There&rsquo;s so much to race for at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 and in the women&rsquo;s 4x100m, athletes from 30 teams will be battling it out for Olympic places, prize money and bragging rights.
For all five of the events in Nassau, the top 14 teams in each will automatically qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Since the last edition of the World Athletics Relays, either the United States or Jamaica have won the three major global titles on offer, and they&rsquo;ll renew their rivalry this weekend (4-5 May).
Jamaica claimed the Olympic crown ahead of USA in Tokyo, before USA won world gold in Oregon and retained the title in Budapest, both times beating Jamaica.&nbsp;
In Nassau, the US team will feature four of the athletes who helped their nation to top of the podium in Budapest: individual 200m silver medallist Gabby Thomas and Tamari Davis, who both raced in the final, are joined by heat runners Tamara Clark and Melissa Jefferson. Mikiah Brisco, who formed part of a US team that ran a world-leading 41.94 in Gainesville earlier this month, and Celera Barnes add further strength to the squad.
While the Jamaican team also boasts much quality, just two of the team members from those three global finals return. Natasha Morrison and Remona Burchell both ran in the heats in Tokyo, while the consistent Morrison &ndash; also a world relay gold medallist in Beijing and Doha &ndash; led off for Jamaica in Budapest last year.
The squad is not lacking speed, however, and their teammate Alana Reid, the&nbsp;world U20 200m bronze medallist,&nbsp;set a national U20 100m record of 10.92 last year.
But in Nassau it will be far from a two-way fight. Great Britain bagged bronze in Tokyo and Budapest and the squad this time includes returning team members Asha Philip, Imani Lansiquot, Bianca Williams and Annie Tagoe. Lansiquot has already run 11.02 &ndash; just 0.03 off her PB &ndash; this season.
The other medallist from those three major finals is Germany, the 2017 World Relays winner. Two of the four 2022 bronze medal-winning team members are in Nassau: Rebekka Haase and Gina Luckenkemper.
Italy won at the last edition of the World Relays in Silesia in 2021, and two members of that team &ndash; Anna Bongiorni and Irene Siragusa &ndash; return to defend the title.
Other teams who will be pushing for the podium as well as Olympic places will be Poland, featuring world indoor 60m silver medallist Ewa Swoboda, and Cote d'Ivoire, with multiple major medallist Marie-Josee Ta Lou, plus their fellow 2023 world finalists Netherlands and Switzerland.
France, with Gemima Joseph who recently ran a 100m PB of 11.04, will want to secure that spot for the home Olympics.
The Canadian squad stars the new national record-holder Audrey Leduc, who ran 10.96 just over a week ago, while the Australian team includes Torrie Lewis, the 19-year-old who won the 200m at the Diamond League meeting in Xiamen, alongside her fellow area record-setting teammates Bree Masters, Ella Connolly and Ebony Lane.
The host nation&rsquo;s squad features 60m hurdles world champion and world record-holder Devynne Charlton and Charisma Taylor, who finished sixth in the 60m hurdles and the triple jump on the same day at the World Indoor Championships.
Ecuador's 4x100m women made history in Silesia as they achieved their nation&rsquo;s first ever Olympic relay spot by finishing fifth at the World Relays. Three years on, Angela Gabriela Tenorio and Gabriela Anahi Suarez are back, hoping to help their nation now secure a place for Paris.
Like Cote d'Ivoire, teams from Austria, Estonia, Hungary and Liberia are competing at the World Athletics Relays for the first time.
Jess Whittington for World Athletics

World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24

There’s so much to race for at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 and in the women’s 4x100m, athletes from 30 teams will be battling it out for Olympic places, prize money and bragging rights

WRE Bahamas 24 preview: rivalries renewed in women's 4x100m

Multiple global gold medallists &ndash; including Noah Lyles, Femke Bol and Bahamian stars Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Steven Gardiner and Devynne Charlton &ndash; will be among the athletes in action at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 on 4-5 May.
The competition holds extra significance, as it is the main qualifying event for relay events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Competition takes place at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium in Nassau.
The programme features five relay events:
Women&rsquo;s 4x100m and 4x400m Men&rsquo;s 4x100m and 4x400m Mixed 4x400m
One team per nation can compete in each event and a maximum of eight athletes can be entered for each team. Among those entered, any four athletes may then be used in the composition of each relay team apart from in the mixed 4x400m, where a maximum of six athletes (three men and three women) may be entered with a single substitution allowed after the first round.
<h2>Prize money</h2>
The top eight teams in each event will be awarded the following prize money:
Team 1st US$40,000 2nd US$20,000 3rd US$10,000 4th US$8000 5th US$6000 6th US$4000 7th US$3000 8th US$2000
If a team breaks a world record, a prize of US$50,000 will be awarded, subject to record ratification.
<h2>Olympic qualification</h2>
The top 14 teams in each event at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 will automatically qualify for places at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The remaining two places in each discipline will be awarded based on top lists during the qualification period (31 December 2022 to 30 June 2024).
Olympic places are up for grabs on both days of action in The Bahamas. On the first day, the top two teams in each heat will advance to the final on day two, while also securing their qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
In the finals on day two, teams will compete for prize money and obtain Olympic lane seeding positions.
All other teams will compete on day two in the additional round where the top two teams in each heat will also qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Entry lists for the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 were published last week and are available <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-relays/bahamas24/news/press-releases/entry-lists-world-athletics-relays-bahamas-24" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
The Facts and Figures document for the event, edited by Mark Butler, has also been published and is available <a href="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/document/662fcf028537ec8e9856255b.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

Multiple global gold medallists – including Noah Lyles, Femke Bol and Bahamian stars Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Steven Gardiner and Devynne Charlton – will be among the athletes in action at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 on 4-5 May

