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Russell with fast expectations, Mondo like home
MONACO (MON): The Wanda Diamond League returns to Europe, with several reigning Olympic champions taking part in Friday’s Meeting International d’Athlétisme Herculis EBS. Expected highlights of the meeting include Gabby Thomas against Julien Alfred and Adaejah Hodge in the 200m, Faith Kipyegon in the 3000m, Masai Russel in her quest for a very fast time in the 100m hurdles, Emmanuel Wanyonyi in the 1000m, stacked men’s long jump, and Mondo Duplantis in a non-DL pole vault. The evening at the Stade Louis II will begin at 6:15 pm (local time) with the women’s pole vault, with the main session beginning traditionally at 8:04 pm with the women’s 400m and men’s 100m (with special lights presentation) as the final event. Last-minute entry is Gianmarco Tamberi in the high jump. Excellent summer weather is expected.
Event by event reviews
Women
200m: Olympic champions Julien Alfred and Gabrielle Thomas, meeting for the first time since the Paris Olympics final, are due to clash, although they will have to beat world leader Adaejah Hodge, who has the world lead at 21.68.
Gabby Thomas, 200m winner, photo by How Lao for Grand Slam Track
400m: Olympic champion Mariledy Paulino faces five other women who have broken 50 seconds this year, including Jamaica’s Dejanea Oakley (48.79) in her European debut and world indoor champion Lurdes Gloria Manuel (49.37). The meeting record of 48.97 set by Shaunae Miller-Uibo in 2018 could be under threat.
Dejenae Oakley wins Pre Classic 400m, photo by Chuck Aragon
3000m: Can Faith Kipyegon return to winning ways after defeat in Eugene? She faces teammate Agnes Ngetich in her track season debut, as well as a strong Ethiopian presence, including Aleshign Baweke, Freweyni Hailu, and Birke Haylom, as well as Jess Hull, an exclusive pacemaker. The MR still belongs to Gabriela Szabo with 8:21.42 from 2002.
Faith Kipyegon, photo by Brian Eder for RunBlogRun, NIKE Presser, July 4, 2025.
100m hurdles: Masai Russell v the clock? Russell has the world lead at 12.14, just 0.02 shy of the world record. Meeting record is 12.30.
Masai Russell takes the 100m hurdles, photo by Chuck Aragon
Pole vault: The field includes world champion Katie Moon and Olympic champion Nina Kennedy, both of whom have cleared 4.80m this year. Moll sisters are coming after dominating the NCAA scene.
Katie Moon, Ostrava, photo by Pavel Leboda
Triple jump: Dominica’s Thea Lafond and Cuba’s Davisleydi Velazco, who have jumped 15.25m and 15.13m, will go head-to-head. Can world champion Leyanis Perez break 15 meters for the first time?
Thea LaFond went 15.02m PB to win TJ, photo by Mattia Ozbot for World Athletics
Javelin: China’s Yan Ziyi is the outstanding favorite to extend her win streak. She leads the entry list by over six meters with 71.74m. MR of Spotakova is 69.45 from 2011.
Ziyi Yan (CHN) wins the Women’s Javelin with a distance of 71.74m in a new Diamond League Record, World Under 20 Record, Area Record, and Meeting Record, at the Diamond League Xiamen Meeting, the 2nd stop on the Wanda Diamond League circuit, on 23 May 2026
Ziya Yan throws 71.74m,
Marta Gorczynska for Diamond League AG
Men
100m: All eight entrants have broken the 10-second barrier this year. The field is headed by world champion Oblique Seville, who has clocked 9.82 this year. He faces Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo and US World indoor champion Jordan Anthony. MR is 9.78 by Justin Gatlin in 2015.
Letsile Tebogo wins the 200m at Pre, photo by Brian Eder, for RunBlogRun,
400m: Collen Kebinatshipi will be targeting his fourth Diamond League win of the season. He will face world 400m hurdles champion Rai Benjamin, who finished second behind him in Eugene, and South Africa’s Zakithi Nene, who has also broken the 44-second barrier with 43.89 in 2026. Wayde Van Niekerk’s MR of 43.73 could be vulnerable.
Collen Kebinatshipi, BOT, wins the 400 meters in 44.11 PB, photo by Chuck Aragon
1000m: A possible world record attempt? The field includes Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Djamel Sedjati, the world 800m champion and bronze medallist respectively, as well as European champion Gabriel Tual. The world record stands to Noah Ngeny with 2:11.96 from Rieti in 1999, and the European record still belongs to Seb Coe with 2:12.18 from 1981. MR and WL should go.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi (KEN) wins the Men’s 800m in a time of 1:41.95 at the BAUHAUS-Galan in Stockholm, part of the Wanda Diamond League, on Sunday 15 June 2025. Photo by Diamond League AG.
5000m: Asian record-holder Birhanu Balew (12:47.73) will be going for victory and WL attack 12:47.62. The line-up also includes a strong European cohort featuring Isaac Kimeli, Dominic Lobalu, Thierry Ndikumwenayo and Olympic triathlon champion Alex Yee.
TOKYO, JAPAN – SEPTEMBER 21: Isaac Kimeli of Team Belgium and Biniam Mehary of Team Ethiopia compete during the Men’s 5000 Metres Final on day nine of the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025 at National Stadium on September 21, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
3000m steeplechase: Can Geordie Beamish improve on his 8:13.11 season’s best? He faces a strong Kenyan challenge, including Edmund Serem, Simon Koech, and Abraham Kibiwott, all trying for Kenya’s first DL win since the 2024 Final, as well as Japan’s Ryuki Miura.
Geordie Beamish, NZ, going from 11th to first, takes gold in steeple, surprising Soufianne El Bakkali, MAR, photo by Dan Vernon/World Athletics
High jump: Equal world leader Oleh Doroshchuk competes along with the great Mutaz Essa Barshim, who is returning to form after a long spell on the sidelines with a 2.27m season’s best. Brit Kimani Jack, who has cleared 2.31m, makes his Diamond League debut. Late entry in season debut: Italian star Gianmarco Tamberi.
Mutaz Essa Barshim, 2018 World Indoor Champs, photo by The Shoe Addicts/Mike Deering
Long jump: Mattia Furlani competes for the first time since May due to injury. As well as a strong European presence in the field with Gerson Balde, Miltiadis Tentoglou, Simon Ehammer and Bozhidar Saraboyukov, he will also face Cuba’s world U20 record-holder Jorge Hodelin.
Mattia Furlani, photo by Liam Blackwell for DL
Pole vault (non-DL): Armand Duplantis is in the field and back in form after a world outdoor lead of 6.13m in Paris. Duplantis holds the MR with 6.05m. They will jump on the French runway used at indoor meets.
Tokyo WCH 2025