Kenya's Dorcus Ewoi leads Jessica Hull of Australia during the Women's 1,500m at the Xiamen Diamond League. She finished third in Silesia on August 23, 2026 [AFP]
Attention is on the second last meet of the Diamond League circuit this Thursday after thrilling showdowns in Silesia, Poland on Sunday.
Under-20 record holder Phanuel Koech made a statement in the men’s 1,500m in Silesia and is also set for another major test in Zurich, Switzerland.
Although he didn’t claim victory in the event that assembled the world’s super-fast track stars, Koech, who is considered Kenya’s most promising 1,500m talent, and who has been missing in action for the better part of the season, sprinted to a second place.
Koech, who is only 19 years old, stormed into a historic 1,500m Under-20 world record of 3:27.72 in what was just the second race in the distance in his career. The breakthrough propelled him into the club of 1,500m greats.
He competed for the title alongside Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who is a two-time Olympic gold-medallist and a four-time Diamond League champion and the reigning Olympic champion Cole Hocker of the USA, but rising star Ethan Strand (USA) pulled a major surprise.
The 23-year-old Strand shocked them all to claim an unexpected victory in 3:30.77.