The 2025 Diamond League calendar began with pulsating action in the port city of Xiamen in Southeast China on April 26.

World-beating athletes led by triple 1500m Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon, reigning 200m Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo and the returning 200m world champion Shericka Jackson trooped to China for the opening round of the lucrative event.

The athletes didn't disappoint with Kipyegon coming agonisingly close to breaking the 1000m world record. It was her third stab at the unconventional distance, with the current world record standing at 2:28.98 set by Russian Svetlana Masterkova in 1996. Kipyegon crossed the line with 2:29:21 to prolong her wait for the world record.

Omanyala continued his good form in the early season, finishing second in the 100m race. World indoor medalist and Omanyala's rival, Akani Simbine, won the race, posting another sub-10 days after beating Omanyala at the Botswana Grand Prix.

The fastest man in Africa clocked 10.13, but despite failing to dip below 10 seconds, the result was impressive given how star-studded the field was. Former world champion Cristian Coleman and Tebogo failed to finish in the podium places.

The other race saw newly minted Kenya's Sports Personality of the Year, Beatrice Chebet, make light work of the women's 5000m field. The Olympic champion used a time of 14:27:12, beating Ethiopian contingent led by Gudaf Tsegay.

There has been much talk about the prize money athletes get in such tournaments. The Diamond League increased their prize money to 9.24 million USD.

Winners will earn up to 10,000 USD in the normal race and up to 30,000 USD in the final. There will also be a select number of Diamond+ Disciplines, in which athletes can earn higher prize money.

Each Diamond League event will name its special disciplines in advance, where athletes will earn more money. Winners will get 20,000 USD in this category and 50,000 USD in the final.

The special events in Xiamen were 5000m Women, High Jump Women, 110m Hurdles Men, and Pole Vault Men.

"The Wanda Diamond League remains committed to rewarding the athletes more, whilst at the same time ensuring the long-term sustainability of the series, so it continues to provide vital competition to the athletes for many more years to come,” said Petr Stastny, the CEO of Diamond League.

Kipyegon got 10,000 USD (approximately 1.2 million Kenya shillings) for winning her race, while Omanyala walked away with 6,000 USD (777,000 Kenya shillings).

Chebet earned more than her compatriots as her 5000m race was in the Diamond+ Disciplines, which meant that a win brought her 20,000 USD (approximately 2.5 million Kenya shillings).

Track and field enthusiasts won't have to wait long as the action heads to Shanghai next weekend. After Shanghai, they will head to Doha, Qatar, in mid-May before coming to Rabat on May 25 for the only stop on African soil.

had earlier reported that Agnes Jebet broke the women's only 10-kilometre record at the Road to Records event in Germany.

Jebet became the first woman to dip under 30 minutes, crossing the line with 29:27 to break the previous record held by slain athlete Agnes Tirop.

Jebet also holds the world's record (28:46) in the mixed race, won the race by more than a minute.

Source: TUKO.co.ke