Chebet runs second fastest 5000m in history, Bromell storms to 100m World Lead in Rome
The 45th edition of the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea, part of the Wanda Diamond League, lit up Rome’s Olympic Stadium with historic performances on Friday evening. Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet delivered the standout moment, running the second fastest 5000m time in history (14:03.69). The meeting saw multiple records fall, world leads set, and thrilling head-to-head battles across the track and field programme. Below is a full recap of the evening’s highlights.
Women’s 5000 metres
Double Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet produced an extraordinary run to win the 5000m in 14:03.69, smashing the meeting record and recording the second fastest time in history. The Kenyan star continued her sensational form after breaking the African 3000m record in Rabat.
“I was planning to run 14:15, but my body felt good, so I decided to go. I now believe the world record is possible,” said Chebet.
Freyewni Hailu (ETH) improved her PB to 14:19.33 for second, while Italy’s Nadia Battocletti thrilled the home crowd with a new Italian record of 14:23.15, making her the second fastest European ever behind Sifan Hassan. Birke Haylom (14:24.20), Gudaf Tsegay (14:24.86), Josette Andrews (14:25.37), and Chaltu Dida (14:27.11) also posted stellar times.
Men’s 100 metres:
Trayvon Bromell stormed to a win in the men’s 100 metres in a world lead of 9.84. Bromell had already showed his good form by clocking 9.91 in Clermont. The previous world leading time was jointly held by Kenny Bednarek and Abdul Rasheed Saminu with 9.86. Emmanuel Eseme from Camroon placed second in 9.99 ahead of Ferdinand Omanyala (10.01), Brandon Hicklin (10.04) and Fred Kerley (10.06).
Trayvon Bromell: “It is blessing to come out here and put that first, I am glad how I executed the race. It was a great feeling. I have been away for a while now. To be able to compete at a high level, I did not know what to expect. I ran 9.91 and everybody had these In speculations. I just needed to be the person I am and I do not expect anything but fast times and execution. In 2021 nobody was going to beatme. I was the fastest guy. I am never going to have that attitude in the race again because you never know how somebody is feeling that day.MY big thing is to exexute. 2021 taught me a lot”.
Women’s discus throw:
Double Olympic champion Valarie Allman won he third consecutive Diamond League competition this season in the women’s discus throw with a meeting record of 69.21m in the fifth round. Allman claimed the 16th Diamond League win in her career. She is aiming to win her fifth consecutive Diamond League title and close in on Sandra Elkasevic’s record of six trophies.
After two consecutive fouls Allman threw 66.66m in the fourth round to overtake six-time Diamond League champion Sandra Elkasevic, who was leading with 64.91m. Yaimé Perez went into second place with 65.47m in the fourth round and improved to 66.63m in the fifth round. Jorinde Van Klinken from the Netherlands took third place with 65.77m.
Valarie Allman: “That is such a good competition. It feels good being here. I am trying to hold my technique and I am glad I figured it out during the competition. I was so excited to be here in Rome. I was so impressed by the warm-up track with all the statues. The crowd really celebrated athletics. I simply love Rome and I fel empowered by the crowd. It feels a bit like a gladiator”.
Men’s 1500 metres:
Azzedine Habz from France won a very close men’s 1500 metres race in 3:29.72 holding off four-time Diamond League champion Timothy Cheruiyot (3:29.75). Anas Esayi from Morocco took third place improving his PB to 3:30.74. Robert Farken from Germany improved the national record to 3:32.80 to take fourth place. Samuel Philstrom from Sweden also improved the national record to 3:30.87 beating 2022 world under 20 champion Reynold Cheruiyot (3:30.94). Elliot Giles (3:31.13), Brian Komen (3:31.14), Oliver Hoare (3:31.15) and Federico Riva (3:31.42 PB and second best Italian all-time performance).
Azzedine Habz: “I am really happy to win this race after a disappointing fourth place in Rabat. The race was not like I wanted it to be. The pacemaker did not do his job there. I told myself to race with pleasure and fun today. I thought that 3:30 or 3:31 would be possible. Today the pace was fast, we were going really fast and I felt good. This is a great time, my second fastest time. I am very satisfied. My next race will be the Diamond League race in Paris. I will try to break the French record”
Men’s long jump:
World indoor champion Mattia Furlani, who leapt to 8.31m in Rieti last Saturday, went into the lead with 8.13m in the Final 3 to the delight of the home fans, but world indoor bronze medallist Liam Adcock snatched the win from Furlani with 8.34m in the final round. The Australian athlete equalled the world outdoor seasonal lead set by Simon Ehammer in Goetzis last weekend. Adcocks celebrated the win with a series of backflips on the outfield.
Liam Adcock: “It was my first Diamon League win. I was second in my first Diamond League and first in the second with a PB.I was coming into it but then I felt the crowd and I really appreciate the crowd tonight and the PB is awesome It was pretty cool to save the best for the last”.