Key info for World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24

Building on its experience in measuring air quality in stadiums, the Health &amp; Science Department at World Athletics has taken a new step in protecting the health of athletes.&nbsp;
Following the installation of a <a href="https://kunakair.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kunak</a> air quality sensor at the Parc des Sports Charles Ehrmann stadium in Nice, a <a href="https://www.lifyair.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lify-Air</a> pollen measurement sensor has also been added, meaning athletes who use the stadium now have access to essential hyperlocal information to help them manage their respiratory health.&nbsp;
Exposure to airborne pollen is a health concern during outdoor sporting events and it poses a risk to large numbers of athletes who may suffer an allergic response. Asthma and related allergy symptoms are commonly reported by athletes after competing in endurance events. Almost half the runners questioned (47%) reported upper respiratory symptoms post marathon, illustrating the extent of respiratory issues during and after running events (Robson-Ansley et al. 2012).&nbsp;
A study conducted during the Comrades Marathon between 2014 and 2019 shows that respiratory disease (asthma, allergenic rhinitis) was the most frequent reported chronic disease (2.4%) (Brill et al. 2023).&nbsp;
Air pollution, greenhouse gases and global warming are the main causes of the increase in pollen allergy. Air pollution increases the allergen content of pollen and damages its surface, releasing more allergens (Gisler 2021) and likely exacerbating respiratory diseases experienced during the peak of the pollen season (Orellano et al. 2017). Consequently, the prevalence of respiratory allergic diseases among athletes can be viewed in the context of increased exposure to outdoor atmospheric pollutants (particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5) and allergens (Helenius et al. 1997). All of these factors cause changes in the flowering of plants and in the structure of pollen grains, resulting in a higher incidence of symptoms.
For allergic athletes, pollen and air quality information is the cornerstone of pollen allergy management. Pollen allergy bulletins and forecasts are the best way to limit their exposure to allergens, and to adapt their treatments to this level of exposure.&nbsp;
In order to address these requirements, they must understand the timing, quantity, and specific type of pollen they are exposed to or might be exposed to. It's very likely that airborne pollens are not evenly distributed over the territory due to differences in topography and vegetation, and that each athletics stadium therefore has its own specificity.&nbsp;
With this project, the Health &amp; Science Department hopes that hyperlocal data recording will help to educate athletes about environmental risks and enable them to minimise their level of exposure and maintain optimum performance levels.
Air quality data monitoring in the Nice stadium is available <a href="https://kunakcloud.com/widgets/wa/wa2.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
To consult pollen levels data, please visit: <a href="https://live-pollen.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">live-pollen.com</a>.

Building on its experience in measuring air quality in stadiums, the Health & Science Department at World Athletics has taken a new step in protecting the health of athletes

Athlete respiratory health in the spotlight thanks to new sensor in Nice

USA&rsquo;s Taliyah Brooks retained her Multistars heptathlon title by equalling her PB of 6330, while Belgium&rsquo;s Jente Hauttekeete secured his first decathlon victory at a World Athletics Combined Events Tour Gold meeting, winning with 8020 in Brescia on Sunday (28).
Brooks began the defence of her heptathlon title with the day&rsquo;s fastest 100m hurdles, clocking 13.14 into a headwind (-2.3m/s). But there was disappointment for China&rsquo;s Asian Games champion Zheng Ninali, as she was disqualified.
The high jump was up next and Brooks cleared 1.77m &ndash; the second-best performance of the day behind Bianca Salming&rsquo;s 1.83m &ndash; before throwing 13.11m in the shot. Austria&rsquo;s 2018 world indoor pentathlon silver medallist Ivona Dadic, returning from injury, launched the implement 14.55m to top that event.
Brooks ended day one with a leading 200m time of 23.92, putting her 220 points ahead of Norway&rsquo;s Ida Eikeng.
The second day started well for Brooks as she extended her lead by topping the long jump with 6.52m. It was also a strong discipline for Sweden&rsquo;s Lovisa Karlsson (6.47m) and Switzerland&rsquo;s Katelyn Adel (6.41m), both of whom set PBs to move into second and third overall respectively.
Eikeng excelled in the javelin, launching her spear out to 51.62m to move up to third overall. Ireland&rsquo;s Kate O&rsquo;Connor, twice a runner-up at Multistars, moved into second place overall thanks to her 49.28m effort.
Brooks was further down the field with 38.53m, but she still ended the event with a lead of almost 200 points with just the 800m to go.
Adel, who had put together the series of her life this weekend, continued her momentum into the 800m, smashing her PB to win it in 2:12.66. Salming followed in 2:13.49 and Brooks &ndash; buoyed by the knowledge she had the title in the bag &ndash; was close behind in 2:13.81, a PB.
It meant that the US heptathlete successfully defended her title by equalling the 6330 PB she set when winning at Multistars last year.
O&rsquo;Connor, who clocked 2:15.14 in the final event, achieved her third Multistars runner-up finish with 6104 and Adel placed third with 6082 &ndash; a PB by more than 300 points. Karlsson just missed the podium, but was also rewarded with her first 6000-point tally, scoring 6051.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m excited to come here, get a decent score and walk away healthy,&rdquo; said Brooks. &ldquo;I got the exact same score as last time. Last year I was really happy with my 800m, and this year is the same &ndash; I set a PB by two seconds. It&rsquo;s something I&rsquo;ve been working really hard on.&rdquo;
<h2>Hauttekeete times challenge to perfection</h2>
Jente Hauttekeete may not have topped the leader board in any of the individual disciplines, but the 22-year-old&rsquo;s overall consistency in the decathlon led to him taking the title with 8020, the second-best score of his career.
Switzerland&rsquo;s Nino Portmann took an early lead, winning the first 100m heat in 10.91. Belgium&rsquo;s Robin Bodart won his heat in 10.93 for the day&rsquo;s second-fastest time and Teo Bastien led heat three in 11.04 to put him fifth overall after one event, just ahead of Hattekeete (11.06).
Bastien, the 2021 European U20 bronze medallist, soared into the lead after the next event, going close to his long jump PB with a leap of 7.82m. Hauttekeete, the world U20 heptathlon record-holder, was sixth at that stage after leaping 7.37m.
A 14.12m throw moved Hauttekeete up to fourth following the shot put, with Bastien holding on to the lead thanks to an outdoor PB of 13.84m. Czechia&rsquo;s 2016 European silver medallist Adam Helcelet made his presence felt at this stage, launching the shot 15.31m to place him fifth overall, with Yuma Maruyama and Jose Fernando Ferreira Santana completing the top five.
Hauttekeete and Santiago Ford both soared clear at 2.01m in the high jump, which moved them to second and third respectively behind Bastien (1.95m). His lead was 45 points at that stage but Hauttekeete ran 49.16 to Bastien&rsquo;s 50.10 in the 400m &ndash; the final event of the day &ndash; to take the gap to just a single point at the half way stage.
Ferreira Santana dominated the 110m hurdles at the start of day two and was the only man to finish inside 14 seconds, clocking 13.88. Hauttekeete took a brief lead thanks to his 14.44 clocking, while Bastien managed 14.51, but the French all-rounder responded in the next event, throwing a discus PB of 43.49m to regain the lead.
Hauttekeete threw 40.13m, and Chile&rsquo;s Santiago Ford moved up the leaderboard into third after sending his disc flying out to 47.84m, the best of the day. Murayama, meanwhile, set his third PB of the competition with 46.21m.
Belgium&rsquo;s Thomas van der Plaetsen, the 2016 European champion, was a non-starter for the next discipline. But his compatriot Bodart ensured a Belgian still topped that event, vaulting 5.15m. Bastien was next best, extending his lead thanks to a 5.05m clearance, while Hauttekeete remained in contention with 4.85m.
The discipline ended with disappointment for Murayama, though, as he landed awkwardly on his final attempt at 4.65m and was forced to exit the competition.
Hauttekeete threw a PB of 56.04m in the javelin, but he was bumped down to third place after Ferreira Santana launched his spear out to 67.47m. Bastien increased the gap between him and Hauttekeete, throwing 56.98m.
Bastien had a 138-point lead over Hauttekeete going into the 1500m. Although the Belgian was a far superior 1500m runner, he still needed to finish 25 seconds ahead of Bastien to secure the victory.
Switzerland&rsquo;s Andrin Huber was a comfortable winner of the 1500m, clocking 4:23.99, then Estonia&rsquo;s Risto Lillemets crossed the line a few seconds later, closely followed by Hauttekeete (4:30.80). Bastien, meanwhile, finished outside five minutes (5:02.75).
It meant that Hauttekeete took the victory with 8020 from Lillemets (7971). Bastien held on for third place with 7963, just 26 points ahead of Ferreira Santana.
&ldquo;I just kept going and fought until the end and now I&rsquo;m here in first position,&rdquo; said Hauttekeete. &ldquo;I knew I needed to finish 25 seconds ahead of Bastien and I knew that would be tough. But it&rsquo;s never over until the end.&rdquo;
<a href="https://multistars.it/Multistars_2024/index_2024.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Results</a>

