American sprint hurdler shines at the second Diamond League of 2025 in China

Cordell Tinch enjoyed a breakthrough moment at the Diamond League in Keqiao, China, on Saturday (May 3) when he went No.4 on the world all-time rankings for 110m hurdles with 12.87 (0.6).

The 24-year-old American won by 23 hundredths of a second from Rachid Muratake of Japan with Rasheed Broadbell third.

Only Grant Holloway (12.81), Devon Allen (12.84) and world record-holder Aries Merritt (12.80) have ever run quicker, whereas Dayron Robles has also clocked 12.87 but with a slightly stronger tailwind.

With this second meeting of the Diamond League season being on Chinese soil, he also went past Chinese athletics legend Liu Xiang (12.88) on the all-time rankings.

Tinch played American Football and had NFL ambitions during his youth but he has focused on athletics post-pandemic and is improving fast as his best prior to 2025 was 12.96.

“It sounds pretty good to be joint fourth on the all-time list,” said Tinch, who had also won at the first Diamond League of the season in Xiamen one week earlier. “As I continue to go through the season I try and get better each week. I've changed a lot over the winter in my every day life and the training. It takes a while in your first year as a pro, it is a learning process.”

It is proving a great weekend for sprint hurdles as Masai Russell went No.2 on the women’s 100m hurdles all-time rankings at Grand Slam Track the previous evening.

Generally the Diamond League events are proving a little quicker, though, especially in the distance events thanks to pacemakers. This was the case in the men’s 5000m on Saturday as Berihu Aregawi led an Ethiopian one-two-three home in 12:50.45.

Tsige Duguma ran an Ethiopian and meeting record and world lead of 1:56.64 in the women's 800m – a performance that is sure to catch the eye of Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson.

One week after his 300m hurdles world best, Karsten Warholm won the 400m hurdles in 47.28, powering away from his rivals in impressive style.

Mondo Duplantis was also in control in the pole vault with a 6.11m victory.

Akani Simbine of South Africa ran 9.98 (0.5) in the men’s 100m to pip Kishane Thompson of the United States by one hundredth of a second as Letsile Tebogo was third in 10.03 and Britain’s world indoor champion Jeremiah Azu seventh in 10.19.

Anavia Battle of the United States ran 22.38 ahead of Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke’s 22.72 as Britain’s Amy Hunt was fourth in 22.86.

Grace Stark of the United States won the women’s 100m hurdles in 12.42 (0.3).

Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine jumped 2.00m to beat Australian duo Nicola Olyslagers and Eleanor Patterson in the women’s high jump.

Elsewhere, Chase Jackson threw a meet record of 20.54m in the women's shot put. Valarie Allman took the women's discus with 70.08m. Chris Bailey of the United States was impressive in the 400m with 44.17.

The home crowd, meanwhile, were delighted to see Shi Yuhao winning the men's long jump with 8.21m (0.2).