The Diamond League made its second stop of 2015 on Sunday in Shanghai, with several of last season’s most dominant performers picking up right where they left off in 2014.

FULL RESULTS

Kiplagat Wins, Blankenship Impressive In Men's 1500m

The men’s 1500m turned into a kicker’s race after a middle lap of 59 seconds eliminated any hope for a sub-3:30 effort. Even so, Kenya’s Silas Kiplagat still came away with the victory in a World-leading 3:35.29, much slower than his 3:29 opener last May in Doha, but a victory nonetheless. Kenya swept the top three spots with Hillary Ngetich and Collins Cheboi finishing 2nd and 3rd.

 

OTC Elite’s Ben Blankenship put together another solid performance to finish 4th in 3:35.48, continuing his brilliant start to 2015. The 25-year-old was well within striking distance in the final 100 meters, but just ran out of room as it looked like he was gaining on the three Kenyans in front of him. The American ran the fastest last lap of anyone.

Ben Blankenship was oh-so-close to victory in Shanghai.

Blankenship’s time is the fastest by an American in 2015 by nearly three seconds. He appears to be right on track to make his first World Championship team later this summer in Eugene. 

Ethiopian Almaz Ayana Runs 14:14.32, 3rd Fastest All-Time

The race of the evening belonged to 23-year-old Ethiopian Almaz Ayana, who ran the 3rd fastest 5,000m of all-time in Shanghai, 14:14.32. The 2013 World Championship bronze medalist covered the final 3,000m in a stunning 8:25, just one second off her PB in that distance. 

 

The updated all-time list in the women’s 5,000m:

 

14:11.15 Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) 2008

14:12.88 Meseret Defar (ETH) 2008

14:14.32 Almaz Ayana (ETH) 2015

 

Outside of owning the three fastest times in history, the Ethiopians have two legitimate gold medal contenders for August’s World Championships in Beijing. 24-year-old Genzebe Dibaba ran an indoor World record of 14:18 in February, adding to her cupboard of all-time leading marks that total four. Dibaba also has records in the indoor 1,500m, 3,000m, and 2-mile distances. 

 

Ayana v. Dibaba will be one of the premier match-ups to watch during the 2015 campaign. 

 

Barshim Wins Round 1 of Heavyweight High Jump Bout

In the highly anticipated men’s high jump, Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim took Round 1 of his heavyweight bout with Ukrainian Bogdan Bondarenko. The 23-year-old Barshim only cleared 2.38m on Sunday, but that’s all he needed on a day when his rival looked heavy and flat, only managing 2.32m, well off of his 2.42m PB. Barshim didn’t look spectacular either, but he’ll take the four Diamond Race points nonetheless on a chilly evening in China.

2.38m was good enough on Sunday for Mutaz Essa Barshim.

Barshim and Bondarenko traded punches throughout 2014, with Barshim ultimately gaining the upper hand by winning the final two Diamond League competitions in Birmingham and Brussels. Barshim became the second-highest jumper all-time in the final in Belgium, clearing 2.43m while taking a few cracks at the World record (2.45m). That mark should be heavily challenged by both of these men throughout 2015. 

Kirani James On Top of 400m World

World and Olympic champion Kirani James proved his dominance once again in the 400m, easily winning on Sunday in 44.66 over a field that included 2013 World champion LaShawn Merritt. James looked like he was a man against boys in Shanghai, as 2nd place finisher Tony McQuay was nearly a full second back in 45.54. Merritt, who admittedly is nowhere near top form yet, finished 3rd in 45.58. 

It was never close. Kirani James won the men's 400m by nearly a full second.

James v. Merritt was expected to be a fantastic showcase during 2015, but so far it's been all James, who beat his rival by more than a second at the Drake Relays, and nearly that much again tonight in China. The 28-year-old American needs to get his act together quickly if he wants any shot at repeating as World champion. 

 

In other action…

2014 World-leader and Diamond Race winner Jairus Birech of Kenya picked up right where he left off in the 3,000m steeplechase, winning comfortably in 8:05.36, more than six seconds clear of second place. The 22-year-old Kenyan ran a PB of 7:58 last summer in Brussels. 

2013 World champion David Oliver won the men’s 110m hurdles in 13.17, a season’s best and faster than the 33-year-old ran all of 2014. World record holder and 2012 Olympic champion Aries Merritt was 3rd in 13.25.

 

Jamaican Kaliese Spencer won the women’s 400m hurdles in 54.71, a World-lead. Americans occupied the next five places- Tiffany Williams, Cassandra Tate, Georgeanne Moline, Lashina Demus, and Kori Carter, respectively. 

The Diamond League retuns to action on May 29th in Eugene, Oregon for the Prefontaine Classic.