XIAMEN, China : Masai Russell moved closer to the women’s 100 metres hurdles world record with a time of 12.14 seconds at the Xiamen Diamond League on Saturday, while China’s Yan Ziyi produced the second-longest women’s javelin throw in history with 71.74 metres.
Brazil’s Alison dos Santos defeated Karsten Warholm in the men’s 400m hurdles, while Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala edged South Africa’s Gift Leotlela to win the men’s 100m.
Russell, already the second-fastest woman in history over the distance after clocking 12.17 last year, maintained control throughout the race to finish just 0.02 seconds shy of the world record.
World record holder Tobi Amusan, who set the mark of 12.12 seconds in 2022, finished second in 12.28.
“I don’t know when the world record is going to come, but I keep getting closer and closer,” Russell said.
Earlier, 18-year-old Yan thrilled the home crowd by setting an under-20 world record with her opening throw, falling narrowly short of the world record of 72.28m set by Barbora Spotakova in 2008.
Yan did not attempt another throw and comfortably won the competition ahead of Norway’s Sigrid Borge, who finished second with 65.00m.
“I came to this race with the goal of 65m, so it really blew my mind to see that result,” Yan said.
In the men’s 100m, Omanyala surged ahead in the second half of the race to win in 9.94 seconds despite a late challenge from Leotlela.
Shericka Jackson claimed her second straight Diamond League win in the women’s 200m, while American Jamal Britt won the men’s 110m hurdles.
World champion Cordell Tinch faded late to finish fifth.
Dos Santos pulled away from Warholm over the closing metres of the men’s 400m hurdles to win in 46.72 seconds.
Ethiopia’s Addisu Yihune won the men’s 5,000m in 12 minutes 57.32 seconds after launching a late attack before collapsing at the finish clutching his knee. He later said the injury was not serious.
Three-time Olympic shot put champion Ryan Crouser finished third with a throw of 21.41m in his first major competition since last year’s world championships despite ongoing elbow problems.
Jamaica’s Rajindra Campbell secured his first Diamond League victory with a throw of 22.34m.
