Nowhere is that more apparent than in the men’s high jump, where this year’s Diamond Race has showcased the very best of a sparkling generation. Bohdan Bondarenko currently leads on 26 points, but only 13 points separate him and sixth-placed Guowei Zhang. With 30 points still up for grabs, the likes of Erik Kynard, Mutaz Essa Barshim and Robbie Grabarz are also still in the running.
Elsewhere, the 2016 Diamond Race has thrown up a myriad of nail-biting three-horse races. Kerron Clement’s victory in London meant that he leapfrogged Michael Tinsley and Javier Culson to take a one-point lead in the men’s 400m hurdles. In the women’s event meanwhile, just three points separates top two Eilidh Doyle and Cassandra Tate, with Janeive Russell also breathing down their necks.
That win has seen Kerron #Clement leapfrog Michael #Tinsley and Javier #Culson to take the lead in the #DiamondRace! pic.twitter.com/9t9J9qQwQL
— IAAF Diamond League (@Diamond_League) July 23, 2016
The same goes for the 400m Diamond Races. Shaunae Miller leads in the women’s event, pursued by Stephenie-Ann McPherson and Natasha Hastings, while in the men’s, two-time Diamond Race winner LaShawn Merritt is tied at the top with Wayde van Niekerk, just three points ahead of Isaac Makwala. The javelin Diamond Races follow the same pattern, with Madara Palameika, Sunette Viljoen and Kathryn Mitchell battling it out in the women’s event, while Jakub Vadlejch’s London victory saw him put pressure on top two Thomas Röhler and Ihab Abdelrahman.
The 2016 Diamond Race has also thrown up some superb duels. In the men’s 800m, Pierre-Ambroise Bosse jumped to within four points of leader Ferguson Cheruiyot Rotich with a win in London, while in the 1500m, Elijah Monotei Manangoi is still on the heels of Diamond League legend Asbel Kiprop after consistent podium finishes this season.
Tom Walsh’s victory in Stockholm means he is only six points behind Diamond Trophy holder Joe Kovacs in the men’s shot put, while Ruth Jebet and Hyvin Kiyeng remain deadlocked on 26 points and two wins each in the women’s steeplechase. In the women’s 5000m, even three wins for Almaz Ayana have not been enough to push her more than six points away from Mercy Cherono, who has been racking up points despite not taking a single victory.
Over in the men’s 110m hurdles, Orlando Ortega has laid ruin to the lead Omar McLeod built up early in the season, and is now 10 points ahead of the Jamaican. If McLeod fails to finish in the top six in Lausanne, victory for Ortega would secure the Diamond Trophy.
The likes of Caster Semenya (400m), Alonso Edward (200m), Ivana Spanovic (long jump), Valerie Adams (shot put) and Caterine Ibargüen (triple jump) can also become unreachable at the top of the Diamond Race if results go their way in Lausanne. The same applies to Fatih Kipyegon (1500m), Ruth Beitia (high jump) and new world record holder Kendra Harrison (100m hurdles) in Paris.
For Diamond Trophy holders Piotr Malachowski (discus) and Christian Taylor (triple jump), a win in their next Diamond Race appearance will suffice to defend their titles, regardless of where their competitors finish. The same goes for Muktar Edris (5000m) and Dafne Schippers (200m), as they go after their first ever Diamond Trophies.
Schippers is not just the Diamond Race leader in the 200m, but also in the 100m. Just two points ahead of Elaine Thompson, the woman targeting an Olympic double in Rio may also be able to get a diamond double in September.
.@dafneschippers now has a 16 point lead in the women’s 200m #DiamondRace! (she also leads the 100m!) pic.twitter.com/WWni8S4QUm
— IAAF Diamond League (@Diamond_League) July 23, 2016
For Sandra Perkovic (discus), Conseslus Kipruto (steeplechase) and Katerina Stefanidi (pole vault), the hard work has already been done. Even before Lausanne and Paris, Diamond Race glory is guaranteed for these three athletes providing they appear at the final. Stefanidi has won four out of six rounds, while Perkovic and Kipruto have a perfect record in this season’s Diamond Race.