2025 Diamond League Kicks Off in Xiamen: Results, Kenyan Performances, Schedule, and Prize Money Updates

The 2025 Wanda Diamond League, the sixteenth season of the world’s premier track and field series, launched with a thrilling opener on April 26, 2025, at Egret Stadium in Xiamen, China. Featuring 14 disciplines, the meet showcased global stars, including Olympic champions and world record holders, setting the stage for a competitive season leading to the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September.

Xiamen Diamond League 2025: Full Results and Top 3 Performances

The Xiamen meet featured 14 events (seven men’s and seven women’s), with four designated as Diamond+ Disciplines (men’s 110m hurdles, men’s pole vault, women’s 5000m, and women’s high jump), offering doubled prize money for first place. Below are the top three finishers in each event, including times, records, and nationalities, compiled from available reports.

Men’s Events

100m

1. Akani Simbine (South Africa) – 9.99 seconds

2. Ferdinand Omanyala (Kenya) – 10.13 seconds

3. Jeremiah Azu (Great Britain) – 10.17 seconds

400m

1. Bayapo Ndori (Botswana) – 44.25 seconds

2. Christopher Bailey (USA) – 44.27 seconds

3. Busang Kebinatshipi (Botswana) – 44.53 seconds

300m Hurdles

1. Karsten Warholm (Norway) – 33.05 seconds

2. Matheus Lima (Brazil) – 33.98 seconds

3. Ken Toyoda (Japan) – 34.22 seconds

3000m Steeplechase

1. Samuel Firewu (Ethiopia) – 8:05.61

2. Soufiane El Bakkali (Morocco) – 8:06.66

3. Simon Koech (Kenya) – 8:07.12

Long Jump

1. Zhang Mingkun (China) – 8.18 meters

2. Liam Adcock (Australia) – 8.15 meters

3. Marquis Dendy (USA) – 8.10 meters

Women’s Events

200m

1. Anavia Battle (USA) – 22.41 seconds

2. Shericka Jackson (Jamaica) – 22.79 seconds

3. Jenna Prandini (USA) – 22.97 seconds

1000m

1. Faith Kipyegon (Kenya) – 2:29.21

2. Abbey Caldwell (Australia) – 2:32.94

3. Sarah Billings (Australia) – 2:33.45

100m Hurdles

1. Danielle Williams (Jamaica) – 12.53 seconds

2. Grace Stark (USA) – 12.58 seconds

3. Marione Fourie (South Africa) – 12.62 seconds

Shot Put

1. Jessica Schilder (Netherlands) – 20.47 meters

2. Chase Jackson (USA) – 20.31 meters

3. Gong Lijao (China) – 19.62 meters

Discus Throw

1. Valarie Allman (USA) – 68.95 meters

2. Yaime Pérez (Cuba) – 66.26 meters

3. Laulauga Tausaga (USA) – 64.91 meters

Kenyan Performances in Xiamen

Kenya had three athletes competing in Xiamen, with standout performances in the women’s events:

Faith Kipyegon (Women’s 1000m) : Kipyegon’s 2:29.21 was a highlight, setting a new African record and meeting record. Her time, just 0.23 seconds off the world record, signals her intent to chase a historic sub-four-minute mile later in 2025. She earned 8 points toward the Diamond League final and $10,000 (1,300,000 KES).

Beatrice Chebet (Women’s 5000m) : Chebet’s 14:27.12 was a commanding performance, earning a meeting record, world lead, and 8 points. As a Diamond+ Discipline, her victory secured $20,000 (2,600,000 KES), reinforcing her dominance in distance events.

Ferdinand Omanyala (Men’s 100m) : Omanyala’s 2nd-place finish (10.13 seconds) was respectable but below his African record of 9.77. It’s a good start to his long and stacked season. He earned 4 points and $2,000 (260,000 KES), facing stiff competition from Coleman and Tebogo.

Avinash Sable (Men’s 3000m Steeplechase) : Sable, representing Kenya, struggled, finishing 13th (8:22.59), far from his personal best. He earned no points or prize money, marking a disappointing start to his season.

2025 Diamond League Schedule

The 2025 Diamond League comprises 15 meetings across four continents, culminating in a two-day final in Zürich. Below is the full schedule, including name, city, country, and dates:

1. Xiamen Diamond League – Xiamen, China – April 26, 2025

2. Shanghai/Keqiao Diamond League – Shaoxing, China – May 3, 2025

3. Doha Diamond League – Doha, Qatar – May 9, 2025

4. Rabat/Marrakech Diamond League – Marrakech, Morocco – May 18, 20255. Stockholm Diamond League – Stockholm, Sweden – May 25, 2025

6. Paris Diamond League – Paris, France – June 7, 2025

7. Oslo Diamond League – Oslo, Norway – June 12, 2025

8. Eugene Diamond League (Prefontaine Classic) – Eugene, USA – July 5, 2025

9. Monaco Diamond League – Monaco – July 11, 2025

10. London Diamond League – London, United Kingdom – July 19, 2025

11. Lausanne Diamond League – Lausanne, Switzerland – August 7, 2025

12. Silesia Diamond League – Chorzów, Poland – August 10, 2025

13. Rome Diamond League (Golden Gala) – Rome, Italy – August 14, 2025

14. Brussels Diamond League – Brussels, Belgium – August 22, 2025

15. Diamond League Final (Weltklasse Zürich) – Zürich, Switzerland – August 27-28, 2025

The season’s earlier conclusion (August instead of September) accommodates the World Athletics Championships (September 13-21, 2025). The schedule includes new venues, such as Shaoxing replacing Shanghai, reflecting the league’s global expansion.

Prize Money Changes for 2025

The 2025 Diamond League has introduced significant prize money enhancements, with a total prize pot of $9.24 million (1,201,200,000 KES), the highest in its history. Key changes include:

Regular Season Meets : Each of the 14 regular meets distributes $500,000 (65,000,000 KES) across events. Standard disciplines award $10,000 (1,300,000 KES) for first place, with $25,000 (3,250,000 KES) total per event distributed among the top eight (e.g., $10,000, $6,000, $4,000, $3,000, $2,000, $1,500, $1,000, $500).

Diamond+ Disciplines : Introduced in 2025, each meet nominates four Diamond+ Disciplines (two men’s, two women’s), doubling the first-place prize to $20,000 (2,600,000 KES). In Xiamen, these were men’s 110m hurdles, men’s pole vault, women’s 5000m, and women’s high jump. Total prize money per Diamond+ event remains $25,000, with adjusted distributions for lower places.

Diamond League Final : The Zürich final awards $30,000 (3,900,000 KES) for first place in standard disciplines, with $50,000 (6,500,000 KES) for Diamond+ disciplines. An additional $30,000 per event is distributed among finalists, with a total final payout of approximately $2.24 million (291,200,000 KES).

Overall Increase : The $9.24 million total prize pool reflects a slight increase from 2024, driven by the Diamond+ initiative and heightened competition with events like Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track, which offers $100,000 per event winner.

The Diamond+ Disciplines enhance earning potential for top athletes, particularly in high-profile events, while maintaining the points-based qualification system (8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1) for the final. For Kenyan athletes like Chebet, who won a Diamond+ event, the increased prize money translates to significant earnings (2,600,000 KES for her 5000m win).

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