1. McLeod really is that cool
Omar McLeod had insisted before Shanghai that he can deal with the pressure of his sudden rise to the top. The young 110m hurdler from Jamaica proved that beyond any doubt in Shanghai. Despite two false starts, McLeod clocked a sub-13 time to take a second Diamond Race victory in just over a week. He now has 20 points at the top of the Diamond Race standings, a full eight points clear of Hansle Parchment in second.
Omar McLeod (@Warrior_omz) kept his composure to win his second Diamond League race of the season.#ShanghaiDL pic.twitter.com/H30EGocKnX
— IAAF Diamond League (@Diamond_League) May 14, 2016
2. Perkovic is peerless
Sandra Perkovic may have suffered disappointment at the hands of Denia Caballero at last year’s World Championships, but when it comes to the Diamond Race, there is no matching the Croatian. Her winning throw in Shanghai set a Diamond League record and meant that she has won 19 of the last 22 rounds of the women’s discus Diamond Race. Perkovic’s drive for success is nonetheless insatiable. After victory in Shanghai, she remarked that she was "angry that I didn’t throw even further".
3. Lavillenie is in for a tough year
Renaud Lavillenie is accustomed to winning when it comes to the Diamond Race. Not only that, he is accustomed to winning big. After a handful of surprise defeats last season, the Frenchman surged back in the final to finally claim the Diamond Trophy by nine points. It was his sixth triumph, and maintained his astonishing record of being the only man ever to win the pole vault Diamond Race. Defeat to Sam Kendricks in Shanghai, however, has indicated that this may be the year Lavillenie’s hegemony is broken. With long time pursuer Konstantinos Filippidis and young Canadian Shawn Barber also breathing down his neck, it could be a tough year for the flying Frenchman.
4. Kipyegon is out for glory
Last year, Faith Kipyegon had to make do with second place. She came second to the Genzebe Dibaba in the women’s 1500m at the World Championships, and second to Sifan Hassan in the women’s 1500m Diamond Race. Her sole Diamond Race victory at Brussels last year brought her within six points of Hassan, but it was too little too late. This year, the Kenyan has struck first blood with a fine performance in Shanghai. With ten points on the board, Kipyegon has sent a clear message to both Dibaba and Hassan: this year, she is aiming for the top.
5. Spanovic is in the running
Serbain long jumper Ivana Spanovic has four World Championship medals and two European Championship medals to her name. Without a shadow of a doubt, she belongs to the very top rung of the long-jumping hierarchy. Yet she has never yet managed to capture the Diamond Trophy. Her fine performance in Shanghai saw her deal an early blow to two time winner and current holder Tianna Bartoletta, however. A single win it may be, but Spanovic has made an early statement of intent as she bids to claim her first Diamond Trophy.
Confirmation of @IvanaSpaNOv1c‘s meeting record in Shanghai.
Christabel Nettey was second with 6.75m.#ShanghaiDL pic.twitter.com/FBuGAckhEK
— IAAF Diamond League (@Diamond_League) May 14, 2016