Hunter Bell Secures Second Diamond League Victory in Paris
Hunter Bell triumphs again at Paris – Georgia Hunter Bell, representing Great Britain, claimed her second win of the season in the women’s 1500m at the Paris Diamond League. The event saw her achieve a personal best with a time of 3:55.63, narrowly edging out Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu (3:55.92) and France’s Agathe Guillemot (3:56.24). This victory comes after Bell secured her first world title in Torun earlier this year.
“Absolutely brilliant!”
Bell previously earned Olympic silver in the 800m at Tokyo 2024, but has since shifted focus to the longer distance event where she achieved a notable bronze medal. The win in Paris boosts her preparation for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, starting in July, and the European Championships in Birmingham, which follow in August.
Adapted Format Due to Extreme Heat
The Paris Diamond League was held under an altered schedule following a request from local police to cancel all events due to intense heat. Only professional athletes competed, with regional meets and club activities sidelined. The event’s new structure ensured continuity while addressing the challenging weather conditions.
Ben Pattison and Matthew Hudson-Smith Finish Fourth
Great Britain’s Ben Pattison placed fourth in the men’s 800m, which was won by Canada’s Marco Arop in a record time of 1:41.84—setting the fastest time of the year. Olympic silver medallist Matthew Hudson-Smith also finished fourth in the men’s 400m, narrowly missing a meet record of 43.54 set by Botswana’s Busang Collen Kebinatshipi.
Armand Duplantis Returns to Victory
Sweden’s Armand Duplantis reclaimed his title in the men’s pole vault, clearing a meet record of 6.13m. He comfortably outpaced France’s Baptiste Thierry, who set a personal best of 5.93m. This win followed his unexpected loss in Stockholm earlier this month, marking a quick resurgence after failing to win in 40 meets.
Duplantis attempted to break his own world record of 6.31m, set in Uppsala in March, but fell short with three unsuccessful tries at 6.32m. Meanwhile, Switzerland’s Audrey Werro ran the third-fastest time ever in the women’s 800m, clocking 1:53.80. Her performance added to her previous victories in Rabat and Stockholm, despite a personal best from GB’s Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson.
Werro, a 22-year-old athlete, has set her sights on the historic world record of 1:53.28, established by Czechoslovakia’s Jarmila Kratochvilova in 1983. She now holds three of the nine fastest times in history. In another highlight, American Trayvon Bromell upset Olympic champion Noah Lyles to win the men’s 100m in 9.91, showcasing a strong performance for the U.S. team.