Brooks takes heptathlon with 6330, Hauttekeete wins decathlon with 8020

Brooks and Hauttekeete victorious at Multistars

Seven championship records were improved at the Asian U20 Championships in Dubai, which concluded after four days of action on Saturday (27).
Chinese sprinters erased two long-standing championship records en route to their 100m victories. Seventeen-year-old Zeng Keli stormed to a 10.15 (1.7m/s) clocking in the men&rsquo;s semifinal, breaking the championship record of 10.26 that had stood to Li Tao since 1986. He also took 0.03 off the Chinese U20 record.
Zeng&rsquo;s late reaction from the blocks in the final cost him a bit of time, but the Asian U18 200m silver medallist was still able to overtake two athletes from Hong Kong, China, Chan Yat Lok and Kwok Chun Ting, at the halfway mark to take the title in 10.19 (0.4m/s). Chan (10.41) and Kwok (10.46) took the other two spots on the podium.
In the women's race, 15-year-old Chen Yujie struck gold in 11.32, taking 0.10 off the championship record set 30 years ago by Sri Lanka&rsquo;s Damayanthi Dharsha, and setting a Chinese U18 best in the process. Like Zeng, Chen also had a late start but managed to beat Vietnam's Tran Thi (11.40) to the line, while Misaki Morimoto of Japan was a distant third in 11.79.
Wumaier Ailixier was another athlete to take down a Chinese age-group record en route to a championship record in Dubai. He won the 400m in a national U20 record of 45.53 &ndash; also elevating him to fourth on the senior Chinese all-time list &ndash; to break the championship record by 0.26. China's Li Yiqing (46.61) and India&rsquo;s Aman Choudhary (47.53) filled the next two places on the podium.
Japan&rsquo;s Orita Sota timed his finish well to win the men&rsquo;s 5000m in 14:08.71. He ran alongside compatriot Iida Kaito for most of the way, tucked behind Indian duo Vinod Singh and Gaurav Bhosale before unleashing his kick finish on the final lap. Singh (14:09.44) and Kaito (14:09.63) took silver and bronze with all three medallists bettering the previous championship record.
<h2>Abakar runs world U20 lead in sprint hurdles</h2>
One year after taking the silver medal, Qatar&rsquo;s Oumar Abakar claimed gold in the men&rsquo;s 110m hurdles. After a conservative start, he drew level China's Chen Yuanjiang after 60 metres and it was only coming off the final hurdle that Abakar was able to edge ahead into the lead.
The 19-year-old won in 13.24 (1.2m/s) with Chen finishing just 0.02 behind for the silver medal. Both athletes bettered the previous championship record (13.33) and the world U20 lead (13.27).
Pole vaulter Seifeldin Mohamed Abdelsalam was another Qatari athlete who excelled on the penultimate day of competition. He successfully defended his title with 5.51m, adding a centimetre to his own championship record. Japan's Yoshida Rikuya claimed silver with 5.25m and India&rsquo;s Dev Kumar Meena earned bronze with 5.10m.&nbsp;
Another championship record fell to Chinese athletes on Friday evening as their quartet claimed the mixed 4x400m title.
India and defending champions Sri Lanka were considered the pre-event favourites, but China came through to triumph in 3:22.46 from India (3:24.86), both teams finishing inside the previous record of 3:25.41.
China regained the top position in the medals table with 15 gold, 9 silver, and 3 bronze medals. Japan was second (8-5-8), just ahead of India (7-11-11).
Hong Kong will host the next edition of the Asian U20 Championships in 2026.
Ram. Murali Krishnan for World Athletics

