Werro thrills home crowd as four meeting records fall at Lausanne Diamond League
Audrey Werro thrilled the home crowd with a meeting-record victory in the women’s 800m as Masai Russell, Rai Benjamin and Winfred Yavi also rewrote the Athletissima record books during the main programme of the Lausanne Diamond League on Friday, August 21.
The cool conditions at the Stade Olympique de la Pontaise did little to slow a high-quality night of athletics, which also featured commanding victories for Letsile Tebogo and Emmanuel Wanyonyi, plus breakthrough Diamond League wins for Hana Moll and Kayla White.
Women’s 800m: Werro delights home crowd with meeting record
European champion Audrey Werro delivered in front of her family and an enthusiastic Swiss crowd, winning the women’s 800m in a meeting record of **1:55.33**.
Keely Hodgkinson had broken a 23-year-old meeting record in 2025, but her mark lasted only one year as Werro produced another outstanding performance in her breakthrough season.
“I really enjoyed the race, especially with all the fans who came to support me,” Werro said. “The turnaround after the European Championships was very short, so I had to recover quickly, and I felt more tired than usual today. Despite that, I managed to win, so I’m very happy.”
Werro held off a late challenge from Femke Bol Broeders, who finished just 0.08 behind in **1:55.41**, improving the Dutch record she had shared with Ellen van Langen.
“I’m very happy and proud. This was a great race after the European Championships,” Bol said. “I’m not happy that I let someone pass me while I was still feeling good, but that is something I needed to learn, and I learned it through experience today. The Europeans gave me confidence, and this race gives me even more confidence that I belong with the best. I need to trust myself, keep pushing after 500 metres, stop protecting myself too much and simply enjoy racing.”
Ethiopia’s Saida Tsehaye finished third in a personal best of **1:56.92**, ahead of Swiss European finalists Veronica Vancardo (1:58.68) and Valentina Rosamilia (1:58.93).
Women’s 100m hurdles: Russell extends winning streak
Olympic champion Masai Russell continued her unbeaten season by storming to victory in the women’s 100m hurdles in a **12.27 meeting record**. It was Russell’s fifth meeting-record performance in as many races and her ninth consecutive victory of the season.
European champion Nadine Visser of the Netherlands finished second in 12.42, ahead of Alaysha Johnson (12.49), Rayniah Jones (12.57), European silver medallist Pia Skrzyszowska (12.61) and world champion Ditaji Kambundji (12.71).
“It was another win, so it keeps the streak alive, and I’m very pleased,” Russell said. “It definitely wasn’t an easy race. I felt the pressure, but I just stayed focused and got to the line. I hadn’t raced in a month, so I was really happy to see that my performance was right where I left it.”
Men’s 200m: Tebogo completes Lausanne hat-trick
Letsile Tebogo won the men’s 200m in Lausanne for the third consecutive year, clocking **19.87** to hold off South Africa’s Sinesipho Dambile, who also broke 20 seconds with 19.98.
Zimbabwe’s Makanakaishe Charamba finished third in 20.14, followed by Puerto Rico’s José Figueroa (20.16) and Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes (20.33).
“For me, it was all about running the curve and executing the first 150 metres, then seeing how the race developed,” Tebogo said. “It has been challenging to maintain this level throughout the whole season. For the last five weeks I have been focused on training hard in the gym. Now it’s about enjoying every race in this final part of the season so that it doesn’t take a toll on my mental health.”
Men’s 800m: Wanyonyi prevails in thrilling finish
Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi won a thrilling men’s 800m in **1:42.19**, overtaking Djamel Sedjati and Brandon Miller during a dramatic home straight.
Sedjati finished second in a season’s best of 1:42.31, with Miller third in 1:42.55. Wanyonyi earned his first Diamond League victory of the season and his second Lausanne win, two years after clocking 1:41.11 at the same meeting—the second-fastest performance in history at the time.
Canada’s Marco Arop, the 2023 world champion, placed fourth in 1:43.18, followed by Gabriel Tual (1:44.18), European silver medallist Marino Bloudek (1:44.21 SB), David Barroso (1:44.63) and Italian record-holder Francesco Pernici (1:44.79).
“I had a battle, especially over the final 100 metres, but I felt very strong and I’m happy to have won the race,” Wanyonyi said. “My legs were beginning to tighten, but I kept pushing all the way to the finish. I love competing at this Diamond League meeting in Lausanne because this stadium is one of the best for me. The track was very good and, although the weather was a little cool, the conditions were perfect.”
