Preview: Wanyonyi, Lyles, and Bol Lead Star-Studded Cast at London Diamond League
The world’s top track and field athletes will converge at London Stadium this Saturday, July 19, for the Novuna London Athletics Meet—the 11th stop on the 2025 Wanda Diamond League circuit. With Olympic champions, world record holders, and rising stars across every discipline, fans are in for a sensational afternoon of athletics. Headlining the event are Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi, fresh off his 1:41 exploits in the 800m; sprint icon Noah Lyles in a blockbuster 100m showdown with Letsile Tebogo; and the indomitable Femke Bol chasing another world lead in the 400m hurdles. Other marquee events include Sifan Hassan’s return to the mile, a world-class men’s long jump showdown featuring Tentoglou and Furlani, and high jump world record holder Yaroslava Mahuchik taking center stage. With packed fields across every event, the London leg promises to be one of the highlights of the 2025 Diamond League season.
Men’s 800 Metres
Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi of Kenya headlines a world-class field that includes world champion Marco Arop of Canada and European champion Gabriel Tual of France. Wanyonyi has been on fire this season, winning in Monaco with a world-leading 1:41.44 and already notching victories in Oslo and Stockholm. He clocked 1:41.11 in Lausanne, the second-fastest time in history. Arop, who holds a national record of 1:41.20, arrives in strong form, while Tual recently ran 1:42.72 in Stockholm.
Other top contenders include Bryce Hoppel (1:41.67 PB), 2019 world champion Donovan Brazier, and British stars Max Burgin and Ben Pattison. Ireland’s Mark English, Sweden’s Andreas Kramer, and Spain’s Mohamed Attaoui round out one of the deepest 800m fields ever assembled.
Men’s 100 Metres
Noah Lyles returns to the London track aiming for another fast time, following his 9.81 win at this meet last year. The reigning Olympic and world champion faces Olympic 200m gold medallist Letsile Tebogo in a blockbuster sprint duel. Tebogo set an African record of 19.46 in the 200m and recently ran 9.88 in the 100m.
South Africa’s Akani Simbine, in consistent sub-10 shape, Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake and Oblique Seville, and British stars Zharnel Hughes, Jeremiah Azu, and NCAA champion Louie Hinchliffe are all in the mix.
Women’s 400m Hurdles
Femke Bol returns to her record-setting hunting ground after clocking 51.30 here last year. The Dutch star leads the 2025 world list with a 51.95 in Monaco and is undefeated in the Diamond League this season. Her rivals include Jamaica’s Andrenette Knight and Janieve Russell, 2024 NCAA champion Jasmine Jones, and European finalist Lina Nielsen.
Women’s 200 Metres
Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred takes on her training partners Dina Asher-Smith and Rhasidat Adeleke in a sizzling 200m contest. Alfred clocked a world lead of 21.88 in Gainesville earlier this season. Adeleke, a 49.07 400m runner, brings speed and endurance to the duel, while Asher-Smith seeks a home win after strong performances in Europe this season.
The lineup also includes Olympic medallist Brittany Brown, Spain’s Jael Bestué, British stars Amy Hunt and Daryll Neita, and Jamaica’s national champion Ashanti Moore.
Men’s Discus Throw
World record holder Mykolas Alekna headlines a phenomenal discus field that features Olympic champion Roje Stona, world champion Daniel Stahl, and European champion Kristjan Ceh. Alekna has thrown 75.56m this year—an all-time best—and remains the man to beat. Stona shocked the world with Olympic gold in Paris, while Stahl and Ceh bring consistent 70m+ form.
Women’s High Jump
Olympic champion Yaroslava Mahuchik aims for her third Diamond League win of the season. Her rivals include former world champion Eleanor Patterson, resurgent Ukrainian Yulia Levchenko, British record holder Morgan Lake, and NCAA champion Elena Kulichenko.
Women’s Long Jump
European champion Malaika Mihambo returns to face Italy’s Larissa Iapichino and Switzerland’s Annik Kälin. Mihambo jumped 7.22m in Rome, while Iapichino is riding momentum from her European team win in Madrid. Olympic heptathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson and British fan-favorite Jazmin Sawyers add depth to the field.
Men’s Long Jump
This may be the strongest men’s long jump field of the year. Olympic champion Miltiadis Tentoglou takes on Italy’s Mattia Furlani, Australian Liam Adcock, Jamaican stars Wayne Pinnock and Tajay Gayle, and Swiss all-rounder Simon Ehammer. Tentoglou leads the world with 8.46m, while Furlani and Pinnock are close behind.
Women’s Pole Vault
Katie Moon, the reigning world and Olympic champion, headlines a stacked women’s pole vault that includes world indoor champion Molly Caudery and European champion Angelica Moser. Other names to watch are Marie-Julie Bonnin, Emily Grove, Tina Šutej, and Olivia McTaggart.
Men’s 1500 Metres
World champion Josh Kerr and 2022 world champion Jake Wightman return to thrill the home crowd, but teenage sensation Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech might steal the show. The 18-year-old Kenyan recently broke the U20 world record with 3:27.72. With George Mills, Isaac Nader, and Olympic 10,000m champion Selemon Barega in the field, the race could be historic.
Women’s Mile
Sifan Hassan, fresh off her marathon triumph in Paris, drops down to the mile to face Olympic 1500m silver medallist Jessica Hull and world champion Gudaf Tsegay. European standouts Sarah Healy and Agathe Guillemot and rising Ethiopian star Birke Haylom will also test their speed over four laps.
Men’s 400 Metres
Matthew Hudson-Smith, European record holder at 43.44, will face Olympic medallist Muzala Samukonga and world leader Zakhiti Nene. British teammate Charles Dobson, Botswana’s Busang Kebinatshipi, and Australian Reece Holder are also in strong form.
Women’s 800 Metres
Georgia Bell, fresh off her Olympic 1500m bronze, will duel with fellow Britons Laura Muir and Jemma Reekie. Muir makes her return after injury, while Reekie continues to build consistency. They’ll face tough competition from Halimah Nakaayi and North American record holder Addison Wiley.
Women’s 5000 Metres
Ethiopia’s Medina Eisa, who set her PB in London, leads a talented 5000m field that includes world U20 cross country champion Marta Alemayo and Georgia Griffith of Australia. Watch out for British talents Megan Keith and Ines FitzGerald in what promises to be a fast race.
The Novuna London Diamond League will not only showcase Olympic champions and world-record holders but also rising stars poised for breakthrough performances. With capacity crowds and an electric atmosphere, it’s set to be one of the most thrilling athletics events of the year.