Seven championship records broken in Dubai

Chinese sprinters excel at Asian U20 Championships

Selemon Barega, Beatrice Chepkoech and Akani Simbine were among the athletes to make their mark at the Yangtze Delta Athletics Diamond Gala, the second Wanda Diamond League meeting of the season, in Suzhou on Saturday (27).
One week on from the opening Diamond League meeting in Xiamen, there were also back-to-back wins for Mondo Duplantis, who attempted another world record in the pole vault, plus Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Daniel Roberts, Marileidy Paulino and Valarie Allman.
The men&rsquo;s 5000m was the penultimate race of the evening and it saw the meeting record fall as Ethiopia&rsquo;s Olympic 10,000m champion Barega got his season started with a win. The 24-year-old, who closed his indoor campaign by gaining world 3000m bronze in Glasgow, held off the challenge posed by his 17-year-old compatriot Biniam Mehary, racing just his second ever 5000m.
After battling down the back straight, Barega led off the final bend and was able to respond to Mehary&rsquo;s strong finish to win, 12:55.68 to 12:56.37. Kenya&rsquo;s world cross country bronze medallist Benson Kiplangat was third in a PB of 12:58.78.
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In the women&rsquo;s 3000m steeplechase, Kenya&rsquo;s world record-holder Chepkoech was dominant. Despite not feeling well, she followed her win in Xiamen with victory in 9:07.36 ahead of Uganda&rsquo;s Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai. In her first steeplechase race since the 2022 World Championships following the birth of her daughter in April 2023, Germany&rsquo;s two-time world bronze medallist Gesa Felicitas Krause was third in 9:16.24.
Over in the sprints, Britain's Olympic and world relay medallist Daryll Neita got a strong start in the women&rsquo;s 200m and she turned it into a powerful finish to win on her individual season debut. Clocking 22.62 (0.2m/s), she held off Anavia Battle (22.99) and her US compatriot Sha'Carri Richardson, the world 100m champion, who ran 23.11.
The focus in the men&rsquo;s 100m might have been on the head-to-head between USA&rsquo;s Fred Kerley and Christian Coleman, but South Africa&rsquo;s Simbine beat them both. He won in 10.01 (-0.1m/s), 0.03 ahead of Coleman, with Kerley third in 10.11.
World 400m champion Paulino made it two wins from two races, following her victory in Xiamen with success in Suzhou in 50.89. USA&rsquo;s Talitha Diggs was second in 51.77 and Sada Williams third in 52.00.
The same was the case for Camacho-Quinn and Roberts in the hurdles.
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Olympic champion Camacho-Quinn finished level with Tobi Amusan in the 100m hurdles but with Amusan running under protest following a false start, Camacho-Quinn secured the win in 12.63, just 0.01 ahead of world indoor 60m hurdles champion and world record-holder Charlton. In the 110m hurdles, world bronze medallist Roberts dipped for the win in 13.12 to deny Japan&rsquo;s Shunsuke Izumiya (13.23).
Slimane Moula secured top spot in the men&rsquo;s 800m, holding off Wyclife Kinyamal - 1:43.38 to 1:43.12.
Duplantis put on a show again in the men&rsquo;s pole vault. After adding a centimetre to his own world record in Xiamen by clearing 6.24m, he got close to doing the same in Suzhou.
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Sweden&rsquo;s Olympic and world champion had the competition won when he cleared 5.92m on his first attempt after also managing 5.62m and 5.82m first time. He had the bar raised to six metres and again soared clear to break the meeting record before it was moved up another 25cm.
While he failed his three tries at that height, his last attempt didn&rsquo;t look far off.
&ldquo;To jump six metres today and complete a very successful tour, I have a lot of good takeaways,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I felt a little bit flat today, but still really good. Conditions have to be perfect for me to jump a world record and I wasn't quite feeling it off the runway tonight. Now I go back home and train for a few weeks until my next competition in Ostrava.&rdquo;
World indoor champion Hamish Kerr rebounded after his third place in Xiamen to win the high jump in Suzhou, clearing 2.31m on his second attempt. Olympic and three-time world gold medallist Mutaz Barshim had skipped straight to 2.33m after two failed attempts at 2.31m but when that didn&rsquo;t work out, Kerr was confirmed the winner.
Two-time world champion Chase Jackson surpassed 20 metres for the first time this season to win the shot put. Launching the implement 20.03m in the second round, she went from third in Xiamen to first in Suzhou, finishing ahead of world indoor champion Sarah Mitton, Song Jiayuan and Xiamen winner Gong Lijiao.
A close men&rsquo;s long jump contest was won by Marquis Dendy as he leapt 8.05m to win by a single centimetre over 2022 world champion Wang Jianan. In the women&rsquo;s event, Marthe Koala jumped 6.68m in the first round and that ended up being the best of the competition by nine centimetres. Quanesha Burks claimed the runner-up spot.
World champion Haruka Kitaguchi saved her best for last in the women&rsquo;s javelin, throwing 62.97m to launch herself into first place and beat world bronze medallist Mackenzie Little with 62.12m.
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USA&rsquo;s Olympic champion Allman followed her victory in Xiamen with another win, topping the non-Diamond League women&rsquo;s discus with a 69.86m throw. Feng Bin was second with 67.11m and recent North American record-breaker Yaime Perez third with 65.59m from her only valid throw of the competition.
Ethiopia&rsquo;s 18-year-old Mekedes Alemeshete won the non-Diamond League women&rsquo;s 5000m in 14:36.70 ahead of her compatriot Ayal Dagnachew (14:36.86), the 2021 world U20 800m champion. The 2022 world 10,000m champion and world record-holder Letesenbet Gidey, in her first race since finishing second in the New York Marathon in November, was third in 14:37.13.
Jess Whittington for World Athletics

Athletes made their mark at the Yangtze Delta Athletics Diamond Gala, the second Wanda Diamond League meeting of the season

