Warholm sets first 300m hurdles world record in Diamond League

Karsten Warholm became the first official 300-meter hurdles record-holder in the world to officially launch the Diamond League season.

The diamond league meet’s first-ever Saturday race was held during the rarely-run event, which came one month after World Athletics announced it would become a recognized event with a record-setting event.

World 400m hurdles champion Warholm won in 33.05 seconds in Xiamen, China, which is the start of the 15-meet series this year.

The former Olympian defeated Japan’s Ken Toyoda (34.22) and Brazil’s Matheus Lima (33.98) to set the world record for the 400-meter hurdles.

The Norwegian ran 33.26 in 2021, which was a better time than the 29-year-old’s previous best time.

The world-class and Olympic champion, who defeated Warholm in a 100-meter exhibition race in September, then failed three attempts to break the 6.01 world record, which he set in February.

Faith Kipyegon, the reigning world champion, finished ahead of Australian duo Sarah Billings and Abbey Caldwell in the women’s 1, 000m race.

The Kenyan’s two minutes, 29.15 seconds, which was just over her personal best of 2020, was just 29.15 seconds.

GB’s Amy Hunt (23.06) was fifth in the women’s 200m, which was won by USA’s Anavia Battle (22.41).