By: Angus Barnes
Published on: Aug 26, 2025
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Looking down the start lists for the Zurich Diamond League finals it appeared everything was as per the qualifying tables.
The first day listed the Australians who had gained enough points to qualify during the season (explainer here). In the high jump (early morning Thursday aest), the fabulous duo Nicola Olyslagers & Eleanor Patterson fly once again. Olyslagers amazingly in her sixth straight final, with second in the last two years, and will be keen for that crown. Currently ahead 4-3 in this year’s head-to-head against Mahuchikh. Patterson in her third final, with a best of fourth, is always ready to surprise.
Kurtis Marschall had his first pole vault final back in 2018, but had to wait until 2023 for his second, where he finished fourth. Now in his third and definitely will be pushing for the podium.
Not sure of the stats on debutant Diamond League athletes topping the points for the season but that’s what Liam Adcock achieved in the long jump and with style. His last jump victory in Rome was a classic and we’d love to see that again for the title.
Then the day two start lists come out. Matthew Denny first up of the Australians, competing against the disc throwing collective: Alekna, Ceh & Stahl. Denny always finds something extra in the final: he has three Diamond League wins in total, but two of those were for the championship ('23, '24). He attempts to become only the fifth man in Diamond League history to win 3 consecutive titles in a field event. Also the first Australian to win three Diamond League titles (Nina Kennedy has two).
Next the women’s 3000m, remembering they have cut the 5000m races back to the shorter distance. Who do we see – Rose Davies and Georgia Griffith! That’s a nice surprise. Rose was ranked 16th & Georgia 24th; talk about a ‘roll down’! Interesting they’ll be competing against Fantaye Belayneh who visited Australia during the summer and just beat Griffith in the 3000m at the Maurie Plant meet. Given both of them have gone to new levels over 5000m this year, this is one to watch.
Two Australians also racing the 1500m, Jessica Hull & Linden Hall. There will be no Faith Kipyegon so we’ll see the first new champion since 2019. On times, Hull is the fastest and Hall just keeps improving. Another one to watch, and with Catriona Bisset on the pacing duties.
Given the strength of Australian women’s middle distance, the wild card entry for the World Championships for the winner has huge significance in these two events, as the additional fourth spot can be easily filled with a qualified athlete.
Mackenzie Little earned her finals spot in the wet at Lausanne and will throw in the last field event Friday morning in her third final and looking to improve on her third in 2023.
The men’s 1500m is unfortunately missing Cameron Myers who qualified but has decided not to run. It will still be a cracker of a race with Yared Nuguse trying to get the wild card entry against a top quality field, including the exciting 20-year-old Neils Laros.
Sarah Billings has been selected to run the 1500m at the World Championships but will run her first Diamond League final over 800m. Without Keely Hodgkinson the field is looking more even, with season bests ranging between 1:56 to 1:57. Billing’s strength & speed over the last 100m could be a factor.
2025 has been one of Australia’s best Diamond League seasons:
- equal most podiums (31) cf 2024 (31)
- most athletes scoring points (26) cf 2023 (23)
- highest total points scored (306) cf 2024 (274)
So not surprising there is a record 11 athletes competing in the final. The best Australian result in the finals is four podiums, including two wins (2024), and its looking likely this will be challenged.
Previous Diamond League Champions
2011 Mitchell Watt Long Jump
2016 Fabice Lapierre Long Jump
2018 Brandon Starc High Jump
2023 Matthew Denny Discus
2024 Matthew Denny Discus
2017 Sally Pearson 100m Hurdles
2022 Nina Kennedy Pole Vault
2024 Nina Kennedy Pole Vault
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