EUGENE -- Haruka Kitaguchi of Japan used a strong second throw to vault in the lead and hold on to win the women's javelin at the Diamond League Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field.

Tori Peeters of New Zealand used a third-round throw of 61.30m/201-1 to take second while Mackenzie Little of Australia finished third with an opening throw of 61.24m/200-11.

The first #DiamondLeague champion of 2023!

Haruka Kitaguchi wins the javelin with 63.78m to become the first 🇯🇵 Diamond League champion ever!#DLFinal#EugeneDL 🇺🇸#DiamondLeague
📸 @GorczynskaMarta pic.twitter.com/mivMM2guYR

— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) September 16, 2023

The victory for Kitaguchi put an explanation point on what was a dominant season for the Japanese star, who came into the meet leading the race to claim the Diamond League trophy. She established the world lead of 67.38m/221-0 last week at the Diamond League Memorial van Damme in Brussels and, also won the gold medal at the World Championships in Budapest in August.

“I’m so happy about this win and also World Championships win; it’s really amazing,” Kitaguchi said.

Kitaguchi opened the competition with a safe first throw and sat in third place behind Little and Peeters. But on her second throw, she surged into the lead with a mark of 63.78m/209-3 and never looked back.

Maggie Malone, the lone American to qualify for the finale, finished in fourth place with a final throw of 60.42m/198-2.