Zurich’s Letzigrund experienced an exceptional athletics evening on Thursday. In less than 40 minutes, Alison dos Santos and Masai Russell broke the world records for the 400 m hurdles and 100 m hurdles. Mondo Duplantis had to clear 6.25 m to overcome a fierce Emmanouil Karalis, before the two men attempted 6.32 m together. Audrey Werro delivered a phenomenal 1’53’’70 in the 800 m, while Julien Alfred edged out Melissa Jefferson-Wooden by a thousandth in the 100 m. A series of performances that make the Swiss meeting one of the major events of the 2026 season.
Alison dos Santos erases Karsten Warholm’s world record
The first thunderbolt came from the 400 m hurdles. Alison dos Santos completed the lap in 45’’80, lowering Karsten Warholm’s world record by 14 hundredths. The Norwegian had held the global benchmark since the Tokyo Olympic final in 2021, run in 45’’94. Positioned just behind Warholm at the start, the Brazilian quickly closed the gap before taking a clear lead in the second half of the race. In the final straight, he pulled away to claim the record. Warholm finished second in 46’’69, ahead of Nigerian Ezekiel Nathaniel, third in 47’’50. World champion in 2022 and double Olympic bronze medalist, Dos Santos, at 26, becomes the fastest man ever in the 400 m hurdles.
Masai Russell shatters the 100 m hurdles record
Barely had the crowd digested the Brazilian’s performance when Masai Russell struck in turn. The American won the 100 m hurdles in 12’’09, with no wind, breaking the world record of 12’’12 set by Nigerian Tobi Amusan at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene. Olympic champion in the discipline, Russell had already come very close to this mark this season. In Zurich, she became the first woman to go under 12’’10. Amusan herself ran an excellent race but had to settle for second place in 12’’23, ahead of Dutch Nadine Visser in 12’’34. Two world records thus fell on the Letzigrund track in less than 40 minutes.
Karalis pushes Duplantis to 6.25 m
The men’s pole vault competition offered an equally spectacular duel. Emmanouil Karalis long threatened Mondo Duplantis. Both men cleared 6.10 m, then the Greek improved his personal best by clearing 6.20 m. Duplantis had previously cleared 6.15 m before responding with a successful 6.25 m. A height that ultimately gave him the victory. Never before had a competition seen two vaulters clear over 6.20 m. Karalis thus confirms he is now the main rival to the Swede at the top of the discipline.
Duplantis and Karalis attempt 6.32 m together
The spectacle did not end with Duplantis’s victory. The two men then requested a bar at 6.32 m, one centimeter above the world record of 6.31 m held by the Swede. Neither Duplantis nor Karalis managed to clear it, although some attempts kept the suspense alive. Duplantis thus wins the competition with 6.25 m and Karalis finishes second with his personal best of 6.20 m. For the first time, two vaulters simultaneously attacked a world record above 6.30 m in the same competition.
Audrey Werro just 42 hundredths from the world record
Switzerland also experienced a huge moment with Audrey Werro. At home, the young Swiss won the 800 m in 1’53’’70, a new national record, the world’s best performance of the year, and a Diamond League record. She is dangerously close to the legendary world record of Jarmila Kratochvilova, 1’53’’28, set in 1983. She now lacks only 42 hundredths. Werro finished ahead of Dutch Femke Broeders-Bol, second in 1’54’’71, also delivering an exceptional performance, and British Georgia Hunter Bell, third in 1’55’’03. At only 22 years old, Werro has recorded her third sub-1’54’’ time in 2026.
Julien Alfred beats Melissa Jefferson-Wooden by a thousandth
The women’s 100 m also offered a spectacular finish. Julien Alfred and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden were both credited with 10’’70, despite a headwind of -0.7 m/s. The Saint Lucian Olympic champion was ultimately declared the winner after photo-finish review, by a few thousandths of a second. Alfred set a new national record in the process. Jefferson-Wooden, reigning world champion, suffered her first 100 m defeat since August 2024. Sha’Carri Richardson completed the podium in 10’’97.
Wanyonyi in 1’41’’76, Bednarek in 19’’62
High-level performances multiplied throughout the evening. In the men’s 800 m, Emmanuel Wanyonyi won in 1’41’’76, the world’s best performance of the year. In the 200 m, American Kenneth Bednarek also set the season’s best world performance with 19’’62. Anna Cockrell won the women’s 400 m hurdles in 52’’13, another world-leading performance of the year and a new meeting record.
An evening that will remain in Letzigrund’s history
Two world records, two simultaneous attempts at 6.32 m in the pole vault, a women’s 800 m just 42 hundredths from the oldest track world record, a women’s 100 m decided by a thousandth, and several world-leading performances of the year: Zurich concentrated in a few hours a series of extremely rare performances. Alison dos Santos and Masai Russell emerge with two new global benchmarks, while Duplantis, Karalis, Werro, Alfred, Wanyonyi, and Bednarek helped turn this Diamond League stage into one of the most remarkable athletics evenings of 2026.
