimistic, noting, “The message I send is the potential is very good if I clean up my races.”
In the flat 400m, Christopher Bailey of the United States overtook Botswana’s Bayapo Ndori in the final stretch to win in 44.17 seconds, while Olympic champion Quincy Hall surprisingly finished last in his first competition since his Paris triumph.
Ethiopian runners displayed their distance running prowess with Berihu Aregawi narrowly winning the 5,000m in 12:50.45, leading an Ethiopian sweep of the podium. Compatriot Tsige Duguma ran the season’s fastest time in the women’s 800m, finishing in 1:56.64.
Top Performances In The Field Events As Well
Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh continued her impressive Diamond League streak, securing her seventh consecutive high jump victory with a leap of 2 meters.
American Chase Jackson claimed the shot put with a throw of 20.54m, while Greece’s Elina Tzengko prevailed in a competitive javelin field with a throw of 64.90m.
“I felt really good tonight. On Tuesday, I had a breakthrough in my training so I kind of knew either I could throw really far or I will not be able to hold the breakthrough, but I was able to hold it in, so I am happy with that,” Jackson said after he victory.
In the women’s discus competition, Olympic champion Valarie Allman achieved a throw of over 70 meters, recording a distance of 70.08m to secure first place. This performance followed her winning throw of 68.95m in Xiamen in the opening meeting of serieos.
“I feel so excited about this competition tonight. In my first meet in Xiamen last week my nerves got the better of me and today I just knew I was going to go for it,” the American said. “To see 70 meters pop up gives me a lot of confidence and momentum.”
Dutch thrower Jorinde van Klinken finished second with a throw of 66.22m, while Cuba’s yaime perez took third with 65m.
Elsewhere at the Shanghai-Keqiao Diamond League meet, Portugal’s Pedro Pichardo and Jamaica’s Jordon Scott both surpassed 17 meters in the men’s triple jump. Pichardo, the 2021 Olympic champion, clinched the victory with a leap of 17.03 meters from round one, narrowly defeating Scott, who finished just behind with 17.00m in the third round.
The men’s long jump featured tight competition, with China’s Shi Yuhao narrowly defeating Shu Heng by just three centimeters.
Shi’s winning jump measured 8.21 meters, while Shu recorded 8.18 meters. Wayne Pinnock from Jamaica claimed third place with a mark of 8.10 meters.
The Shanghai-Keqiao Diamond League meet was the second meeting in the 2025 Wanda Diamond League series.