Men’s shot put:
World indoor champion and three-time Diamond League winner Tom Walsh from New Zealand took the early lead with 21.89m in the first round and held on the lead in the Final 3 to claim his first Diamond League win since 2021. Zane Weir from Italy took second place with 21.67m in the fifth round ahead of Olympic bronze medallist Rajindra Campbell from Jamaica (21.64m).
Tom Walsh: “Last time I did this was in 2019. To win with the first one. I had a really good first throw and then four good attempts. I have not moved like this for probably 12 months, since my injury. So I had really good times. I am really happy with that and a bit frustrated I did not add some more. But all in all, really good. There were six guys over 21.50m and we are slowly putting stuff together, I think in August, a bit closer to the world championships, it is going to be interesting. There are going to be some big throws”
Men’s 400 metres:
Olympic champion Quincy Hall edged Zakhiti Nene by one hundredth of a second after a head-to-head in the final straight to win a very close men’s 400 metres in a seasonal best of 44.22. Nene clocked 44.23 a few days after setting the world lead of 43.74 in Nairobi. Busang Collen Kebinatshipi from Botswana finished third in 44.53 ahead pf Charles Dobson (44.64).
Quincy Hall: “It was me. I have been working hard. We are coming there. By the end of the year, you are going to see something. I want to be the best. It is coming down. You do not know the time, but it is coming down”.
Women’s 1500 metres:
European indoor 3000m champion Sarah Healy clinched her first ever Diamond League win with 3:59.17 in the last race on the track. Sarah Billings from Australia and Abbey Caldwell finished second and third respectively improving their PBs to 3:59.24 and 3:59.32, Heather Maclean finishd fourth in 3:59.71 edging Susan Ejore from Kenya 3:59.73).
Men’s 110 metres hurdles:
Jason Joseph from Switzerland, European bronze medallist in Rome 2024, won a very close men’s 110 metres hurdles race in 13.14 edging world seasonal leader Cordell Tinch with the same time. Dylan Beard took third place in 13.28 ahead of Orlando Bennett (13.29).
Men’s high jump:
World indoor champion and 2023 Diamond League winner Sanghyeok Woo from South Korea cleared 2.32m in the first attempt to take the win in the men’s high jump. Oleg Doroshchuk cleared 2.30m in the first attempt to finish second. Romaine Beckford took third place with 2.26m beating world silver medallist Ju’Vaughn Harrison on countback.
Women’s 200 metres:
USA’s Anavia Battle won her third consecutive Diamond League race this season in 22.53 ahead of Amy Hunt from Great Britain (22.67), Marie Josée Ta Lou (22.75) and McKenzie Long (22.81).
Anavia Battle: “The race did not hurt that bad, but it hurt. In the blocks I told myself to stay calm, not to freak out, to run my pace. So I concentrar on myself and how to best athlete I can be. I ran in lane 6 wit Ta Lou in front of me, so I had to run my race and not to look at her. Winning today gives me a lot of motivation and faith, also for the Trial. My finish has got a lot better, so I am grateful. I love this stadium. Coming in here was amazing, but I had to stay calm in order to win. For the world championships my goal is to be on the podium”
Women’s pole vault:
Three-time world silver medallist Sandi Morris cleared 4.75m in the third round to take her second win at the Golden Gala in the women’s pole vault. Morris improved her seasonal best to 4.80m in her third attempt to clinch her first Diamond League since 2022. Italian record holder Roberta Bruni and Gabriela Leon shared second place with 4.65m. World indoor champion Marie Julie Bonnin, Angelica Moser and Tina Sutej shared fourth pace with 4.50m.
Sandi Morris: “It’s always a pleasure to win in Rome in front of Italian fans. I enjoyed competing against Roberta Bruni. She is a good friend of mine. It’s my first Diamond League since 2022”
Women’s 400 metres hurdles:
Jamaica’s Andrenette Knight won the women’s 400 metres hurdles in a seasonal best of 53.67. Italian record Ayomide Folorunso claimed second place in a seasonal best of 54.21 achieving the best result in a Diamond League meeting.
Women’s triple jump:
Olympic silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts from Jamaica leapt to 14.64m in the first round to claim her second consecutive Diamond League competition this season after winning in Doha last month.
Shanieka Ricketts:
“The competition felt really good. Achieving a seasonal best on the first attempt. I am grateful for that. Leading from the beginning puts me in a relaxed mood. Unfortunately I could not use that to jump further”.
The 45th Golden Gala Pietro Mennea once again delivered an unforgettable evening of athletics at Rome’s historic Olympic Stadium. From Beatrice Chebet’s breathtaking 5000m to Trayvon Bromell’s world-leading sprint and Valarie Allman’s record-breaking discus throw, the meet showcased the very best of global track and field talent. With records falling and personal bests tumbling across the programme, the night left fans eagerly anticipating what the remainder of this Diamond League season will bring.
