1. Ayana almost unstoppable
It is strange to think that, just over a year ago, Almaz Ayana’s victory in Shanghai came as something of a surprise. The Ethiopian is now the undisputed favourite to take the women’s 5000m Diamond Trophy this season, with Olympic success also not to be ruled out. After an astonishing performance in Rabat which took her within seconds of the world record, Ayana is now a full 13 points ahead in the Diamond Race. Beaten by Genzebe Dibaba last season, it seems 2016 is destined to be the year that Ayana claims her very first Diamond League title.
Almaz #Ayana was devilishly close to the world record. Still, not a bad run, eh? #RabatDL pic.twitter.com/FIOspu8uAh
— IAAF Diamond League (@Diamond_League) May 22, 2016
2. Bosse blasts open the 800m
The men’s 800m Diamond Race has traditionally been dominated by three men. David Rudisha, Mohammed Aman and Nijel Amos have each won two titles in the last six years, and one of them at least was expected to take an early lead this year. After Rudisha’s defeat in Doha, Amos has fallen too, finishing just sixth in Rabat as Pierre-Ambroise Bosse took victory and all ten points. The two surprises mean that Amos and Rudisha are now in 10th and 11th place in the Diamond Race and have some serious work to do if they are to maintain their dominance.
3. Very tight in the verticals
Both the men’s high jump and the women’s pole vault are shaping up to be among the closest of this season’s Diamond Races. Katerina Stefanidi’s victory in Rabat saw her knock Sandi Morris off top spot in the women’s pole vault, while Nicole Büchler’s two second place finishes in Doha and Rabat have ensured that she is in the top three. It is also far too early to write off Diamond Trophy holder Nikoleta Kiriakopoulou, who is currently lagging in fourth.
In the men’s high jump, Erik Kynard could have given himself an enormous lead had he won in Rabat, but Bogdan Bondarenko was having none of it. The Ukrainian’s win means that Diamond Race leader Kynard is still in sight with a lead of just six points. With Guowei Zhang chasing Bondarenko in third, the high jump is hotting up already.
4. Malachowski still the master
Piotr Malachowski already has three Diamond Trophies under his belt, and it looks increasingly like he will add a fourth this season. As in previous years, he and his compatriot Robert Urbanek are topping the Diamond Race table, and as in previous years, Malachowski remains just a whisker ahead of Urbanek. For a moment in Rabat it looked like Malachowski may have faltered, but the experienced Pole rallied to launch an amazing final throw, break the meeting record and maintain his spot at the top of the Diamond Race standings.
5. Oliver is after Omar
With three rounds already complete, the men’s 110m hurdles is arguably the most exciting Diamond Race of the early season. New talent Omar McLeod took victories in Doha and Shanghai to surge to the top of the standings. But three-time Diamond Race winner, Diamond Trophy holder and soft-baked cookie love David Oliver isn’t going to give up his title that easily. The American took advantage of McLeod’s absence in Rabat, shortening the Jamaican’s lead to just five points as he took victory, ten points and second place in the Diamond Race standings.
#DiamondTrophy holder @doliversub13 is hot on @Warrior_omz‘ heels after his first win of the season. #DiamondRace pic.twitter.com/6itleORtVr— IAAF Diamond League (@Diamond_League) May 22, 2016