Shanghai Rematches and the Returns of Champions Cruiser and Cabinetship

XIAMEN (CHN). The second leg of the China Wanda Diamond League 2026 at Xiamen’s Egret Stadium on Saturday features some renewed competition from the opening match in Shanghai. Four disciplines return very similar lineups to a week ago, including those in which world champions (Faith Cherotic, Cordell Tinch, Karsten Warholm) lost. Three other champions (Valarie Sion, Colleen Kebinatshipi, Ryan Kruser) are starting their international campaigns this season. The main session starts at 19:04 local time (11:04 GMT). As the match is only in its 4th edition and early in the season, several match records and world leaders are expected. After his recent improvements in the 100m and relay, all eyes are on Kolen Kebinatshipi in the 400m.

Brief event-by-event previews

Women

200 m. Almost the same field as Shanghai with the top six last weekend, which is due to the race. Sherikka Jackson won with a score of 22.07, over Shauna Miller-Weboy with a score of 22.26.

1500 m. Birke Haylom is looking for back-to-back wins. World silver and bronze medalists Dorcus Evoy and Jess Hull are also part of the field.

Hiking. Perut Cemutai and Faith Cherotic renew their rivalry after going 1-2 in Shanghai. But look out for Olympic champion Winfred Yav, who will be making his season debut.

100 m hurdles. The program ends again with the 100m hurdles. Masai Russell wins the Diamond League after 12.25pm ​​in Shanghai.

High jump. World silver medalist Maria Zodzik and 2022 world champion Eleanor Patterson are part of the wide open event. 2024 Olympic bronze medalist Irina Gerashchenko is also continuing her comeback from childbirth.

Discussion: Valarie Zion makes her international debut after clearing 73.10m in Ramona. He will face Jorind van Klinken and Cilinda Morales, the silver and bronze medalists at the World Championships in Zion, as well as the host Feng Bin.

Javelin. The wide open event features Olympic champion Haruka Kitaguchi, along with top Europeans Elina Tsengko and Adriana Vilagosh. Also competing is 18-year-old Jan Zi, although the top athlete of the season is Norway’s Sigrid Borghe (63.16m).

Men

100 m. Can Gift Leotlela make it back-to-back after his 9.97 win in Shanghai? He faces a nearly identical field, including Ferdinand Omanyala and Kenny Bednarek, who finished second and third respectively.

400 m. World champion Collen Kabinatship will face world indoor champion Christopher Morales-Williams and Olympic bronze medalist Muzala Samukonga. Zakiti Nene and Bayapo Ndori are also worth watching.

5000 m. What can Mohamed Abdelahi do after winning a fast 3000m in 7:25.77 in Shanghai? He faces a similar field including European record holder Andreas Almgren and Ethiopians Biniam Mehari (12:45.93), Kuma Girma (12:46.41) and Mezgebu Sime (12:49.80). WL is very possible.

110 m hurdles. World champion Cornell Tinch will be looking to get back to winning ways after losing 13.07 to 13.10 to US teammate Jamal Britt in Shanghai.

400 m steeplechase. Alison dos Santos and Karsten Warholm will resume their rivalry after finishing first and second in the over 300m hurdles in Shanghai in 33.01 to 33.05. WL must happen.

Long jump. Can Mattia Furlani make it back-to-back wins after 8.43m PB in Shanghai? European champion Bozhidar Saraboykov and Olympic champion Miltiadis Tentoglu are also in the squad, along with China’s Zhang Mingkun, who jumped 8.26m this year.

Shooting. World and Olympic champion Ryan Kruser makes his season debut. The field also includes world silver and bronze medalists Uziel Munoz and Leonardo Fabbri, as well as world indoor medalists Tom Walsh and Jordan Geist of Torun.