The intensity stayed high on Sunday in Rabat as the third Diamond League meeting delivered a major dose of meet records, world leads and even upsets as Soufiane El Bakkali surged to a world lead in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase and Max Burgin pulled off a stunner over Emmanuel Wanyonyi.
El Bakkali pulled in all of the support from the home crowd packed into Rabat Olympic Stadium as he bolted to a 7:57.25 win the men’s 3,000m steeplechase over Frederik Ruppert who took second in 7:57.80 and Simon Kiprop Koech 7:59.44 as all three finished under eight minutes.
“Attending Rabat meeting in my home soil is always great and what makes it greater this year is the attendance of His Highness our Prince Moulay El Hassan,” El Bakkali said. “His attendance was a a big motivator for me and I would like to thank him so much for his presence.”
But in the men’s 800m, Burgin saw his moment and seized it in a 1:42.98 upset over Wanyonyi who tried to close in on him in the final moments of the second lap. Wanyonyi was second in 1:43.56 and Slimane Moula finished third in 1:43.73.
“It was an incredible race, it was a great atmosphere and an exciting run from my perspective,” Burgin said. I wasn’t sure if I was gonna front run it all but with 200m the decision was made and I had to stick with it.”
Yared Nuguse powered his way to a 3:30.35 meet record win in the men’s 1,500m over Isaac Nader (3:30.43) and Azeddine Hanz (3:30.68), who took second and third. And in the women’s 1,500m, Freweyni Hailu (Ethiopia) was dominant in 3:58.25 victory as she surged past fellow Ethiopian Haregeweyni Kalayu (3:59.28) and Agathe Guillemot (3:59.60)
After an early false start in the men’s 200m field, Kenny Bednarek was all business in a 19.69 meet record win over Letsile Tebogo (19.96) and Sinesipho Dambile (20.03) while Cambrea Sturgis edged ahead to take the women’s 200m in 22.21 as she just got past Kayla White (22.28) and Audrey Leduc (22.41).
Meanwhile, Jacory Patterson cruised to a 44.11 meet record in the men’s 400m over Matthew Hudson-Smith (44.25) and Khaleb McRae (44.40) as Audrey Werro held on to take 1:56.56 in the women’s 800m as she opened a gap on the final 200m over Tsige Duguma (1:57.24) and Lilian Odira (1:57.27).
Tina Clayton led a Jamaican sweep in the women’s 100m in 10.85 and was joined by Lavanya Williams who took second in 10.95 and Jonielle Smith who finished third in 11.00. Emma Zapletalová soared to 52.82 world lead in the women’s 400m hurdles while Anna Cockrell took second in 53.18 and Rushell Clayton was third in 53.75.
Joe Kovacs was in world leading mode of his own in the men’s shot put with a 22.58m win — also a meet record — over Ryan Crouser (21.59m) and Jordan Geist (21.56m).
2026 Diamond League Rabat Results
Women’s Discus
1. Valarie Sion (USA) – 68.75m MR
2. Jorinde van Klinken (Netherlands) – 66.72m
3. Laulauga Tausaga (USA) – 65.94m
Women’s High Jump
1. Yaroslava Mahuchikh (Ukraine) – 1.97m
2. Eleanor Patterson (Australia) – 1.94m
3. Angelina Topic (Serbia) – 1.94m
Men’s Shot Put
1. Joe Kovacs (USA) – 22.58m WL+MR
2. Ryan Crouser (USA) – 21.59m
3. Jordan Geist – 21.56m
Women’s Pole Vault
1. Nina Kennedy (Australia) – 4.80m
2. Imogen Ayris (New Zealand) – 4.70m
3. Katie Moon (USA) – 4.70m
Women’s 400m Hurdles
1. Emma Zapletalová (Slovakia) – 52.82 WL
2. Anna Cockrell (USA) – 53.18
3. Rushell Clayton (Jamaica) – 53.75
Men’s 400m
1. Jacory Patterson (USA) – 44.11 MR
2. Matthew Hudson-Smith (Great Britain) – 44.25
3. Khaleb McRae (USA) – 44.40
Women’s 800m
1. Audrey Werro (Switzerland) – 1:56.56 MR
2. Tsige Duguma – 1:57.24
3. Lilian Odira (Kenya) – 1:57.27
Women’s 100m
1. Tina Clayton (Jamaica) – 10.85
2. Lavanya Williams (Jamaica) – 10.95
3. Jonielle Smith (Jamaica) – 11.00
Men’s Javelin
1. Anderson Peters (Grenada) – 86.08m
2. Rumesh Tharanga (Sri Lanka) – 85.97m
3. Keshorn Walcott (Trinidad and Tobago) – 82.52m
Men’s 200m
1. Kenny Bednarek (USA) – 19.69 MR
2. Letsile Tebogo (Botswana) – 19.96
3. Sinesipho Dambile (South Africa) – 20.03
Men’s 1,500m
1. Yared Nuguse (USA) – 3:30.35 MR
2. Isaac Nader (Portugal) – 3:30.43
3. Azeddine Hanz (France) – 3:30.68
Women’s 1,500m
1. Freweyni Hailu (Ethiopia) – 3:58.25
2. Haregeweyni Kalayu (Ethiopia) – 3:59.28
3. Agathe Guillemot (France) – 3:59.60
Women’s 200m
1. Cambrea Sturgis (USA) – 22.21
2. Kayla White (USA) – 22.28
3. Audrey Leduc (Canada) – 22.41
Men’s 800m
1. Max Burgin (Great Britain) – 1:42.98
2. Emmanuel Wanyonyi (Kenya) – 1:43.56
3. Slimane Moula (Algeria) – 1:43.73
Men’s 3,000m Steeplechase
1. Soufiane El Bakkali (Morocco) – 7:57.25 WL
2. Frederik Ruppert (Germany) – 7:57.80
3. Simon Kiprop Koech (Kenya) – 7:59.44
