Gyulai István Memorial highlights: Ja’Kobe Tharp, Julien Alfred and Masai Russell star in Budapest
World record holder Ja’Kobe Tharp continued his sensational 2026 season by smashing the meeting record in the men's 110m hurdles with 12.85 to headline a night of world-class performances at the Gyulai István Memorial in Budapest on Tuesday (14). Olympic champions Masai Russell, Julien Alfred, Gabby Thomas and Armand Duplantis all delivered victories, while Nina Kennedy and Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech also set meeting records in the women's pole vault and men's 1500m respectively. Muzala Samukonga, Leonardo Fabbri, Miltiadis Tentoglou, Ethan Katzberg and Emmanuel Eseme were among the other standout winners at one of the strongest World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meetings of the season.
Men’s 110 metres hurdles:
World record holder Ja’Kobe Tharp won the men’s 110 metres hurdles setting a meeting record of 12.85 in his first race on European soil this season one month after breaking Aries Merritt’s world record with 12.75 in the semifinal of the NCAA Championships in Eugene. Jamal Britt placed second in 13.01 following his Diamond League wins in Paris in 12.89 and Eugene in 12.86. World champion Cordell Tinch completed the US top three setting his seasonal best with 13.06. Kendry Menendez from Cuba took fourth place in 13.09 ahead of Trey Cunningham (13.17) and Rasheed Broadbell from Jamaica (13.25).
Ja’Kobe Tharp: “It's fantastic to race in Europe for the first time this season and immediately get a win with a meeting record. After the 12.75 in Eugene, I knew my condition was great, but racing with the time difference and against such strong opponents is never easy. I just wanted to stay focused on my lane and attack the hurdles cleanly. The crowd here in Budapest was incredible, and this gives me a huge boost for the upcoming events."
Women’s 100 metres hurdles:
Olympic champion Masai Russell continued her unbeaten streak by winning her ninth 100 metres hurdles race in 12.33 following her victory at the Monaco Diamond League in 12.20. US hurdler Rayniah Jones placed second in 12.47 edging her compatriot Alaysha Johnson (12.49) and two-time world under 20 champion Kerrica Hill from Jamaica, who improved her PB to 12.50. World indoor silver medallist Nadine Visser from the Netherlands was the top European hurdler in fifth place in 12.54. Luca Kozak improved her Hungarian record to 12.59 in sixth place in front of her home fans.
Masai Rssell: “Maintaining this consecutive winning streak means everything to me. In the 100-meter hurdles, you cannot afford the slightest mistake. Coming here after the 12.20 in Monaco and winning again, running 12.33 into a slight headwind, proves that my consistency is exactly where it needs to be."
Women’s 100 metres:
Olympic champion Julien Alfred stormed to a win in the women’s 100 metres in 10.87 into a headwind of -0.3 m/s beating Jamaican sprinters Tina Clayton (10.97), Brianna Lyston (11.01), Elaine Thompson Herah (11.04) and US Cambrea Sturgis (11.07). Alfred continued her good period of form after winning three Diamond League races in the 200m in Rome in 21.93, in the 100m in Oslo in 10.76 and Monaco in the 200m in 21.51 becoming the third fastest athlete in history.
Julien Alfred: “I am really happy to come out here and take another victory, especially back in the 100m after a fast 200m in Monaco last week. Running 10.87 into a slight headwind feels great and shows that the consistency is exactly where it needs to be right now. The field was incredibly strong with the Jamaican girls pushing hard, so I knew I had to execute my transition perfectly from the blocks. I might have wanted a slightly faster time initially, but considering the wind conditions, it's a solid season's best that gives me massive confidence moving forward. The energy from the stadium in Budapest is always special, and I just want to keep having fun, staying healthy, and carrying this momentum through the rest of the season."
Women’s 200 metres:
Olympic champion Gabby Thomas came from behind to win the women’s 200 metres in 21.83 after finishing first in College Station in 21.70 and third in 21.84 at the Monaco Diamond League meeting. Kayla White placed second improving her PB by nine hundredths of a second to 21.92m Anavia Battle completed the US top-three with 22.21.
