Silesia Diamond League: Duplantis clears 6.20m as Seville and Dos Santos deliver world-class performances
.jpg/duplantis(1)__800x533.jpg)
Armand Duplantis cleared 6.20m, Oblique Seville stormed to a 9.83 meeting record and Alison dos Santos clocked a world-leading 46.43 in a spectacular edition of the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial at Silesian Stadium in Chorzow on Sunday, August 23. The meeting also produced standout victories for Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Tsige Duguma, Nadia Battocletti and Mykolas Alekna.
Men’s pole vault
Armand Duplantis won the men’s pole vault after clearing 6.20m on his first attempt at the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial—the same venue where he set a 6.26m world record in 2024. Duplantis needed two attempts at both 5.65m and 5.90m before clearing 6.00m at the first time of asking.
Sondre Guttormsen and Emmanouil Karalis produced clean cards through 6.00m, clearing 5.80m, 5.90m and 6.00m on their first attempts. It marked only the second time in meeting history that three athletes had cleared six metres in the same competition.
Christopher Nilsen cleared 5.90m on his first attempt to finish fourth, ahead of Kurtis Marschall and KC Lightfoot on countback.
Armand Duplantis: “****The competition was super difficult for me. I was really sloppy at the beginning. But I was trying to survive, to give myself a new life. I always tell myself every time you clear a height, you get three new attempts. I made a few mistakes today and some of my judgment calls were off. But if you told me at 5.90 I would end the competition with 6.20, I would have been really happy. I lost a lot too much energy at those lower heights to break the world record today. This season I have not really performed at the standard I would have liked, but the last couple of competitions have been good and I feel very excited for the rest of the season. It is off to Zurich now and there is still the Diamond League Final and the World Ultimate Championship to come. It is a hectic schedule, but I love it. And I feel loved and appreciated in Poland, so I love competing here. *
Women’s 100m
World 100m and 200m champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden won the women’s 100m showdown in 10.78 in the final race of the meeting, edging Olympic champion Julien Alfred, who clocked 10.83. Jefferson-Wooden maintained her unbeaten record over 100m and avenged her defeat to Alfred over 200m in Rome in June. Sha’Carri Richardson, the 2023 world champion, finished third in 10.96, edging Jamaica’s Brianna Lyston—who was given the same time—in a close photo finish. Ewa Swoboda, the only European in the field, placed fifth in 11.00.
Melissa Jeffersn Wooden “It was a good day. It was a little cool today, so I cannot complain about having run a 10.7, equalling my season best. Julien pushed me, but before the race my coach told me to just control the race and focus on my own lane. I did that, did not panic, I think I did a good job. That is what I generally try to do and most of the time when I do it, it brings results. It is all about execution. I have two more meets coming up this season and I want to make them count. I am just trying to build on what I have been* *doing all season".
Men’s 100m
World champion Oblique Seville won the men’s 100m in a meeting-record 9.83, holding off the United States’ Kenny Bednarek, who set a season’s best of 9.87. All nine finalists broke 10 seconds. Christian Coleman finished third in 9.93, edging Eugene and London Diamond League winner Kayinsola Ajayi (9.94). South Africa’s Gift Leotlela placed fifth in 9.95, followed by Andre De Grasse and Akani Simbine, who both clocked 9.96, Ronnie Baker (9.97) and Emmanuel Eseme (9.99).
Seville won the first heat in 9.90. Leotlela and Simbine qualified for the final in second and third place with 9.92 and 9.93. Bednarek claimed the second heat in 10.03. De Grasse, Ajay and Eseme all clocked 10.07 and got through to the final.
Oblique Seville: “I am in pretty good shape and I feel pretty good about the win. I am in great shape for the Ultimate Championships. The atmosphere here is great and I will look to come back next year. This is my first time in Poland. The victory feels nice, especially as I ran close to my PB. I am just having fun. I got the meeting record like we said in the press conference. I can manage. There are great things ahead of me. Many sprinters ran under 10s, that is really special. For the rest of the season I would like to keep winning and the next win should be in Brussels.”
Men’s 400m hurdles
Alison dos Santos beat four-time European champion Karsten Warholm for the fourth time this season, clocking a world-leading 46.43. It was the second-fastest performance in Silesia Diamond League history, just 0.15 shy of Warholm’s 46.28 meeting record. Warholm finished second in a season’s best of 46.52, while Brazil’s Matheus Lima placed third with a lifetime best of 47.25. Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel was fourth in 47.84, with Swedish record-holder Oskar Edlund fifth in 48.34.
