High Jump
Ruth Beitia won her first Diamond Trophy last season, and the veteran Spaniard is looking to make it two in two this year. Back to back victories in Oslo and Stockholm saw Beitia overtake Chaunté Lowe and Levern Spencer to take a three point lead in the Diamond Race. With three rounds to go, it may be another nail-biting finish in the women’s high jump.
In the men’s event, there is an even more open field. Erik Kynard begun the season with a bang, before surrendering his lead to Bohdan Bondarenko, who notched up consecutive victories in Rabat and Rome. Diamond Trophy holder Mutaz Essa Barshim finally got his title defence going with a win in Birmingham, while Kynard’s second place finish there was enough to regain the lead. Only 11 points separate the top five at this stage.
The men’s high jump #DiamondRace looks like it’s going to go the wire!
Pole Vault
Renaud Lavillenie is the only athlete to have won the Diamond Race in all six years since its inauguration. After a wobbly start to the season, the Frenchman is now on course to make it seven. His defeat to Sam Kendricks in Doha was followed by three epic duels with Shawn Barber in Eugene, Oslo and Stockholm. Lavillenie has had to fight, but he is now 14 points clear of Barber at the top of the standings.
14 points clear…is @airlavillenie on course for a seventh(!) #DiamondTrophy?#StockholmDL pic.twitter.com/uQgdPZUOP3
— IAAF Diamond League (@Diamond_League) June 16, 2016
The women’s pole vault has been dominated by Katerina Stefanidi, who is looking to relieve compatriot Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou of her Diamond League title. Top three finishes in all four rounds have given Stefanidi, who won in Rabat and Rome, a lead of 11 points. With Yarisley Silva and Nicole Büchler breathing down her neck, however, the Greek is not out of the woods yet.
Long Jump
Ivana Spanovic has long been one of Europe’s top long jumpers, yet she has been unable to pick up a Diamond Trophy over the last six years. That looks set to change, as the Serbian has won an impressive three out of four rounds so far. She is 20 points ahead in the Diamond Race and said in Stockholm that she was confident of winning the competition.
@ivanaspanovic was in a confident mood after extending her #DiamondRace lead at #StockholmDL
The men’s long jump, meanwhile, remains wide open. It is one of the few disciplines this year to have had a different winner at every Diamond Race meeting. Marquise Goodwin’s win in Birmingham has given him a slender lead, but the likes of Xinglong Gao, Fabrice Lapierre, Rushwal Samaai and Diamond Trophy Greg Rutherford are not far behind.
Triple Jump
Christian Taylor is one of a handful of athletes to have four Diamond Trophies to their name, and the Olypic and World Champion was expected to make it five this year. After wins in Doha and Eugene, Cuban Alexis Copello put the pressure on Taylor with victory in Oslo, but the American fought back to get 10 points in Stockholm, and extend his lead to 12.
Caterine Ibargüen suffered a major shock when her incredible 34-strong winning streak was ended by Olga Rypakova in Birmingham. The Colombian is nonetheless still at her dominant best, having won all three Diamond Race meetings before that. She has a 16 point lead, and looks well placed to defend her Diamond Trophy.