110/100m Hurdles
Both the men’s 110m hurdles and the women’s 100m hurdles have been the stage for a rising star in the first half of this year’s Diamond Race. Both Omar McLeod and Kendra Harrison surged into surprise leads with consecutive victories in the opening two rounds.
McLeod has since been caught by his more established rivals, and is now level on points with Orlando Ortega. The Jamaican remains Diamond Race leader by virtue having more wins, but with David Oliver also just seven points behind, McLeod needs to keep his early season form if he is to claim the Diamond Trophy.
Harrison, meanwhile, was briefly overtaken by Brianna Rollins in Oslo, but surged back with an impressive run in Stockholm a week later. She is now eight points clear at the top of the standings.
@ken_aye_ is on fire and racing ahead in the women’s #100mH #DiamondRace. A first ever #DiamondTrophy this year?
400m Hurdles
2014 Diamond Race winner Michael Tinsley looks determined to reclaim the title he lost to Bershawn Jackson last year. He got off to a flyer with victories in Shanghai and Eugene, before Yasmani Copello and Javier Culson clawed back his leads by taking wins in the Scandinavian meets. Tinsley now has 24 points at the top, but the three C’s of Culson, Copello and Kerron Clement are all within ten points of him.
The women’s event has become a thrilling three-horse race, which Cassandra Tate leads by a single point. Despite only winning in the last round in Birmingham, consistent top five finishes before then have seen her amass an impressive amount of points. Janeive Russell, who won in Rabat and Rome, and Doha winner Eilidh Doyle are just behind Tate on 20 points.
@sassysandra7 is all smiles after that tight finish in the 400mH #DiamondRace
3000m Steeplechase
The women’s steeplechase looks set to have a new Diamond Race winner this season, as Ruth Jebet and Hyvin Kiyeng battle it out in a fine duel for points. Jebet cancelled out Kiyeng’s opening round win with ten points in Eugene, before Kiyeng pulled away again in Jebet’s absence in Oslo. Jebet proceeded to win in Stockholm, and the two women are now deadlocker on 26 points and two wins each.
Ruth #Jebet and Hyvin #Kiyeng are neck and neck in the 3000m #steeplechase #DiamondRace!
In the men’s event, it is more a case of two Diamond Race legends battling it out. Conseslus Kipruto has won at all four meetings so far, and looks set to regain the title which he lost in 2013, and which Jairus Birech has held since. With three second place finishes, though, Birech is still not completely out of the running. If he can enjoy a late season surge, he may be able to make up the 20 point gap and claim a third successive Diamond Trophy.