Counting down to the Diamond League Final ... who's in the mix?
Angus Barnes | Aug 22, 2025
With three Diamond League meetings happening over the next week, the rolling updates in this article will track Australian athletes in their attempts to qualify for the Diamond League Final (Zurich 27-28 August). An explainer on the Diamond League can be found here.
Update 22nd August
Outcomes from Lausanne
In atrocious conditions the athletes must have been thinking of competing without getting injured, as well as striving for times, height and distance. Summary of results here.
In terms of finals qualification, Mackenzie Little was in the hot seat (or rainy runway?). Needing a 6th place or better, plus beating one of her rivals, she probably thought after her first throw of 56.15m that it was a good start but would need to improve. As it happened, and as the rain got heavier, that throw ending up giving her 5th place, which meant she qualifies 5th for the final.
Already finals qualified athetes had a hit out with Nicola Olyslagers winning in a three-way tie off one clearance at 1.91m, Eleanor Patterson 4th on a countback with the same height. Liam Adcock, 8th in the long jump, and Kurtis Marschall, no height in the pole vault, will both turn their focus now to Zurich,
The result of the 800m, in which Claudia Hollingsworth finished 7th in 1:58.81, confirmed Sarah Billings has qualified at this distance for the final.
The women's 4x100m relay team (Connolly, Rizzo, Edwards, Lewis) managed to get a slippery baton around the track in 43.24, ahead of Cote D'Ivoire, although both these teams look to have sewn up the last two qualifying spots for World Championships.
The calendar waits for no-one, and we have Brussels on early tomorrow morning. Matthew Denny probably just needs a legal discus throw to confirm his qualification, while Linden Hall has a bit more work to qualify for the 1500m.
There's a range of scenarios in the women's 1500m as to who qualifies given a number of women at the top of points table are not competing (including Jessica Hull). In summary, it appears if Hall can finish in the top 6 and beat one of the USA athletes she'll likely qualify. A 7th or 8th placing could still see her through to the final depending on other placings. Interestingly Faith Kipyegon will not qualify for the final, meaning we'll have a new women's 1500m DL champion for the first time since 2019.
In summary, Australia has six athletes qualified for the final:
High Jump: Nicola Olyslagers & Eleanor Patterson
Long Jump: Liam Adcock
Pole Vault: Kurtis Marschall
Javelin: Mackenzie Little
800m: Sarah Billings
Two competing in Brussels can seal their qualification:
Discus: Matthew Denny
1500m: Linden Hall
And two are sitting Brussels out but are likely to qualify:
1500m: Jessica Hull
1500m: Cameron Myers
Update 20th August
Outcomes from Silesia
Linden Hall and Cameron Myers gained some valuable DL points with 6th place finishes. This pushes Myers into a relatively safe spot for finals qualification and moves Linden Hall, who also PB'ed, into a finals qualifying spot - see Brussels section below.
Claudia Hollingsworth's 800m Area Record was a highlight, with Abbey Caldwell very close behind in a PB. Hollingsworth has been added to the DL 800m in Lausanne. Kurtis Marschall again tests the six metre mark and finishes 3rd.
Jessica Hull ran the 4th fastest time ever for 2000m in pacing Faith Kipyegon's 3000m WR attempt. Lauren Ryan is in peak form, running her 3rd PB in a row, this time over 3000m. Rose Davies finished a very credible 4th, with Georgia Griffith in 7th.
Oliver Hoare & Catriona Bisset have both commented their training form is not being reflected in their race results - both go again early Thursday morning.
The event with most significance early Thursday morning (aest) will be the Women's Javelin, with Mackenzie Little flying in to compete. Little currently sits in 7th and in order to move into the final's qualifying top 6, needs to finish at least 6th in this event and beat one of Ruiz Hurtado or Sietina. Perhaps more importantly in the lead up to the World Championships, Little will be hoping to find that 60m+ form that made her such a force in this event over the past few years.
Another event with potential ramifications is the non-DL women's "B" 800m in which Catriona Bisset & Bendere Oboya are racing. There's a chance this is something of a head-to-head before the Australian World Championships team is selected next week, with one 800m spot still up for grabs.
Claudia Hollingsworth gets a start in the DL 800m event, a great test in a quality field with many likely World Championship finalists. The result of this event will not impact Sarah Billings current DL final qualifying spot for the 800m.
Jack Rayner goes in the 5000m (with Jude Thomas pacing). Rayner's first 5000m since he ran his sub-13 minute PB indoors and then unfortunately had an injury derail his outdoor season. Another reason to keep an eye on this event is the potential for results to impact Seth O'Donnell's qualification chances for World Championships - see more here.
The Australian Women 4x100m relay team will race at the end of the program against quality European teams and Cote D'Ivoire. Sitting in 15th spot of 16, as one of only two time qualifiers, this race could have assisted a non-qualified country to challenge Australia's qualification time of 42.48 However, all teams running are qualified, except for Cote D'Ivoire which is listed at 16/16. Therefore Australia is safe in this race (team listed is Ella Connolly, Kristie Edwards, Georgia Harris, Torrie Lewis), and will then hope a country does not have a fast relay during the few remaining National Championships this weekend. If they qualify, Australia will have all relay teams running at the World Championships!
Also competing are Australia's already DL final qualified athletes, Nicola Olyslagers & Eleanor Patterson in the high jump, Liam Adcock in the long jump & Kurtis Marschall in the street pole vault.