Alison Dos Santos; “I expected a fast race, the line-up was amazing - everybody was here. I knew that to win here I had to give my best. The vibes here are amazing, I am having a great time. The people, the energy, the weather - I love everything here. I am strong mentally. I will race in Brussels and I will win. It was a great race today and a great time."
Men’s discus
Olympic silver medallist Mykolas Alekna set a meeting record of 72.58m in the fifth round. His victory was never in doubt after he took the lead with 71.03m in the opening round and followed it with throws of 71.67m and 71.29m. Slovenia’s European champion Kristjan Ceh finished second with 68.93m, while Daniel Stahl took third with 68.25m. Germany’s Henrik Janssen (68.19m) and Steven Richter (67.81m) followed, with Olympic champion Roje Stona of Jamaica sixth at 67.65m.
Mykolas Alekna: “I feel amazing. I turned the frustration from the European championships into motivation. I just tried to move as fast as I can, I did not do any major changes. I always try to throw the same in any conditions. The stadium is a closed stadium which is not bad for discus throw. I am happy that I bounced back after the European championships, I am happy with this result. The competition was really competitive with Kristjan Ceh. The people were cheering, it was probably the best crowd in the world. Silesia for me is magical, amazing and loud. After Birmingham I was really hungry and I am still hungry, I still got the Diamond League final to win. With my coach we changed some little things, some sight adjustments. I tried to be more aggressive, i.e. be fast in the legs, but stay relaxed in the arms. This is my first time in Silesia and I would love to come back. It is so close to home* and I have some many fans with the Lithuanian flag."
Men’s 400m
Reigning world champion Collen Kebinatshipi of Botswana won his fifth Diamond League race of the season, clocking 43.59 in the men’s 400m. World and Olympic 400m hurdles champion Rai Benjamin finished second in 43.83, breaking 44 seconds for the first time in his career just two days after setting a 46.67 meeting record over the hurdles in Lausanne. South Africa’s Zakithi Nene placed third in 44.37, edging defending Diamond League champion Jacory Patterson (44.41). Hungary’s Attila Molnar was the leading European in fifth with 44.58, ahead of Jereem Richards (44.72).
Collen Kebinatshipi:** *I did not have a lot of confidence going into this competition because I have not raced since Monaco. Since then I have just been training trying to maintain form, not doing anything special or different. But I was a little scared after not racing for so long and it was difficult mentally for me because I did not really trust myself. But this was a good performance for me and I still have more races to come before the end of the season, so it should be easier now.”
Women’s 400m
Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino claimed her fifth Diamond League win of the season in 48.88 in a race where seven women broke the 50 seconds barrier. Paulino won for the fifth time in her career at the Slaski Stadium in Chorzow.
Jamaica’s Nickisha Pryce finished second in a seasonal best of 49.49 ahead of Selwa Eide Nader, who also ran her fastest time of the season with 49.57. Polish star Natalia Bukowiecka just missed her seasonal best by three hundredths of a second with 49.60 securing her qualifying spot for the Diamond League final in Brussels. Lieke Klaver from the Netherlands finished fifth in 49.71 ahead of Jamaican champion Stacey Ann Williams (49.81) and European champion Henriette Jaeger (49.85).
Marileidy Paulino: I feel happy. I am satisfied about the competition and that I ran fast. I like to come here. This season has been incredible for me. If I could chose between running fast and winning I would chose running fast. What I like about this meeting? The audience, the logistics, the transport, the food, everything, plus my race. I give it all 10 out of 10."
Men’s 1500m
Ethan Strand claimed a surprising win in the men’s 1500m in a seasonal best of 3:30.77 ahead of world under 20 record holder Phanuel Koech (3:31.14) and Olympic champion Cole Hocker (3:31.16). European 5000m champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen placed fourth in 3:31.19 in his Diamond League come-back on the track where he set the world record in the 3000m in 2024 with 7:17.55.
Ethan Strand: “Beating this great runners here is incredible. But I ran it the hard way, I used too much energy running in outside lanes. It is still a lack of practice.. I am so comfortable at the back of the races. I found myself right behind Jakob, the moment I saw him move, I knew it was time to go. I am proud of this race. It means something. Winning these meetings is a big milestone in my journey. This is a step in the right direction. I should be in the Diamond League final. I will not be in Zurich. This victory is a surprise for everyone, me included. The speed was there, but before I struggled with running the race pace. I did not do much work at the beginning of the race, only on the last 600m - yes. I am from Alabama, I finished my studies. This is my first year as a professional athlete. Tokyo last year was the first time for me outside the U.S. and London this year was my first Diamond League meeting in Europe.
