Dos Santos and Russell set world records in ‘crazy’ Zurich Diamond League

Alison Dos Santos and Masai Russell each set a world record at the Zurich Diamond League, the penultimate meeting of the 2024 season, while Armand “Mondo” Duplantis won a historic pole‑vault contest. The Swiss capital’s Letzigrund Stadium hosted a sold‑out crowd of 25,000 under clear, balmy conditions, creating a perfect backdrop for a night of record‑breaking performances that pleased World Athletics President Sebastian Coe.

Dos Santos, the Brazilian hurdler, opened the day by clocking 45.80 seconds in the men’s 400 m hurdles, eclipsing the previous world record of 45.94 seconds set by Norway’s Karsten Warholm at the Tokyo Olympics. “I have been showing great form throughout the season – that I am fast, I am strong,” he said after the race. Warholm finished second, while the event’s organizers described the competition as “crazy.” Dos Santos praised the weather and the track, noting his excitement upon arriving in Zurich.

The next world‑record performance came from the United States’ Masai Russell, who won the women’s 100 m hurdles in 12.09 seconds, shaving 0.03 seconds off the former mark of 12.12 seconds held by Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan from the 2022 World Championships. Russell’s win earned her an $80,000 prize, matching the reward given to Dos Santos.

In the pole vault, Swedish‑born Armand Duplantis secured a victory with a clearance of 6.25 m. He faced strong competition from Greek athlete Emmanouil Karalis, who vaulted a personal best of 6.20 m. Both athletes attempted a world‑record height of 6.32 m, but Duplantis prevailed, making it the first time in vaulting history that two competitors surpassed 6.20 m in the same event. Karalis remarked, “It’s not every day two people go for the world record, so that was nuts.”

Switzerland’s own Audrey Werro captured the women’s 800 m with a time of 1:53.70, the third‑fastest in history. She edged closer to Jarmila Kratochvílová’s Cold‑War world record of 1:53.28 set in 1983. The 22‑year‑old expressed pride, saying, “It was crazy, I am very proud. Thank you everybody!” Dutch athlete Femke Broeders‑Bol finished second, continuing her transition from the 400‑m hurdles, where she is a two‑time world champion.

In the men’s 800 m, Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi defended his title, beating Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati by 0.07 seconds in a time of 1:41.76, a new world lead. Wanyonyi, who has won both the world and Olympic titles, noted that chasing David Rudisha’s world record of 1:40.91 felt like “running a marathon in less than two hours,” but the record remained out of reach.

The men’s 1,500 m was won by U.S. Olympic champion Cole Hocker in 3:31.71, ahead of Kenya’s Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech. Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen finished fifth, continuing his comeback after an Achilles tendon injury that required surgery.

In the women’s 400 m hurdles, Olympic silver medalist Anna Cockrell took gold in 52.13 seconds, surpassing Broeders‑Bol’s meet record by 0.05 seconds. In the men’s 3,000 m, American Parker Wolfe set a new meet record with a personal best of 7:27.43, beating Moroccan Said Aouita’s 1986 record by more than five seconds.

American Kenny Bednarek won the men’s 200 m in 19.62 seconds, setting a new world lead. Australia’s Nicola Olyslagers claimed the women’s high jump with a season’s best of 2.02 m.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe praised the performances, noting that the results would “more than please” the governing body as the sport approaches the Olympic Games. The evening’s achievements, highlighted by two world records and a historic pole‑vault contest, underscored the high quality of the Diamond League’s penultimate meeting.