Women’s pole vault: Moll claims first Diamond League victory
Hana Moll secured the first Diamond League victory of her career by clearing **4.84m on her third attempt**.
Two-time European outdoor champion Angelica Moser cleared 4.74m on her second attempt before recording three failures at 4.84m. Katie Moon placed third at 4.64m, beating Sandi Morris on countback.
“I’m really proud of how today went,” Moll said. “Whatever the weather, I wasn’t going to let it affect me. The two words in my mind were ‘fearless’ and ‘fierce’. I focused on myself rather than the competitors around me, and that led to my result. The energy in the stadium was amazing, and for the rest of the season I want to keep executing my technique, having fun and doing what I did today.”
Men’s javelin: Pathirage edges Chopra
Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage earned his third Diamond League victory of the season with a best throw of **88.14m** in the third round.
Neeraj Chopra finished just nine centimetres behind with a season’s best of 88.05m, while two-time world champion Anderson Peters produced a season’s best of 86.69m to take third. Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott was fourth with a season’s best of 83.71m.
Men’s triple jump: Pichardo survives late Triki challenge
World champion Pedro Pichardo leapt **17.44m** in the second round to win a closely contested men’s triple jump.
Algeria’s Yasser Triki came within one centimetre of Pichardo with a wind-assisted 17.43m in the sixth round. Italian record-holder Andy Díaz placed third with 17.20m, one week after winning the European title with 18.15m to become the fourth-best performer in history.
“I really enjoyed competing in Lausanne, and I’m extremely happy with the result,” Pichardo said. “Every time I have competed here, I have finished either first or second, so Lausanne, together with Doha, is one of my favourite Diamond League meetings. Competing alongside two other athletes of Cuban origin also made me extremely proud of my Cuban roots.”
Men’s 110m hurdles: Britt earns fifth Diamond League win
Jamal Britt claimed his fifth Diamond League victory of the season, clocking **13.13 into a 0.5m/s headwind** after earlier wins in Keqiao, Xiamen, Paris and Eugene.
Cuba’s 20-year-old Kendry Menéndez placed second in 13.20, ahead of Swiss European champion Jason Joseph in 13.29.
“It had been five weeks since I last competed, so I felt a little rusty and believe I could have gone faster,” Britt said. “But I’m still happy with today’s performance.”
Men’s long jump: Tentoglou wins in cool conditions
Olympic and European champion Miltiadis Tentoglou jumped **8.24m** in the second round to win the men’s long jump.
Swiss star Simon Ehammer produced 8.13m in the fifth round to take second, while 20-year-old Serbian Luka Bošković finished third with 8.07m, edging Cuba’s Jorge Hodelín by one centimetre.
“I enjoyed both the atmosphere in the stadium and my performance,” Tentoglou said. “I can’t jump when it’s cold because I start to feel pain in my knees and head, but today went well. I tried to stay warm from the beginning because I knew the first three jumps were important. I didn’t even take off my tracksuit and jumped in long tights, which was better.”
Women’s 400m hurdles: Zapletalová maintains perfect Diamond League season
European champion Emma Zapletalová continued her perfect Diamond League campaign with victory in **52.41**, adding Lausanne to her earlier wins in Rabat, Rome, Oslo and Doha.
Olympic silver medallist Anna Cockrell finished second in 53.15 and secured her place in the Diamond League Final in Brussels. Belgium’s Paulien Couckuyt took third, improving her national record to 53.28, ahead of Jamaica’s Rushell Clayton (53.65) and Panama’s Gianna Woodruff (54.40).
“I have won all my Diamond League meets so far this season, and I am really proud of my progression after dealing with injuries from 2022 to 2024,” Zapletalová said. “I shifted my goals, things started turning around with that bronze last year, and everything has been going well since. I was very close to my personal best in this race. I know I still have more in me, and I am really looking forward to the Diamond League Final.”
Men’s 400m hurdles: Benjamin opens season with meeting record
Olympic and world champion Rai Benjamin produced a superb **46.67 meeting record** in his first 400m hurdles race of the season.
The event was held during the pre-programme and did not count towards the Diamond League standings. Benjamin had focused on the flat 400m earlier in the season but immediately re-established himself as the man to beat over the barriers.
Turkey’s Ismail Nezir finished second with a personal best of 48.08, ahead of Qatar’s Bassem Hemeida (48.17) and Slovenian record-holder Matic Ian Guček (48.25).
