By Aderonke Ojo
Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan lost her women’s 100m hurdles world record on a remarkable night in Zurich as the 2026 Weltklasse Zürich Diamond League produced two world records and several outstanding performances.
American Olympic champion Masai Russell ended Amusan’s four-year reign as the world-record holder after storming to 12.09 seconds, taking three hundredths of a second off the Nigerian’s previous mark of 12.12 seconds.
Amusan, who set the world record at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, finished third in 12.23 seconds, her season’s best, while Dutch hurdler Nadine Visser was second in 12.34 seconds.
Despite surrendering her world record, Amusan remains the African record holder and underlined her return to top form with her fastest performance of the season.
Dos Santos Breaks 400m Hurdles World Record
Earlier in the programme, Brazil’s Alison dos Santos produced the first world record of the evening in the men’s 400m hurdles.
Dos Santos clocked a stunning 45.80 seconds, lowering the previous world record and continuing his remarkable 2026 campaign.
Norway’s Karsten Warholm finished second in 46.69 seconds, while Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel posted 47.50 seconds to finish third.
The performances of Dos Santos and Russell made Zurich only the latest major athletics meeting to witness multiple world records on the same night.
Alfred Edges Jefferson-Wooden in Photo Finish
Saint Lucia’s Olympic champion Julien Alfred won a thrilling women’s 100m race after edging American Melissa Jefferson-Wooden.
Both athletes were initially credited with 10.70 seconds, but Alfred was declared the winner by just five-thousandths of a second.
The performance gave Alfred a new Saint Lucian national record, while Jefferson-Wooden settled for second. Sha’Carri Richardson finished third in 10.97 seconds.
Werro Sets Swiss Record in 800m
Swiss home favourite Audrey Werro delighted the Letzigrund crowd with a spectacular victory in the women’s 800m.
Werro clocked 1:53.70, setting a new Swiss national record as well as a Diamond League and meeting record.
Her performance was one of the major highlights of the night outside the two world-record runs.
Bednarek Produces World-Leading 200m
American Kenny Bednarek continued his impressive season by winning the men’s 200m in 19.62 seconds.
The time moved Bednarek to the top of the 2026 world rankings, while South Africa’s Sinesipho Dambile finished second in 19.82 seconds and Canada’s Andre De Grasse was third in 20.03 seconds.
Pathirage Fires 92.07m in Javelin
Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage delivered one of the biggest field-event performances of the meeting, winning the men’s javelin with a massive 92.07m throw.
Grenada’s Anderson Peters was second with 86.93m, while Poland’s Dawid Wegner finished third with 85.16m.
Hocker Wins Tight 1500m
American Olympic champion Cole Hocker claimed victory in the men’s 1500m after a dramatic finish.
Hocker clocked 3:31.71, narrowly beating Kenya’s Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech, who finished in 3:31.84, while American Yared Nuguse was third in 3:31.85.
Norwegian superstar Jakob Ingebrigtsen finished fifth.
Other Major Zurich Results
Men’s Shot Put
Jordan Geist (USA) – 22.53m
Rajindra Campbell (JAM) – second
Leonardo Fabbri (ITA) – third
Women’s 100m
Julien Alfred (LCA) – 10.70 NR
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (USA) – 10.70
Sha’Carri Richardson (USA) – 10.97
Men’s 200m
Kenny Bednarek (USA) – 19.62 WL
Sinesipho Dambile (RSA) – 19.82
Andre De Grasse (CAN) – 20.03
Men’s 400m Hurdles
Alison dos Santos (BRA) – 45.80 WR
Karsten Warholm (NOR) – 46.69
Ezekiel Nathaniel (NGR) – 47.50
Women’s 100m Hurdles
Masai Russell (USA) – 12.09 WR
Nadine Visser (NED) – 12.34
Tobi Amusan (NGR) – 12.23 SB
Men’s Javelin
Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage (SRI) – 92.07m
Anderson Peters (GRN) – 86.93m
Dawid Wegner (POL) – 85.16m
The Zurich meeting marked the final regular-season stop of the 2026 Wanda Diamond League, with the action now moving towards the Diamond League Final in Brussels.
For Nigeria, the performances of Amusan and Nathaniel provided notable positives on a historic night that will be remembered for Russell and Dos Santos rewriting the world-record books.