Statements and surprises in Suzhou

World 800m silver medallist <a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/kenya/emmanuel-wanyonyi-14974928" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Emmanuel Wanyonyi</a> stepped up to the mile in style, breaking the world road mile record with 3:54.56* at the adizero Road to Records event in Herzogenaurach, Germany, on Saturday (27).
Deciding to make his mile debut rather than race his specialist distance, the Kenyan 19-year-old improved the previous world record of 3:56.13 set by USA&rsquo;s Hobbs Kessler at the World Athletics Road Running Championships Riga 23 in October, despite celebrating on his way to the tape.
Kessler was second on this occasion, chasing Wanyonyi over the finish line in 3:56.18, while South Africa&rsquo;s Ryan Mphahlele was third in 3:56.45.
The pacemaker went off fast and Wanyonyi was at the front of a group that caught and then passed him, with 90 seconds on the clock. Kessler moved through the field and drew level with Wanyonyi through 1200m, but Wanyonyi responded to the challenge and when Kessler tried to pass him again, he glanced at his rival and kicked.&nbsp;
Surging away, Wanyonyi started his celebrations early and pointed at the finish line, before crossing it in world record time.
&ldquo;I feel so happy for today. It&rsquo;s not easy, but I tried to push myself,&rdquo; said Wanyonyi, the 2021 world U20 800m champion who claimed the Diamond League title last year and received the men&rsquo;s World Athletics Rising Star award for 2023. &ldquo;My coach told me it was possible to break the world record.&rdquo;
On a busy day of racing in Herzogenaurach, the men&rsquo;s mile followed a rare road 800m which was won in 1:44:30 by Canada&rsquo;s Marco Arop, who beat Wanyonyi to the world title in Budapest last year. Kenya&rsquo;s Nelly Chepchirchir topped the women&rsquo;s mile in 4:30.93.&nbsp;
Kenya's Agnes Ngetich almost added the women-only world record to the world 10km record of 28:46 she set in a mixed race in Valencia in January. This time the 23-year-old clocked 30:03 for a performance just two seconds off the women-only world record set by the late Agnes Tirop at this event in 2021. On Saturday, athletes wore limited-edition kit in honour of Tirop.&nbsp;
In a Kenyan top three, Margaret Chelimo was second in 30:39 and Jesca Chelangat was third in 30:46.
In the women&rsquo;s 5km, Ethiopia&rsquo;s world U20 5000m champion Medina Eisa clocked a winning 14:38 &ndash; the fastest ever women&rsquo;s road 5km by an U20 athlete. She was followed by her fellow 19-year-old compatriot Melknat Wudu, who finished just two seconds back. Fotyen Tesfay completed the Ethiopian top three in 14:41.
Also racing on the 1.3km loop course on Saturday were Ethiopia&rsquo;s two-time world indoor 3000m champion Yomif Kejelcha and Kenya&rsquo;s world 5km bronze medallist Nicholas Kipkorir.
Kejelcha won the men&rsquo;s 5km in 13:00, five seconds ahead of his compatriot Addisu Yihune, while Kipkorir took the 10km title in 27:05, pipping world half marathon champion Sabastian Sawe by a second.
<a href="https://worldathletics.org/competition/calendar-results/results/7210599" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Results</a>
*Subject to the usual ratification procedure

World 800m silver medallist Emmanuel Wanyonyi stepped up to the mile in style, breaking the world road mile record with 3:54.56* at the adizero Road to Records event in Herzogenaurach

Wanyonyi runs world road mile record in Herzogenaurach

Ethiopia&rsquo;s 2022 world marathon champion Gotytom Gebreslase has multiple global accolades to her name, but the 29-year-old still has one big goal left to achieve: to etch her name in the history books with success at the Paris Olympics.&nbsp;
She allows <a href="https://worldathletics.org/videos/playlist/latest-videos/65ec6103f502b081c81aa163" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Athletics Inside Track</a> an exclusive look at her training, opens the doors to her home and provides insight into Ethiopian running culture.
<div><a href="https://worldathletics.org/videos/playlist/latest-videos/65ec6103f502b081c81aa163" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/65ec5f12ba75fd2dbe5073b1.jpg" alt="GotytomThumb" /></a>
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&ldquo;Ethiopia and running are closely intertwined, as exemplified by Abebe Bikila, who ran barefoot to win and represent his country. I feel immense happiness knowing that I am also a runner,&rdquo; says Gebreslase, who went on to claim marathon silver at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest after her win in Oregon in 2022.
&ldquo;The Olympics is considered the ultimate goal for athletes. When I think about the Olympics, I remember the one where Tirunesh Dibaba became a two-time medallist. I have achieved success by becoming a world champion, which is considered one of the greatest accomplishments for an athlete. God has helped make me a world champion and becoming an Olympic medallist is my dream, I&rsquo;ll work hard for it.
&ldquo;Running is something we pass on from generation to generation.&nbsp;
&ldquo;If there&rsquo;s a particularly strong athlete in the group, we aspire to emulate them. There&rsquo;s no reason to consider oneself as less than them, especially when we&rsquo;re all training together and following the same programme. In a team with strong athletes, you will inevitably become stronger, too.
&ldquo;I believe that Ethiopia and running are inseparable.&rdquo;

The 2022 world marathon champion allows World Athletics Inside Track an exclusive look at her training, opens the doors to her home and provides insight into Ethiopian running culture