Women’s triple jump
Saly Sarr from Senegal took the lead with a national record of 15.08m in the third round after a foul and 14.89m in the second round. Sarr jumped 15.00m for the second time in the Final 3. The Senegalese jumper claimed her first Diamond League win after finishing second with 14.99m in Monaco last July. World champion Leyanis Perez Hernandez leapt to 14.91m in the fifth round to take second place. Davisleidy Velazco leapt to 14.84m in the sixth round to take third place ahead of Olympic champion Thea Lafond from Dominica, who jumped 14.58m in her first attempt, European champion Dariya Derkach (14.33m) and Lladagmis Povea from Cuba (14.18m).
**Saly Sarr: “***I am over the moon about this national record. And I will continue to improve, get better and better. I was expecting to beat the Cuban jumpers, I was not surprised. Now I have cramps, I get this sometimes when I perform so well. I train in Paris and my goal is to win the Diamond League final* in Brussels.
Men’s shot put
Double European champion Leonardo Fabbri claimed his third Diamond League competition of the season with 22.08m in the fourth round. Jordan Geist threw to 21.96m in the fifth round to take second place ahead of two-time world champion Joe Kovacs, who produced his best throw of 21.86m in the opening round. Payton Otterdahl took fourth place with a seasonal best of 21.80m.
Leonardo Fabbri: “The competition was amazing, Silesia is the best Diamond League meeting as far as the stadium is concerned, the energy and the organization. I guess I will come back next year and hope that the energy and the result will be the same. I am super excited because I did not expect to throw 22m. After the European championships my shape went down a bit. So I took a long warm-up. I love this stadium. You do not see a stadium like this with so many spectators and such much energy so often. I really want to get a diamond in Brussels. I feel a bit bad with three low 21m throws and only one over 22m. I hope I will improve in Zurich and at the meeting in Croatia and then be strong in Brussels.
Men’s hammer throw
Olympic and world champion Ethan Katzberg from Canada produced his best throw of 82.92m in the fifth round to win the men’s hammer throw. Merlin Hummel from Germany took second place with 81.25m ahead of European champion Bence Halasz from Hungary (79.44m).
Ethan Katzberg: “I am really satisfied with the performance. The feeling is not quite there yet, but training has been going really well and I am hoping to go even better. The level of hammer throwing is incredible now and it gives me even more motivation. Bence taking the world lead from me at the European Championships makes me want to reclaim it. Competing at the World Ultimate Championship in Hungary against him is going to be a fantastic experience, with him in top shape and all the other guys throwing as well as they are. It will be the highest level of competition possible. "
Women’s hammer throw
Olympic champion Camryn Rogers completed the Canadian double by winning the women’s hammer throw with 77.09m in the third round. DeAnna Price threw to 75.23m in the fifth round. European silver medallist Sara Fantini placed third with 71.95m.
**Camryn Rogers: “***I am really happy. This season has been amazing, I have had the best throw of my life. And to close the season with this throw is wonderful. It is incredible that my season is already over in August. I will go home to Richmond (BC) in Canada, have a staycation and relax and then start to get ready in Texas for the next three years with world champs and Olympics. I am always so excited to come here because I know how passionate and supportive they are about hammer throw. It is incredible how Kamila’s memory lives on. Having men and women compete* together is fine”
Men’s 110m hurdles
World under-20 record-holder and NCAA champion Ja’Kobe Tharp won his second Diamond League race in the men’s 110m hurdles, clocking 13.05 into a 0.7 m/s headwind. He bounced back from a difficult race in Lausanne, where he finished eighth after hitting a hurdle hard. The United States swept the podium, with Trey Cunningham second in 13.08 and Lausanne winner Jamal Britt third in 13.09.
Ja’Kobe Tharp: “This victory means a lot to me, especially in this strong field. I love it here. There is no stadium like this in America, except for Eugene. The atmosphere is great. My coach would not be too happy about the race, some hurdles were not really good. But hey, I won this Diamond League race, so I cannot complain. Next time I will try to be a little more focused. My next races are in Bellinzona and then the final in Brussels plus the Ultimate Champs in Budapest. My European athletics experience is amazing, 10 out of 10. I am only 20 years old, I study interdisciplinary studies - business and sports management - at Auburn university."