“It was my first 400m hurdles race of the season, so it was rusty as hell, but I’m happy with it,” Benjamin said. “I feel really good, and I have a flat 400m at the Silesia Diamond League in Chorzów on Sunday. I wanted to do things differently this year, have some fun and try some interesting things.”
Women’s 3000m steeplechase: Yavi takes down meeting record
Olympic champion Winfred Yavi of Bahrain won the women’s 3000m steeplechase in a **9:00.04 meeting record**, defeating Kenya’s Faith Cherotich for the first time since July 2025.
Cherotich finished second in 9:01.90, while Tunisian record-holder Marwa Bouzayani took third in 9:05.55. Kenya’s Doris Lemngole, the 2025 Lausanne winner, placed fourth in 9:07.09.
“I’m very happy,” Yavi said. “At the start it was a little windy, and I was hungry for the win when I crossed the finish line. I enjoyed the support from the crowd and I’m looking forward to the next competitions.”
Women’s 200m: White secures breakthrough win
Kayla White stormed to the first Diamond League victory of her career, winning the women’s 200m from lane seven in **22.18**.
Four-time European champion Amy Hunt placed second in 22.32, edging Nigeria’s Favour Ofili, who was credited with the same time. Anavia Battle finished fourth in 22.65, ahead of Swiss European finalist Fabienne Hoenke (22.83).
Two-time world champion Shericka Jackson pulled up with an apparent injury coming off the bend and did not finish.
“I was tired before the race and my pre-competition felt pretty stiff, but tonight was just so much fun,” Hunt said. “Knowing there was a headwind on the straight, we decided to run a very aggressive first bend and see if my strength would carry me through, and I honestly surprised myself. The crowd going crazy and seeing all the kids with posters made it so special. Running in my training partner Timothé Mumenthaler’s home region felt amazing, and this year showed me that things can still work out even with issues beforehand.”
Men’s 5000m: Balew leads six athletes under 13 minutes
Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew claimed his first Diamond League victory of the season in **12:57.55**, leading six athletes under the 13-minute barrier.
Parker Wolfe finished second in 12:58.20, ahead of fellow Americans Nico Young (12:58.33 SB) and Graham Blanks (12:59.16). Kenya’s Cornelius Kemboi was fifth in 12:59.33, with Ethiopia’s Mezgebu Sime sixth in 12:59.48.
“I felt very good during the race,” Balew said. “When it became difficult, I decided to keep battling because I still felt strong. My legs were tightening in the closing stages, but I pushed through to the finish, and I’m very happy to have won.”
Women’s javelin: Kitaguchi returns to winning form
Olympic champion Haruka Kitaguchi earned her first Diamond League victory in more than a year with a season’s best of **64.90m** in the second round, securing her place in the Diamond League Final.
Colombia’s Flor Denis Ruiz Hurtado, the 2023 world silver medallist, finished second with 64.29m in the fourth round. Three-time European medallist Adriana Vilagoš of Serbia placed third with 62.28m.
“I’m happy with today’s performance. Throwing beyond 60 metres feels good,” Kitaguchi said. “I spent some time away from competition to work with my coach and correct a few technical details, so it is rewarding to see everything coming together so well. My goal is still to go farther. My next stop is the Final in Brussels, where I hope to challenge the favourites.”
Women’s 4x100m relay: Switzerland triumphs at home
The Swiss quartet of Géraldine Frey, Fabienne Hoenke, Léonie Pointet and Salomé Kora, fresh from winning European silver in Birmingham, took the women’s 4x100m relay in **42.91**.
Portugal finished second in 43.40, with Switzerland B third in 43.45.
Pre-programme highlights
Australia’s Torrie Lewis, the 2024 world under-20 silver medallist, won the women’s 200m B race in **22.93** into a 1.3m/s headwind. She finished ahead of two-time European 400m bronze medallist Lieke Klaver (23.02), Cynthya Reinle (23.43, equalling her personal best) and 2024 European 200m champion Mujinga Kambundji (23.87).
Olympic bronze medallist Raevyn Rogers won the women’s 800m B race in **1:59.77**, narrowly beating Swiss 1500m specialist Joceline Wind, who set a personal best of 1:59.87. Slovakia’s Gabriela Gajanová placed third in 2:00.12.
Ajla Del Ponte, the 2021 European indoor 60m champion, won the women’s 100m A race in **11.38** into a 1.2m/s headwind. Portugal’s Arialis Gandulla finished second in 11.42, with Switzerland’s Natacha Kouni third in 11.48.