Gotytom Gebreslase: building a legacy

The Wanda Diamond League continues this weekend, with the <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/diamond-league/news/suzhou-2024-duplantis-richardson-charlton-gong" target="_blank" rel="noopener">second meeting of the season taking place in Suzhou</a>, China, on Saturday (27).
Mondo Duplantis, who broke his own world pole vault record during the opening Diamond League meeting in Xiamen last weekend, is among the athletes competing.
The action will start at 5:45pm local time (GMT+8) with the women's long jump and the main two-hour broadcast window will begin at 7:00pm local time with the women's 400m.
<a href="https://shanghai.diamondleague.com/programme-results/programme-results-shanghai/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Results, programme and entry lists</a> | <a href="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/document/662bb9cc912fb20b60776847.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">media information sheets and athlete biographies</a> 
<div class="bodytext">
<h2>Where to watch</h2>
The meeting will be streamed in a number of territories on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@diamondleague/streams" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wanda Diamond League YouTube page</a> from 7:00pm local time (GMT+8).
The livestream will&nbsp;NOT&nbsp;be available in all territories.
To find out the broadcast rights holder in your country, check the list below. If your country does not appear on the list, please check local listings. The list is subject to change, and some broadcasters may only show highlights coverage, while others will show the meeting live. Please check your local listings to find out more information.&nbsp;
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; border-color: #333333; border-style: solid;" border="1" width="90%" cellpadding="2">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Territories</td>
<td>Broadcaster/ Rights Holder</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Africa (English language): Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, C&ocirc;te d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, S&atilde;o Tom&eacute; and Pr&iacute;ncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland</td>
<td>Supersport (English)&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Africa (French language): Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Gabon, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Senegal, Togo, Tunisia, S&atilde;o Tom&eacute; and Pr&iacute;ncipe, Mayotte</td>
<td>New World TV</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Argentina</td>
<td>TeleRed, TyC Sports</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Azerbaijan</td>
<td>Saran Group, CBC Sport</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Baltics: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland</td>
<td>SIA All Media, Viasat Baltics, TV3 Sport</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Balkans: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia</td>
<td>United Media - Sportklub</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Belarus</td>
<td>Saran Group</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Belgium</td>
<td>VRT</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brazil</td>
<td>COB, TVN Sports, Globo Sport Brazil, Newco - BandSports</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bulgaria</td>
<td>Mobitel, A1 - Sport Max</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Canada</td>
<td>CBC</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Caucasus/Central Asia: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan</td>
<td>Saran</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Caribbean: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, The Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Saint Barth&eacute;lemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Bonaire, Bermuda, Cura&ccedil;ao, Sint Maarten</td>
<td>Flow Sports, CWC</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Central America: Mexico, Panama, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname</td>
<td>Sky Mexico</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>China</td>
<td>CCTV</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chinese Taipei</td>
<td>Elta</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Czech Republic</td>
<td>Ceska Televize</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Denmark</td>
<td>TV3 Sport, Viasat Sport A/S Account</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Finland</td>
<td>MTV Katsomo</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Germany</td>
<td>Sky Deutschland</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Greece</td>
<td>TAF/ERT</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hong Kong</td>
<td>PCCW</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hungary</td>
<td>ASC1, MTVA</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>India</td>
<td>Viacom 18</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Israel</td>
<td>Charlton - Sport 1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Italy</td>
<td>Sky Italy / Rai</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Malaysia</td>
<td>Measat, Astro</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mongolia</td>
<td>SPS Mongolia</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Morocco</td>
<td>SNRT</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Netherlands</td>
<td>Liberty Global Content, Ziggo Sports, NOS</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>New Zealand</td>
<td>TVNZ</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Norway</td>
<td>NRK</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Philippines</td>
<td>TAP DMV</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Poland</td>
<td>Polsat</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Portugal</td>
<td>Sport TV Portugal</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Qatar</td>
<td>ALKASS</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Slovakia</td>
<td>RTVS</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Singapore</td>
<td>Singtel, Starhub</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>South America: Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela</td>
<td>Panam Sports</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>South Korea</td>
<td>KBS</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Spain</td>
<td>Telefonica</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sweden</td>
<td>TV4, SVT</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Switzerland</td>
<td>SRG</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Thailand</td>
<td>Cineplex / JKN</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Turkey</td>
<td>Saran Group, Ssport</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>United Kingdom</td>
<td>BBC</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ukraine</td>
<td>Setanta</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>USA</td>
<td>NBC Sports</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Australia, Bhutan, Cambodia, France, Iceland, Indonesia, Japan, Monaco, Myanmar (Burma), Romania, Sri Lanka</td>
<td>Wanda Diamond League YouTube / Facebook</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Social media</h2>
- World Athletics: <a href="https://twitter.com/WorldAthletics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/WorldAthletics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/worldathletics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@worldathletics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a> - Wanda Diamond League: <a href="https://twitter.com/diamond_league" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/DiamondLeague/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/diamondleagueathletics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>
&nbsp;
</div>

The Wanda Diamond League continues this weekend, with the second meeting of the season taking place in Suzhou on Saturday

How to watch and follow the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Suzhou

