1. Barshim back in business
After months of niggling injury and frustrating results, Mutaz Essa Barshim had looked in grave danger of giving up the Diamond Race crown he has held for the last two years in 2016. The Qatari high jumper was never going to give up without a fight, though, and he returned to form in some style in Birmingham. His victory over Erik Kynard in a high quality contest saw him secure his best performance in months and his first win of this year’s Diamond Race. The ten points has brought him within touching distance of Kynard and Bondarenko at the top of the standings, and with Robbie Grabarz and Guowei Zhang also collecting points, the men’s high jump promises to be as thrilling as ever in the second half of the season.
2. Kipruto slips away
Conseslus Kipruto has been a man on a mission in this season’s Diamond Race so far. The mission statement? To win back the Diamond Trophy he lost to Jairus Birech two years ago, and which Birech has held ever since. He got off to a good start by beating Birech in Doha, and then proceeded to beat him again in the next two meetings. His fourth victory came in Birmingham, and this time Birech couldn’t even finish in second, meaning Kipruto now has a 20 point lead at the top of the standings. It ain’t over till it’s over, but Kipruto is close to the crown.
3. Silva slows Stefanidi
After another victory for Katerina Stefanidi in Rome, it has seemed as though only Nicole Büchler has any chance of catching the Greek Diamond Race leader in the women’s pole vault. Cuba’s Yarisley Silva, however, had other ideas, and took ten points in Birmingham to ensure that the race for the Diamond Trophy was once again blown wide open. The world champion is still 12 points behind Stefanidi, but her win has put the brakes on what could have been a relentless title charge from the Greek.
4. Ibargüen isn’t unbeatable
34 victories in a row. Three Diamond Trophies in three years. Caterine Ibargüen has been perhaps the single most dominant athlete in any field over the last few years. That she should somehow be beaten seemed less likely with every passing triumph. Yet everything that has a beginning has an end, and Olga Rypakova put an end to Ibargüen’s astonishing winning run in Birmingham. Rypakova was the last person to other than Ibargüen to win the women’s triple jump Diamond Race, and with only 14 points less than the Colombian, she may feel she has a slim chance of reclaiming her 2012 title this year.
5. Brooks on Adams tail
Tia Brooks got off to a flying start in the women’s shot put Diamond Race with victory in Doha. She then slipped down the rankings over the following weeks as returning star Valerie Adams grabbed two wins from the next two meetings. Brooks, though, has a first Diamond Trophy in her sights and bounced back to beat Adams in Birmingham. The two women are now neck and neck with Adams on 26 points and Brooks on 22. Hungary’s Anita Martón, meanwhile, has notched up 21 points despite not winning a single round so far. It is nail-biting stuff in the shot put.