Elite Kenyan athletes (from left) Faith Kipyegon, Ferdinand Omanyala and Faith Cherotich.
Shanghai Diamond League, the opening leg of the World Athletics series which will be held today in China, has attracted a star-studded field as athletes look to start their outdoor season with a bang.
Traditionally, the Diamond League series begins in Doha, Qatar, but this year’s calendar was adjusted following the USA-Israel war with Iran. The Doha meet has been moved to June 19.
The Wanda Diamond League is the world’s top athletics series and comprises 15 meetings in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America.
The series also offers athletes a unique platform to compete consistently at the highest level across a wide range of disciplines.
Faith Kipyegon of Kenya reacts after winning the women's 1,500m race in a world record time of 3:48.68 during the 50th Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field on July 5, 2025.
In 32 events, athletes accumulate points over the 14 series meetings in a race to qualify for the two-day Wanda Diamond League Final, where the season’s champions will be crowned.
Multiple Olympics and World 1,500m champion Faith Kipyegon will headline the 5,000m race. The Kenyan golden girl is not new to the 5,000m race.
She earned a silver in the race at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo where she also won the women’s 1,500m gold.
“We have been out of competition for a long period but it’s now serious business. Basically, I’m also competing to enjoy the season as we focus on the World Athletics Ultimate Championships in September,” said Kipyegon.
World Athletics Ultimate Championship is a new, biennial track and field event designed to crown an undisputed season champion. The inaugural edition will take place at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary, from September 11–13.
The 5,000m will be an additional event in Shanghai, meaning Kipyegon, who has a personal best of 14:05.20, will not earn points for the Diamond League standings.
She will race against compatriots Caroline Nyaga (personal best 14:30.14) and Maureen Chebor (14:50.68).
They better watch out for Ethiopians Hawi Abera (14:49.70), Mizan Alem (14:46.20), Marta Alemayo (14:34.46), Likina Amebaw (14:30.54), Chaltu Dida (14:27.11) and Medina Eisa.
Kenya's Faith Cherotich celebrates after winning the women's 3000m steeplechase race at the Doha Diamond League on May 16, 2025.
The 3,000m steeplechase world champion Faith Cherotich who has a personal best of 8:48.71 will also be featuring in her first race this season in Shanghai.
She will face 2020 Olympics champion Peruth Chemutai (8:48.03) from Uganda and Kenyan-born Kazakhstani Norah Jeruto (8:53.2), Ethiopians Kena Tufa (9:31.72), Alemnat Walle (9:06.88) among other top athletes.
The African record holder Ferdinand Omanyala, who has a personal best of 9.77, will feature in the 100m against a stacked field that includes South Africa’s Akani Simbine (9.82), Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo (9.86), and Americans Kenneth Bednarek (9.79), Trayvon Bromell (9.76) and Christian Coleman (9.76), easily among the fastest men in the world.
Ferdinand Omanyala wins the 100m men race during World Continental Gold Tour Kipkeino Classic at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on April 24, 2026.
The 3,000m men’s race has attracted 2019 World 1,500m champion Timothy Cheruiyot (7:36.72), former World junior champion Reynold Cheruiyot (7:38.83), Cornelius Kemboi (7:31.26), Ishmael Kipkurui (7:38.06), Boaz Kiprugut (7:58.18), Mathew Kipsang (7:33.23), Jacob Krop (7:28.83) and Edwin Kurgat (7:28.53).
Over the past 15 years, the Diamond League has invested more than $300 million in its athletes, with $18 million a year spent on prize money and promotional fees, and a further $ 6 million on athlete services such as transport, accommodation and medical care.
In 2025, the total prize money pool was increased to $9.24 million (about Sh1.195 billion) – the highest level in the series’ history.
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