Gabby Thomas: “It is challenging but rewarding to maintain such a high standard just four days after my third place in Monaco. I have a special connection with the Budapest stadium. I am satisfied with my transition and my ability to maintain top-end speed though the final 50 metres”.
Men’s 400 metres:
Olympic bronze medallist Muzala Samukonga won the men’s 400 metres in a seasonal best of 44.02. Attila Molnar took second place in 44.51 missing his Hungarian record by just four hundredths of a second. Zakhiti Nene from South Africa placed third in 44.57. Thandazani Nlohvu from Zimbabwe finished fourth improving her national record to 44.64.
Men’s shot put:
Leonardo Fabbri won the men’s shot put with a mark of 22.04m on his final attempt in the stadium where he won the world silver medal in 2023. The European champion produced five more throws of 20.53m, 21.40m, 21.10m, 21.34m and 21.40m. Olympic bronze medallist Rajindra Campbell produced a best throw of 21.52m in the sixth attempt to finish second ahead of African record holder Chukwebuka Enekwechi from Nigeria (21.48m) and four-time world indoor champion Tom Walsh (21.38m).
Leonard Fabbri: Returning to this stadium, where I won the world silver medal in 2023, is always an incredible feeling for me. I felt a tremendous amount of energy today. The series of throws hadn't started exactly the way I wanted—I was a bit tense in the first few attempts—but I knew I had the distance in my legs. Being able to hit that 22.04m on my final attempt was fantastic. It proves that I am mentally sharp and that I can handle the pressure right until the end. We are on the right track for the next big goals of the season."
Men’s pole vault:
World record holder and Olympic champion Armand Duplantis claimed the third win of his career in the men’s pole vault at the Memorial Istvan Gyulai clearing 6.07m on his first attempt before failing three times at the world record height of 6.32m. Duplantis cleared 5.60m and 5.80m at the first time of asking and needed two attempts at 6.00m.
Kurtis Marshall equalled his PB with 6.00m to finish second. Emmanouil Karalis cleared 5.90m on his first attempt to take third place beating Sondre Guttormsen from Norway. The Greek vaulter made three unsuccessful attempts at 6.00m.
Armand Duplantis: “I love jumping at this venue. It is one of the stages with the best energy on the international circuit and a place where I always feel capable of doing great things. I missed my first attempt at 6.00m. I made a small positioning error during the runway approach. I stayed calm and I figured out the adjustment needed to clear the height on my second attempt. I am far from disappointment with my attempts at 6.32m.”
Women’s pole vault:
Olympic champion Nina Kennedy set a meeting record of 4.80m on her first attempt to win the women’s pole vault on countback over Eliza McCartney from New Zealand, who needed three tries to clear 4.80m. Tina Sutej from Slovenia cleared 4.75m at the third time of asking to take third place.
Nina Kennedy: “Setting the meeting record here in Budapest is fantastic, especially in such a close competition with Eliza. Clearing 4.80m on my first attempt was decisive for the victory today. I knew there was no room for error because the level was incredibly high. Physically I feel in great shape, and mentally I managed to stay sharp in the key moments. This victory gives me a massive boost for the next stages of the season."
Men’s long jump:
Olympic champion Miltiadis Tentoglou leapt to 8.31m into a headwind of -0.6 m/s four days after setting the world lead of 8.61m at the Diamond League in Monaco. Tentoglou produced two more jumps of 8.19m and 8.18m which would have been enough to win the competition. Anvar Anvarov from Uzbekistan finished second with 8.12m beating Simon Batz from Germany on countback.
Miltiadis Tentoglou: “My primary focus is entirely on the upcoming major championships rather than chasing further records in one-day meetings. Close competitive finishes keep the event exciting for the fans.”
Women’s high jump:
Eleanor Patterson from Australia, world champion in Eugene 2022, cleared 2.00m on her first attempt to win the women’s high jump before failing three attempts at 2.02m.