Taliyah Brooks defends her heptathlon title, while Thomas Van der Plaetsen heads the decathlon field at Multistars &ndash; the first World Athletics Combined Events Tour Gold event of 2024 &ndash; this weekend (27-28).
Nine decathletes with 8000-point-plus PBs and nine heptathletes who have surpassed 6200 points are entered for the event, which returns to Brescia &ndash; host of the first seven editions from 1988 to 1994 &ndash; for the first time in 30 years.
USA&rsquo;s Brooks set a PB of 6330 points to win the heptathlon in Desenzano del Garda last year and she went on to finish second at the USA Championships with a score just 11 points off that mark, but her campaign at the World Championships in Budapest came to an early end when she recorded three fouls in the long jump. She rebounded at the Decastar in Talence in September, finishing third on 6181, and has already shown PB form in 2024 as she clocked 7.97 for 60m hurdles in February.
One athlete sits above Brooks on the entry list when it comes to personal bests: Austria&rsquo;s Ivona Dadic. The 2018 world indoor pentathlon silver medallist, who set her best of 6552 in 2018, makes a heptathlon comeback in Brescia as she missed the whole of 2023 following knee surgery.&nbsp;
Dadic returned to action at the Swedish Indoor Combined Events Championships in January &ndash; her first competition since winning the Decastar with 6233 points in September 2022 &ndash; and finished second at the Austrian Indoor Combined Events Championships in February. Her aim in Brescia &ndash; as it is for a number of athletes in action &ndash; will be to qualify for the Olympic Games and European Championships.
China&rsquo;s Asian Games champion Zheng Ninali, who won the pentathlon at the Asian Indoor Championships in February, is also among the entries, just over a week on from her 6164-point performance at the Mt. SAC Relays.
Britain&rsquo;s Commonwealth bronze medallist Jade O&rsquo;Dowda was second at Multistars last year and went on to set a PB of 6255 points at the Gotzis Hypomeeting a month later.
Ireland&rsquo;s Kate O'Connor is also among the entries, as she prepares for her first competition since finishing 13th at the World Championships in Budapest.
Italy&rsquo;s world indoor fourth-place finisher Sveva Gerevini is entered but may not compete due to a hamstring problem.
Making the step up to the senior event is Hungary&rsquo;s 17-year-old Sarolta Kriszt, the 2022 European U18 silver medallist.
For Belgium&rsquo;s Van der Plaetsen, Brescia offers a first decathlon since the Decastar, where he placed sixth, and the chance to make a mark ahead of this year's major competitions.
The 2014 world indoor heptathlon bronze medallist competed in Desenzano del Garda last year but withdrew with a niggle. He then finished fourth in Ratingen before securing sixth in Talence. His PB of 8430 was set in Gotzis in 2021.
His competition this time includes Czechia&rsquo;s Adam Helcelet and Poland&rsquo;s Pawel Wiesiolek, both of whom have also surpassed 8300 in their careers so far. More recently, Helcelet scored 8034 to finish second at the Wieslaw Czapiewski Memorial in Bydgoszcz in July, while Wiesiolek won the Polish indoor heptathlon title in February.
They will go up against Italian record-holder Dario Dester, who achieved that 8218-point record at the European Championships in Munich in 2022. The Multistars will be his first decathlon since then.
Also looking to make an impact will be Estonia&rsquo;s European indoor heptathlon bronze medallist Risto Lillemets, Brazil&rsquo;s South American champion Jose Fernando Ferreira Santana and Belgium&rsquo;s Jente Hauttekeete, the world U20 heptathlon record-holder.
Lillemets was fifth at Decastar in September, while Ferreira Santana set his PB of 8058 last July.
Hauttekeete had a busy start to the year and he won the national indoor heptathlon title with 6131 in February before finishing eighth at the World Indoor Championships.
Like Kriszt, 19-year-old European U20 bronze medallist Andrin Huber steps up to senior competition in&nbsp;Brescia.

Taliyah Brooks defends her heptathlon title, while Thomas Van der Plaetsen heads the decathlon field at Multistars

Multistars kicks off Combined Events Tour Gold

One week on from his world record-breaking performance at the opening Wanda Diamond League meeting of the season in Xiamen, Mondo Duplantis will be among the athletes in action when competition continues in Suzhou on Saturday (27).
The Yangtze Delta Athletics Diamond Gala is the second Diamond League event of the year and it will see Duplantis joined by fellow global gold medallists such as Gong Lijiao, Mutaz Barshim, Sha'Carri Richardson, Devynne Charlton and Selemon Barega.
In Xiamen last Saturday, world and Olympic champion Duplantis started his Diamond League season in the same way he ended it in Eugene in September: by adding a centimetre to his own world pole vault record.
After clearing 6.23m in Eugene, the Swedish star soared 6.24m in Xiamen for the eighth world record of his career so far. He achieved it on his first attempt, too. Can he go even higher in Suzhou?
Joining him on the runway will be USA&rsquo;s world and Olympic medallist Chris Nilsen and his compatriot Sam Kendricks, the two-time world gold medallist. Kendricks was second in Xiamen, clearing 5.82m, while Nilsen will be looking to rebound after only making it over his opening height of 5.42m.
China&rsquo;s world sixth-place finisher Huang Bokai was third in Xiamen with a 5.72m clearance and will also want to make an impact in Suzhou.
Gong was another of the winners in Xiamen and the Olympic champion will seek more shot put success on home soil when she again competes against two-time world champion Chase Jackson, world indoor champion Sarah Mitton and Maddison-Lee Wesche, the runner-up in Xiamen.
Another rematch comes in the men&rsquo;s high jump, where Olympic and three-time world gold medallist Barshim continues his comeback against world indoor champion Hamish Kerr and world indoor silver medallist Shelby McEwen. Those three athletes took the top three spots in Xiamen and it was McEwen who got the win, pipping Barshim on countback as they both cleared 2.27m.
The Budapest world medallists battle again in the women&rsquo;s javelin, with Japan&rsquo;s champion Kitaguchi &ndash; who went on to win the Diamond League crown &ndash; taking on Colombia&rsquo;s Flor Denis Ruiz Hurtado and Australia&rsquo;s Mackenzie Little. Kitaguchi opens her season and they will be joined by China&rsquo;s Dai Qianqian, who won the non-Diamond League event in Xiamen.
The men&rsquo;s long jump stars China&rsquo;s 2022 world champion Wang Jianan plus the world indoor silver and bronze medallists from Glasgow, Mattia Furlani and Carey McLeod. In the women&rsquo;s event, another Glasgow medallist, Fatima Diame, goes up against world bronze medallist Alina Rotaru-Kottmann and Olympic bronze medallist Ese Brume.
In the non-Diamond League women&rsquo;s discus, Olympic champion Valarie Allman will look to maintain her momentum after winning in Xiamen ahead of Yaime Perez &ndash; who threw a North American record of 73.09m two weeks ago &ndash; and Feng Bin. The strong field also features world champion Laulauga Tausaga and two-time world fourth-place finisher Jorinde van Klinken.
<h2>Richardson ready to rebound</h2>
USA&rsquo;s world 100m champion Richardson, who claimed 200m bronze in Budapest, was pipped by just 0.03 when making her season debut in the longer event in Xiamen and she&rsquo;ll be back on the track in Suzhou.&nbsp;
Australian teenager Torrie Lewis got the win in Xiamen and while she is not in Diamond League action this weekend, the line-up does star world 4x100m champion Tamara Clark, 2019 world bronze medallist Mujinga Kambundji and Britain's Olympic and world relay medallist Daryll Neita.
In the men&rsquo;s 100m, USA&rsquo;s Fred Kerley and Christian Coleman go head-to-head again. Coleman dipped for the win in Xiamen, clocking 10.13 to Kerley&rsquo;s 10.17, and they race against Jamaica&rsquo;s Ackeem Blake, who was third behind them on Saturday.
The women&rsquo;s 100m hurdles features an array of global gold medallists. World indoor 60m hurdles champion and world record-holder Charlton lines up alongside Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, world champion Danielle Williams and 2022 world champion Tobi Amusan, plus Olympic bronze medallist Megan Tapper. Just 0.04 separated winner Camacho-Quinn (12.45) from runner-up Charlton in Xiamen.
World bronze medallist Daniel Roberts won the men&rsquo;s 110m hurdles in Xiamen and he also continues his season in China as he again goes up against Olympic and Diamond League champion Hansle Parchment and Cordell Tinch.
World 400m champion Marileidy Paulino was another to get her season off to a winning start in Xiamen and her competition again includes Britton Wilson and Sada Williams.
<h2>Olympic champions Barega and Chemutai in action</h2>
Ethiopia&rsquo;s Olympic 10,000m champion Barega ended his indoor season with world indoor 3000m bronze. Now he opens his outdoor campaign in the 5000m, where his competition includes his compatriot Nibret Melak and Kenya&rsquo;s world cross country bronze medallist Benson Kiplangat.
Uganda&rsquo;s Peruth Chemutai is another Olympic champion in action and she goes up against world record-holder Beatrice Chepkoech, world bronze medallist Jackline Chepkoech and world U20 silver medallist Sembo Almayew in the 3000m steeplechase.
The men&rsquo;s 800m features two-time Commonwealth Games winner Wyclife Kinyamal and Tshepiso Masalela, who were second and third in Xiamen, plus 2022 world silver medallist Djamel Sedjati.
The women&rsquo;s 5000m is not a Diamond League event this time but it still features a formidable field, with 2022 world 10,000m champion and world record-holder Letesenbet Gidey racing World Athletics Rising Star Faith Cherotich, the world 3000m steeplechase bronze medallist.
Jess Whittington for World Athletics

