Noah Lyles delivered on the hype behind the event-closing men’s 100m at the Rome Diamond League meeting on Thursday while Julien Alfred powered her way to a commanding win in the women’s 200m in a packed night on the track.
Lyles entered to a roaring welcome from the crowd and surged from behind to take a 9.88 win after an early lead by Jordan Anthony. Emmanuel Eseme was second in 9.94 and Letsile Tebogo took third in 9.95.
“I had a great finish,” Lyles said. “I can go again. Who want’s to go? I was having a great block session yesterday. I showed it today. This season might be different but it doesn’t mean the goal is different. I am not showing anywhere to lose. I am here to win.”
In the women’s 200m, Alfred brought her own serving of theatrics as she bolted to a commanding 21.93 win after edging past Melissa Jefferson-Wooden on the turn and accelerating to the line with a comfortable lead. Jefferson-Wooden finished behind her in 22.17 while Anavia Battle was third in 22.39.
“Win is a win,” Alfred said after the race. “I wanted to go a bit faster but I will take the win. I am healthy and that’s important too. I am a lot stronger now than I used to be and that’s why I could push a bit extra in the second part of the race. I expected the pressure from Melissa. I am kind of satisfied with this Diamond League win, but still I wished to run faster.”
Meanwhile, world leads were on the agenda like the three previous meetings and Rumesh Tharanga hurled a 92.62m in the men’s javelin over Anderson Peters (83.91m) and Curtis Thompson (83.89m) while Emma Zapletalova grabbed a 52.58 world leading time in the womens 400m hurdles over Anna Cockrell (52.77) and Rushell Clayton (53.14).
Likina Amebaw soared to a 14:18.41 world lead in the women’s 5,000m as she slipped past Aleshign Baweke (14:18.54) and Freweyni Hailu (14:18.94) on her way to victory as Trey Cunningham got in on the world leading action with a 12.98 in the men’s 100m hurdles over Orlando Bennett (13.31) and Enrique Llopis (13.32).
For the women’s pole vault, Molly Caudery edged past Nina Kennedy and Angelica Moser on fewest attempts as all three top finishers cleared 4.80m while Leonardo Fabbri took the men’s shot put in 22.14m over Joe Kovacs (21.87m) and Ryan Crouser (1.50m).
Henriette Jæger won the women’s 400m in 49.60 in a final lean past Lurdes Gloria Manuel (49.77) and Nickisha Pryce (49.80) as Georgia Hunter Bell won the women’s 1,500m in convincing fashion in 3:58.63 over Klaudia Kazimierska (3:59.24) and Nikki Hiltz (3:59.26).
2026 Diamond League Rome Results
Men’s Javelin Throw
1. Rumesh Tharanga (Sri Lanka) – 92.62m WL+MR
2. Anderson Peters (Grenada) – 83.91m
3. Curtis Thompson (USA) – 83.89m
Women’s Pole Vault
1. Molly Caudery (Great Britain) – 4.80m
2. Nina Kennedy (Australia) – 4.80m
3. Angelica Moser (Switzerland) – 4.80m
Men’s Triple Jump
1. Andy Diaz Hernandez (Italy) – 17.59m
2. Jordan Scott (Jamaica) – 17.33m
3. Jaydon Hibbert (Jamaica) – 17.02m
Women’s 400m Hurdles
1. Emma Zapletalova (Slovakia) – 52.58 WL
2. Anna Cockrell (USA) – 52.77
3. Rushell Clayton (Jamaica) – 53.14
Men’s High Jump
1. Matteo Sioli (Italy) – 2.28
2. Erick Portillo (Mexico) – 2.23m
3. Romaine (Jamaica) – 2.23m
Men’s Shot Put
1. Leonardo Fabbri (Italy) – 22.14m
2. Joe Kovacs (USA) – 21.87m
3. Ryan Crouser (USA) – 21.50m
Women’s 100m Hurdles
1. Megan Simmonds (Jamaica) – 12.50
2. Kendra Harrison (USA) – 12.54
3. Nadine Visser (Netherlands) – 12.58
Men’s Long Jump
1. Bozhidar Sarâboyukov (Bulgaria) – 8.26m
2. Miltiádis Tentóglou (Greece) – 8.24m
3. Jorge A. Hodelín (Cuba) – 8.18m
Women’s 5,000m
1. Likina Amebaw (Ethiopia) – 14:18.41 WL
2. Aleshign Baweke (Ethiopia) – 14:18.54
3. Freweyni Hailu (Ethiopia) – 14:18.94
Men’s 110m Hurdles
1. Trey Cunningham (USA) – 12.98 WL+MR
2. Orlando Bennett (Jamaica) – 13.31
3. Enrique Llopis (Spain) – 13.32
Women’s 400m
1. Henriette Jæger (Norway) – 49.60
2. Lurdes Gloria Manuel (Czech Republic) – 49.77
3. Nickisha Pryce (Jamaica) – 49.80
Women’s 200m
1. Julien Alfred (St. Lucia) – 21.93
2. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (USA) – 22.17
3. Anavia Battle (USA) – 22.39
Women’s 1,500m
1. Georgia Hunter Bell (Great Britain) – 3:58.63
2. Klaudia Kazimierska (Poland) – 3:59.24
3. Nikki Hiltz (USA) – 3:59.26
Men’s 100m
1. Noah Lyles (USA) – 9.88
2. Emmanuel Eseme (Cameroon) – 9.94
3. Letsile Tebogo (Botswana) – 9.95
