1. Harrison desperate for Diamond glory
After the disappointment of missing out on the USA Olympic team, Kendra Harrison admitted that she had two goals this season: to break the world record and to win the Diamond Race. In London, she achieved one of them and made a huge step towards the other. Her astonishing 12.20 second run not only broke the world record, it also put her 12 points clear of Brianna Rollins in the women’s 100m hurdles Diamond Race.
"I'm so full of emotions right now!"
Congrats @KeniUSATF!#WorldRecord pic.twitter.com/SnWxoQQePp
— IAAF Diamond League (@Diamond_League) July 22, 2016
.@KeniUSATF has also extended her #DiamondRace lead to 12 points! #LondonDL pic.twitter.com/ZpiG45HPtZ
— IAAF Diamond League (@Diamond_League) July 22, 2016
2. Perkovic remains peerless
With her fifth victory in five Diamond Race meetings this season, Sandra Perkovic already has her fourth Diamond Trophy in the bag, providing she appears at the final in September. With 50 points to he name, the Croatian discus thrower is the only athlete this season to have not dropped a single Diamond Race point, and could become the first Diamond Race winner to get a full house of seven victories.
3. Clement muscles in on duel
Both Javier Culson and Michael Tinsley are previous Diamond Race winners, and it looked as if one of them would take the title once again this year. That assumption failed to account for Kerron Clement, however, whose victory in London saw him leapfrog both Culson and Tinsley to take a slender, one-point lead in the Diamond Race. It is now very much a three-horse race in the men’s 400m hurdles.
4. Bosse right behind Rotich
Ferguson Cheruiyot Rotich had been the most consistent performer in this year’s men’s 800m Diamond Race, and he would have been hoping to open up a significant gap at the top with a win in London. But Frenchman Pierre-Ambroise Bosse has been chasing him all season, and he struck another blow to Rotich’s diamond hopes by winning in London. Only four points now separate the two at the top of the standings.
The win for @pa_bosse means he is now within four points of Rotich in the #DiamondRace. #LondonDL pic.twitter.com/rMGg9OuxwB
— IAAF Diamond League (@Diamond_League) July 22, 2016
5. Beitia back in business
Having overtaken Levern Spencer at the top of the women’s high jump Diamond Race with victories in Oslo and Stockholm, Ruth Beitia had a chance in London to build a healthy lead in the standings ahead of the Olympics. She took it with aplomb, winning comfortably and extending her advantage to 12 points. The Diamond Trophy holder is now well placed to defend her title.