One week on from his world record-breaking performance at the opening Wanda Diamond League meeting of the season in Xiamen, Mondo Duplantis will be among the athletes in action when competition continues in Suzhou

After world record-breaking start, stars head to Suzhou

In the latest episode of the <a href="https://worldathletics.org/videos/playlist/latest-videos/662a2005724dc9e57062b505" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://worldathletics.org/videos/playlist/latest-videos/662a2005724dc9e57062b505">World Athletics Inside Track Podcast</a>, released today (25), 2013 world 110m hurdles gold medallist David Oliver shares insight into his journey as an athlete and coach.
As well as being the 2013 world champion, USA&rsquo;s Oliver claimed Olympic 110m hurdles bronze in Beijing in 2008 and world indoor 60m hurdles bronze in Doha in 2010. His PB of 12.89 set in 2010 places him sixth on the world 110m hurdles all-time list.
Since his retirement from competition, he has gone on to become the Director of Track &amp; Field at Howard University.
<div><a href="https://worldathletics.org/videos/playlist/latest-videos/662a2005724dc9e57062b505" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/662a1ede724dc9e57062b502.jpg" alt="DavidOlvier" /></a>
&nbsp;
</div>
<h3> On his highlights from when he was competing:</h3>
&ldquo;I feel like my favourite part was the hanging out part. Going to these meets and just hanging out. The camaraderie with the athletes, no matter what their country was. And of course, competing. The only part I miss now is standing on the start line and they say &lsquo;on your marks&rsquo;. You just get that feeling. I love that feeling.&rdquo; 
<h3>On his experience on the circuit as an athlete compared to being a coach:</h3>
&ldquo;Being a team coach is very different and I have even more respect than I had already for our staff with Team USA and USA Track &amp; Field because this is non-stop. When you&rsquo;re competing, you get a sheet saying &lsquo;the bus leaves at this time, the call room is this time&rsquo; and then I&rsquo;d go back to the hotel and do whatever I wanted to do. But for the staff, it&rsquo;s never ending. Now I&rsquo;m a part of that, it&rsquo;s like &lsquo;wow&rsquo;.&rdquo; 
<h3>On his transition from athlete to coach:</h3>
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s been fun. I never thought I would be doing that at all. We&rsquo;re all medallists and we&rsquo;ve been around the world, so we can impart that knowledge. I always believe the athletes make the coach. Who&rsquo;s the best coach in the world? Who knows. Probably whoever has access to the better talent. Everybody can be great, if you&rsquo;re willing to put your heart into it. I was good as an athlete, I figured I&rsquo;d be good as a coach or whatever I&rsquo;m doing because I&rsquo;m going to put everything I have into it. You get the right athletes &ndash; the ones that listen, that want to. We can always teach people what to do, when to do and how to do something, but the want to do has to come from the athlete.&rdquo; 
This latest series of the Inside Track Podcast launched earlier this year and features a host of track and field&rsquo;s biggest names and much-loved personalities. In this episode, Oliver is in conversation with multiple Olympic and world gold medallist Sanya Richards-Ross and two-time Olympic heptathlon bronze medallist Kelly Sotherton.
Episodes are available via all the usual podcast platforms &ndash; including on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/inside-track-the-official-podcast-of-world-athletics/id1733061742" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/inside-track-the-official-podcast-of-world-athletics/id1733061742">Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6OGo4XNfgZ3GSiXes6OO8u?si=c976714bf56b4d18" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6OGo4XNfgZ3GSiXes6OO8u?si=c976714bf56b4d18">Spotify</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;the <a href="https://podcast.sport-social.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://podcast.sport-social.co.uk/">Sport Social Podcast Network</a> &ndash; while fans can also watch the show on the <a href="https://worldathletics.org/videos" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://worldathletics.org/videos">World Athletics website</a>.
With an evolving presenter line-up for each event, the podcast will be in attendance when the World Athletics Relays returns to The Bahamas in May. Later in the year, an all-star cast will provide reaction to the events at the Olympic Games in Paris.
Find it all on <a href="https://worldathletics.org/inside-track" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://worldathletics.org/inside-track">Inside Track</a>.

2013 world 110m hurdles gold medallist David Oliver shares insight into his journey as an athlete and coach

WRE Bahamas 24 preview: scene set for mixed 4x400m showdown

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WRE Bahamas 24 preview: clash of global title-winning teams in men's 4x100m