At the Xiamen Diamond League in China, Yang throws 71.74 meters in the javelin, while Russell clocks 12.14 in the 100m hurdles.
There was talk of a world record bid in the women’s 3000m ahead of the Diamond League in Xiamen, China on Saturday (May 23). Instead, the meet saw top performances from javelin thrower Yang Ziyi and sprint hurdler Masai Russell as they moved up to No. 2 in the all-time world rankings.
Don’t be surprised to see these athletes breaking world records in the near future. Competing on home soil, Ian, who turned 18 a day before the meet, threw 71.74m to improve his under-20 world record by more than five metres. Her throw was also a Diamond League and Asian record, trailing only Barbora Shpotakova’s 72.28m, who has been on the all-time lists since 2008 with the current spectrum javelin.
Meanwhile, Russell’s blistering speed and excellent technique over the hurdles came just two hundredths of a second off Toby Amusan’s 2022 world record of 12.12 in Oregon.
“I came here aiming to throw 65 meters, so to see that result really blew me away,” Ian said. “After that first throw I decided to go through the rest as I thought it would be smart to conserve energy as there are quite a few international competitions coming up soon.
“What I want for myself now is consistency. I don’t want this 71.74 meters to be just one time. I’ll see how it goes over the next few years and get ready to break the world record.”
For Olympic champion Russell, his performance in the 100m hurdles was a Diamond League and North American record as Amusan finished runner-up in 12.28 with Devin Charlton third in 12.37.
Brazil’s Alison dos Santos beat Norway’s Karsten Warholm in a thrilling and fast men’s 400m hurdles race. Dos Santos beat Warholm in the 300m hurdles at last weekend’s Diamond League in Shanghai, and he repeated the feat here when he clocked a world-leading 47.72 to Warholm’s 46.82.
The women’s race did not provide the expected fireworks but saw Uganda’s Perut Chemutai beat Winfred Yawi in a world-leading 8:51.06, almost seven seconds off Beatrice Chepkoech’s world record.
World 400m champion Kolen Kebinatshipi showed good form once again as he clocked a world-leading 43.92 with Muzala Samukonga second in 44.04.
Two-time world champion Sherika Jackson of Jamaica continued her excellent start to the 2026 season with an emphatic win in the 200m, also in a record 21.87 (0.2).
Shawna Miller-Whibaugh was second in 22.04 and Britain’s Amy Hunt was seventh in 22.67.
Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala was also dominant in the men’s 100m as he clocked 9.94 (0.2) to beat South Africa’s Gift Leotlela by six-hundredths of a second as Trayvon Bromell narrowly edged out American Kenny Bednarek for third.
Australia’s Abby Caldwell had a fine win over a top-class field in the women’s 1500m as she powered her way to 3:57.26 as Birk Harlem was second and Emily Mackay third.
In the men’s shot put, Rajindra Campbell improved his Jamaican record to 22.34m as world record holder Ryan Kruser returned to Diamond League action, skipping 2025, with a throw of 21.41m in third place.
After a shaky indoor season, Greece’s Miltiadis Tentoglu looked to be back on form as he won the long jump with 8.46m, with runner-up Tajai Gale at 8.32m and Bozhidar Saraboykov third at 8.29m.