The startlists for the final DL event are out. Australia has only two athletes competing but others will be keeping a close eye on results regarding potential finals qualification.
Matthew Denny returns to Europe for the discus event and will face all the other men currently in the world top 5. Denny just needs to finish in the top 8 to qualify for the final for his fourth time, being crowned Diamond League champion the previous two years.
Linden Hall goes again in the 1500m after her PB in Silesia with work to do to make sur she finishes top 10.
Cameron Myers will not compete in the mens 1500m, but looks to be safe in his current 7th spot, given there's only 3 men in the race who could pass him on points.
Australia's record year at the Diamond League
So if all goes well for the Australians over these next two meets we could see ten athletes qualifying for the Diamond League final this year in Zurich 27-28 August, which would equal 2023 as the most ever. It has already been a record year in terms of most number of Australians competing at a Diamond League and scoring points, the most total points scored in a year and the most number of podiums.
Update 16th August
Athletes who have Qualified
In the women's high jump, it will be no surprise that Eleanor Patterson and Nicola Olyslagers have qualified. This will be Patterson's 3rd final (best 4th in 2024) while Olyslagers has competed in every final since 2019 (two seconds & two thirds).
You wouldn't think this was Liam Adcock's debut Diamond League year - he took 2nd in Xiamen and then a stunning last jump win in Rome to lead the long jump standings where he's remained.
Kurtis Marschall vaulted his first DL final in 2018, but his second wasn't until 2023. He goes again looking to improve on the 4th two years ago.
By my calculations Sarah Billings has qualified for the 800m final, based on the startlist running in Lausanne where only three athletes can pass Billings who currently sits in 5th so will finish in the top 8.
There's a number of non Diamond League events on the program in Silesia in which Australians are competing. While non-point scoring they are of interest regarding form in the lead up to the World Championships.
In the 3000m Jessica Hull will be pacing Faith Kipyegon's World Record attempt. Given Georgia Griffith's current form it wouldn't surprise if she gives her own Australian record of 8:24.20 a scare. Rose Davies & Lauren Ryan also racing the 3000m in what could be a historic event.
The other non-scoring track event for Australians is the 800m where Abbey Caldwell & Claudia Hollingsworth, both already selected for the World Championships. The third spot for WCH 800m is still up for grabs, and this is the last chance for Catriona Bisset to make a strong claim with a sub-2 minute performance.
On the Friday there will be three non-scoring events in the Katowice town square including a high jump in which Nicola Olyslagers is competing.
So what of the scoring events?
With a finals birth already locked, Kurtis Marschall goes in the pole vault with freedom to test the limits.
Which leaves the 1500m events where points will be crucial. Sarah Billings and Linden Hall compete in the womens event. Hall is the 3rd most prolific Australian at the Diamond League, just behind Stewart McSweyn and Ryan Gregson, and closing in on 50 appearances - a phenomenal record. She'll need all her experience to navigate this highly competitive field, and needs good points here and in Brussels to qualify for the final (currently 16th). Likewise for Billings who is currently 11th, but may decide to focus on the 800m after this meet.
In the mens, Cameron Myers is currently 6th and will be looking for good points to protect this position to stay top 10. Oliver Hoare also goes in the 1500m and while he is out of finals contention, would love to go sub-3:30, as will Myers. Is Hoare's Australian record (3:29.41) under threat?
Seven Australians currently listed to compete in what are all scoring events. Nicola Olyslagers and Eleanor Patterson down for the high jump which is the last before the Zurich and with 7 of the top 10 in the world competing, and an important competition before World Championships. Of her 34 DIamond League appearances, Olyslagers has finished on the podium 28 times, an incredible conversion ratio, and the most podiums of any Australian.
Another guaranteed finalist, Liam Adcock, will compete in the long jump. Currently ranked 5th in the world, he competes against those ranked 1-4, so would love to make a statement before the DL final and the World Championships.
Kurtis Marschall vaults the day before in a city pole vault event. With no Duplantis listed, it gives a chance for Marschall (ranked #4 in the world), to perhaps grab the win.
The women's javelin is where it gets really interesting with Mackenzie Little currently 7th. To move into 6th and grab a finals spot, Little needs to finish at least 6th and beat one of Ruiz Hurtado or Sietina.
Recovered from injuries, Jack Rayner goes in the 5000m (with Jude Thomas pacing), and will be keen to make advances back to his sub-13 minute form.
No startlists yet for Brussels, but the following events will impact Australian finals possibilities.
Men
Discus: we're likely to see Matt Denny return who sits 3rd and as good as qualified.
High Jump: if Yual Reath (currently 10th) can get an entry he'd likely need to finish top 3 to have a chance of a final's birth
1500m: depending what happens in Silesia likely Cameron Myers will still need to protect his finals position.
Women
1500m: depending on Silesia Linden Hall and possibly Sarah Billings could still be in the mix. Jessica Hull may need to run to ensure her finals spot.
5000m: Linden Hall is also currently 9th for the 5000m based on her 3000m win in Stockholm. Has World Champs qualifying standards for both 1500m & 5000m, but four others do in each event, so no certainty on which event Hall will be competing in at World Championships until after 24th August which makes her choice difficult. Rose Davies currently sits 13th for the 5000m, but only 1 point from 10th & 3 points from 6th.