Her compatriot Nicola Olyslagers cleared 1.98m on her first attempt to a second place on countback over Marija Vukovic from Montenegro, who equalled her national record with 1.98m on her third attempt. Lamara Distin from Jamaica cleared 1.94m at the first time of asking before failing three attempts at 1.96m.
Eleanor Patterson: “Clearing 2.00m at he first attempt was a major confidence boost. I missed out a 2.02m, but my attempts felt mechanically sound and provide a solid blueprint for upcoming events.”
Men’s 200 metres:
Yassine Hssine from Morocco won the men’s 200 metres improving his national record to 19.92. Makanakaishe Charamba from Zimbabwe placed second in 20.09. Ubodi Onwuzurike from Nigeria completed the African top-three sweep in 20.18 edging Canada’s Aaron Brown (20.20) and Jamaica’s Gary Card (20.28).
Men’s 100 metres:
National record holder Emmanuel Eseme from Cameroon won the men’s 100 metres in 9.99 dipping under the 10 seconds barrier for the third time this season following his national record of 9.94 in Rome and 9.99 in Ostrava. Abdul Rasheed Saminu from Ghana finished second in a seasonal best of 10.01 holding off Ackeem Blake from Jamaica (10.04).
Emmanuel Eseme: “Running 9.99 today proves that my previous times in Rome (9.94) and Ostrava (9.99) were not flukes. Consistency is the most important thing for me this season, and staying under 10 seconds gives me immense confidence."
Men’s hammer throw:
Ethan Katzberg, world champion in Budapest 2023 and Olympic gold medallist in Paris 2024, won the men’s hammer throw setting a seasonal best of 83.64m in a competition where five athletes threw behind the 80 metres. Merlin Hummel from Germany, finished second improving her seasonal best to 81.74m ahead of Bence Halasz from Hungary (81.65m), Mykhaylo Kokhan (81.48) and French record holder Yann Chaussinand (80.13m).
Ethan Katzberg: "I felt really good out there today. Budapest always brings back amazing memories for me since my 2023 world title, and the circle here feels great. Putting together an 83.64m throw this early in the summer season shows that the technical adjustments we've been working on are clicking perfectly.
VIEW ALL RESULTS HEREMen’s 400 metres hurdles:
Emil Agyekum from Germany won a close men’s 400 metres hurdles race in 47.58 edging Trevor Bassitt (47.59) and Caleb Dean (47.62). Matheus Lima from Brazil finished fourth dipping under the 48 seconds barrier for the third time this season with 47.74.
Women’s long jump:
Monae Nichols from the USA, world indoor silver medallist in Glasgow 2023, leapt to 6.88m in the fifth round to win the women’s long jump. Nichols produced four more jumps of 6.87m, 6.83m, 6.81m and 6.80m that would have been enough to take the win. Claire Bryant, world indoor champion in Nanjing 2025, completed the US double by finishing second with 6.72m ahead of Jamaica’s Ackelia Smith (6.67m).
Men’s 1500 metres:
Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech won a close men’s 1500m in a meeting record of 3:31.09 edging his compatriot Danson Kiplangat, who improved his PB to 3:31.10. Koech set the world under 20 record last year with 3:27.72 in Paris. José Carlos Pinto from Portugal set his lifetime best with 3:31.47 ahead of Anass Essayi from Morocco (3:31.54), Anis Chott from Algeria (3:31.61), Italian record holder Pietro Arese (3:31.87) and Joe Waskom from the USA (3:32.52 PB):
Women’s 1500 metres:
Abbey Caldwell from Australia won the women’s 1500 metres in 4:01.79 ahead of her compatriot Claudia Hollingsworth (4:02.09), Mirriam Cherop from Kenya (4:02.15) and Nelly Jepkosgei from Barhein (4:02.88).
Men’s 3000 metres:
Matthew Kipchumba Kipsang from Kenya claimed his second consecutive win at the Memorial Gyulai in Budapest in the men’s 3000 metres in 7:31.90. Anthony Camerieri from the USA improved his PB to 7:32.64 to finish second ahead of Jackson Sharp from Australia (7:33.59).
