The Swedish capital was awash in world-class athletic excellence because the seventh cease of the 2024 Wanda Diamond League delivered a wide ranging show of elite competitors, nationwide pleasure, and record-breaking brilliance.
From hovering pole vaults to sprinting supremacy, the Stockholm Olympic Stadium bore witness to a constellation of stars on the peak of their powers — none brighter than Caribbean standouts Julien Alfred of St Lucia and Ackera Nugent of Jamaica.
Julien Alfred blazes to world No. 2 time in ladies’s 100m
Returning to the observe simply three days after her 10.89-second triumph in Oslo, Olympic champion Julien Alfred soared to new heights in Stockholm, clocking a world No. 2 time and meet file 10.75 seconds to obliterate a loaded 100m discipline.
“After Oslo, I needed to have an extended chat with my coach,” Alfred revealed. “He reassured me that I’m in nice form as a result of I used to be doubting myself. I’m proud of how the race went.”
The 22-year-old seemed in complete command from the beginning and eased down earlier than the road. Her coaching associate, Dina Asher-Smith of Nice Britain, adopted in a season-best 10.93 seconds, with Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith of Côte d’Ivoire third, equaling her season’s better of 11.00 seconds.
Ackera Nugent shines in hurdles thriller
In an exciting ladies’s 100m hurdles remaining, Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent stormed to a near-personal greatest 12.37 seconds, ending second behind American Grace Stark, who received in a lifetime greatest and meet file 12.33 seconds. Dutch veteran Nadine Visser was third in 12.49 seconds, with The Bahamas’ Devynne Charlton fourth.
“All the things went easily after I used to be initially shaken just a little from the callback,” Nugent shared. “That was truly my greatest begin. I’m having fun with the season thus far and searching ahead to Paris and Tokyo.”
It marked Nugent’s greatest end for Jamaica on the day and affirmed her rising standing among the many world’s elite hurdlers.
Femke Bol proves unstoppable in 400m hurdles
Dutch phenomenon Femke Bol as soon as once more asserted her dominance within the ladies’s 400m hurdles, powering away from Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad to clock a meet file and world No. 2 time of 52.11 seconds. Muhammad completed second in 52.91 seconds, with Gianna Woodruff of Panama claiming third.
Bol’s fluid hurdling and top-end velocity within the residence stretch left little doubt about her standing as a title favourite heading into Paris.
Rai Benjamin strikes again in males’s 400m hurdles
Simply days after being overwhelmed by Karsten Warholm in Oslo, Rai Benjamin returned with fury, delivering a world-leading and meet file 46.54 seconds to take victory in a loaded 400m hurdles showdown. Alison dos Santos of Brazil was second in a season’s greatest 46.68 seconds, whereas Warholm, the Olympic and World Champion, light to 3rd in 47.41 seconds.
“I needed to remain composed and run my race. It paid off at this time,” mentioned Benjamin.
Pole vault historical past as Duplantis soars once more
Sweden’s beloved Mondo Duplantis introduced the home down with one other unforgettable pole vault efficiency, clearing 6.28 meters to interrupt his personal world file for the twelfth time — and for the primary time on residence soil.
The stadium erupted as Duplantis vaulted into immortality as soon as extra, persevering with to redefine the bounds of human flight.
800m showdown stuns with world lead
The boys’s 800m produced one of many evening’s most jaw-dropping races. Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi, simply 20 years previous, tore by way of the two-lap race in a world-leading 1:41.95 minutes, narrowly forward of Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati (1:42.27) and American Josh Hoey (1:42.43 PB). It was the quickest 800m race in latest reminiscence.
Mena breaks by way of in males’s 200m
Cuba’s Reynier Mena stormed to victory within the males’s 200m in a season-best 20.05 seconds, ending forward of Liberia’s Joseph Fahnbulleh (20.32) and American Kyree King (20.49).
“I’m getting sooner each race and hope to dip underneath 20 seconds quickly,” mentioned Mena. “Ostrava is subsequent.”
Extra Caribbean highlights
- Within the ladies’s lengthy soar, Olympic champion Tara Davis-Woodhall of the USA leapt 7.05m to equal the meet file. Jamaica’s Ackelia Smith positioned ninth with a 6.76m effort.
- Jamaica’s Roje Stona completed sixth within the males’s discus at 64.68m.
- Barbados’ Sada Williams equaled her season’s greatest within the ladies’s 400m with 50.94 seconds for seventh place. American Isabella Whittaker received the race in 49.78 seconds, forward of Henriette Jæger of Norway and Amber Anning of Nice Britain.
