100m
After winning the Diamond Trophy in 2015, and easing to victory in the opening two meetings of the season this year, it looked like Justin Gatlin would once again win the men’s 100m Diamond Race in 2016.
The American, though, saw his lead dissolve as the next four meetings were each won by a different athlete. Andre de Grasse, Jak Ali Harvey, Youssef Ben Meité and Jimmy Vicaut all got on the scoreboard.
That left the field wide open when the Zürich final came around, and it was Jamaican Asafa Powell who took advantage. Despite not having won a Diamond Race event all season, a sub-10 victory was enough for Powell to claim the Diamond Trophy.
Powell’s fellow Jamaican Elaine Thompson won the Diamond Race in the women’s 100m, writing yet another chapter of her brilliant duel with Dafne Schippers this season.
Wins in Rabat and Rome gave Thompson a healthy lead over Schippers, but the Dutchwoman fought back with victory in Monaco to put the pressure on Thompson ahead of the season climax.
The Jamaican’s victory in Lausanne gave her breathing space ahead of the final, and she continued her fine form to win in Brussels and secure the Diamond Trophy by a hefty 14 points.
Congratulations to @fastelaine and @asafasub10king, #DiamondRace winners over 100m! #DiamondTrophy
200m
Schippers and Thompson also provided a stunning duel in the 200m Diamond Race, though this time it was the European Champion who triumphed.
Victory in Oslo gave Schippers a slender lead halfway through the season, but she consolidated it later on with consecutive victories in London and Paris.
Thompson just beat Schippers over the line on the night in Zürich, but it wasn’t enough to catch her in the Diamond Race standings, and the Dutchwoman claimed the Diamond Trophy by a margin of 18 points.
In the men’s 200m, Ameer Webb got off to a flying start in the Diamond Race, winning in Doha and Rome. Diamond Trophy holder Alonso Edward was keen not to lose his title, however, and began to stake his claim for another overall victory with wins in Rabat and Monaco.
In the end, those two victories were enough for the Panamanian. Despite finishing sixth at the Brussels final, Edward had enough points to claim a third consecutive Diamond Trophy.
400m
Another man well practised in the art of winning the Diamond Trophy is LaShawn Merritt. Having last won the title in 2014, the American looked well placed to reclaim it this season after opening his campaign with wins in Doha and Rabat.
As the season wore on, though, it seemed Merritt’s absences might cost him as both Wayde van Niekerk and Isaac Makwala began to make up ground in the Diamond Race standings.
With the Olympics over, though, Merritt rallied again, winning in Lausanne and Zürich to comfortably win another DiamondTrophy.
It was Shaunae Miller who made early-season waves in the women’s 400m, winning three of the opening five meetings, and dominating the standings until London.
The likes of Stephenie-Ann McPherson and Natasha Hastings, however, had been collecting points with consistent podium finishes, however, and in the final few meetings, they stole top spot from Miller.
At the Brussels final, it effectively came down to a head-to-head between McPherson and Hastings, and it was the Jamaican who triumphed, finishing third on the night to secure top spot in the Diamond Race.