Women’s 100m hurdles
Alaysha Johnson from the USA won a non-scoring Diamond League 100m hurdles race in 12.52 ahead of Megan Simmonds from Jamaica (12.62). European silver medallist Pia Skrzyszowska from Poland took third place in 12.64 edging Ackera Nugent from Jamaica with the same time of 12.64.
Women’s high jump
Yaroslava Mahuchikh cleared 2.00m at the third attempt to win the women’s high jump, equalling her own meeting record from the previous edition. The Ukrainian athlete was the only woman in the field to clear 2.00m earning her second Diamond League of the season. She secured her qualifying spot for the Diamond League final in Brussels. Iryna Gerashchenko completed the Ukrainian double by taking second place with 1.98m ahead of 2022 world champion Eleanor Patterson on countback.
Nicola Olyslagers from Australia cleared 1.96m on her first attempt to take fourth place beating Angelina Topic on countback. Both Olyslagers and Topic failed their three attempts at 1.98m.
Yaroslava Mahuchikh: “I am happy that I have this competition. I like to represent Ukraine, this is really important to me considering that the war last already more than four years. Today is our day of the Ukrainian flag and this makes my victory even more special. The stadium is incredible. I like it so much and the track. The people clap and cheer for me. The atmosphere is amazing - I enjoy it so much. It is a pleasure to compete here and it is so close to home. My goal now is to clear 2.10. Today it was difficult for me to measure my runway. But I liked my technique and I liked to improve it."
Women’s 1500m
Tsige Duguma from Ethiopia won a thrilling women’s 1500 metres race setting a world lead of 3:55.06 holding off Jessica Hull from Australia, who placed second in seasonal best of 3:55.20. Kenya’s Dorcus Ewoi also set a seasonal best of 3:55.58 edging Klaudia Kazimierska from Poland, who improved her Polish record with 3:55.59. Emily McCay took fifth place in a seasonal best of 3:56.24 ahead of Agathe Guillemot from France (3:56.34), Sarah Billings from Australia (3:56.73), Birke Haylom from Ethiopia (3:56.76) and Sarah Healy from Ireland (3:57.24).
Tsige Duguma: “This is so good. The last 200m were very hard. It was a technical run. I come from the 800m, this was only the second 1500m race in my career. I am very happy about the victory. I hope to be able to compete in Zurich in the 800m. I train in Addis Abeba, but I come from the Western part of Ethiopia, from Kotobe."
Women’s 5000m
Nadia Battocletti, European champion in the 5000 and 10000 metres in Rome 2024 and Birmingham 2026 and world indoor champion in the 3000m in Torun, claimed the first Diamond League win of her career by taking victory in the 5000 metres in 14:54.09 in a tactical race. The Italian star timed her kick to perfection in the final lap to beat Freweyni Hailu from Ethiopia (14:54.62), Rose Davies from Australia (14:55.39), Ethiopian athletes Marta Alemayo (14:55.44), Senayet Getachew (14:55.51), Fantaye Belayneh (14:55.97) and Likina Amebaw (14.56.42).
Nadia Battocletti: “I thought the race would be faster, but I do not mind that it was not. I actually like races like this one. I do not quite know how I managed to come back after winning two golds at the European Championships. But my manager suggested that I race here and I said ́ok, let ́s do it ́. There was no real celebration after Birmingham. We are still in season, so I have to stay in shape. I still have two races to go. I finish the season racing on my home track in Rovereto, so that will be a great finish. I hope to come back here for the Europeans in two year ́s time and win."
Men’s 3000m steeplechase
Ethiopia’s Gemechu Godanu claimed a surprising win in the men’s 3000 metres steeplechase improving Soufiane El Bakkali’s meeting record to 8:02.74. Godanu raced past two-time Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali (second in 8:04.61) in the final 250 metres and stormed down the final straight. Salah Eddine Ben Yazide from Morocco finished third in a PB of 8:05.08. European silver medallist Ruben Querinjean from Luxembourg improved his national record to 8:05.36 ahead of Samuel Firewu from Ethiopia, who set a seasonal best with 8:06.65. Edmund Serem from Kenya finished sixth with 8:09.57 ahead of Karl Bebendorf from Germany (8:10.40).
Women’s 300m
World indoor 400m champion Lurdes Gloria Manuel won the seldom-contested distance in a Czech all-time best of 35.76, ahead of British youngster Charlotte Henrich in 35.92. The top six finishers set personal bests.
