DIAMOND LEAGUE DOMINANCE

The 2016 IAAF Diamond League season came to a close with finals in Zurich and Brussels over the past two weekends, with a thrilling summer of Diamond Race action drawing to a superb climax.

As the 32 Diamond Race winners make space on the mantelpiece for their Diamond Race Trophies, we take a look at how each of them won the competition during the course of the summer.

Eight athletes who won the Diamond Trophy last season managed to successfully defend their title in 2016.

In the men’s 200m, Alonso Edward waltzed to a third consecutive victory, finishing in the top three at each of the seven rounds. It was Diamond Trophy number two for high jumper Ruth Beitia, meanwhile, who defended her title equally as comfortably, while Asbel Kiprop held Elijah Manangoi at arm’s length for much of the season, eventually winning the men’s 1,500m by 14 points.

Muktar Edris looked a sure bet to win his first Diamond Trophy for most of the season, but failed to win any points from the last three rounds, allowing Hagos Gebrhiwet to dislodge him from the top of the standings with a win at the Zurich final of the men’s 5,000m

The most dramatic finish, though, came in the women’s 1500m. Trailing Faith Kipyegon for most of the season, Britain’s Laura Muir beat her Kenyan rival in Paris and then overtook the Olympic champion on the final bend in Zurich, only to be beaten over the line at the last minute by Shannon Rowbury. Kipyegon, meanwhile, had slipped to seventh on the night, meaning second place was just enough for Muir to win the overall title.

The 2016 season had its fair share of Diamond Race duels. Stephenie-Ann McPherson and Natasha Hastings vied all summer long for top spot in the women’s 400m, before McPherson eventually won the Trophy by finishing ahead of Hastings in Brussels.

Ruth Jebet was also unable to shake off Hyvin Kiyeng in the women’s 3000m steeplechase. Only at the final in Zurich did the new world record-holder complete a perfect season with the Diamond Trophy.

Ferguson Cheruiyot Rotich dominated the early season in the men’s 800m, and managed to hold off a late challenge from Pierre-Ambroise Bosse with top-four finishes at each of the last three rounds. Joe Kovacs meanwhile, looked certain to defend his 2015 title for much of the season, before being shocked by Tom Walsh in the last few contests. The New Zealander won in Paris and Zurich to pip Kovacs to the men’s shot put title.

Several athletes were dominant all summer long. Conseslus Kipruto regained his 2013 title in an extraordinarily dominant season in the men’s 3000m steeplechase, while Almaz Ayana (5000m), Ivana Spanovic (long jump), Madara Palameika (javelin) and Ekaterini Stefanidi (pole vault) topped the standings from start to finish, as they each won their first ever Diamond Trophy.

In the women’s 800m, Caster Semenya dominated for much of the season, holding off Francine Niyonsaba in the later stages to win the title.

The most striking newcomer of all, though, was Kendra Harrison. In an extraordinary season, the 100m hurdler failed to make the US Olympic team, broke a world record, and won at seven IAAF Diamond League meetings to bulldoze her way through the Diamond Race.