In-form Swiss Audrey Werro was forced into a dip for victory in the 800m, while newly-minted world record holders Masai Russell and Alison dos Santos also raced to meet records on the second and final day of the Diamond League finals in Brussels on Saturday.
Shine bright like a...💎
— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) September 5, 2026
What an end to the 2026 #DiamondLeague season!https://t.co/aQ8AINnwrb#BrusselsDL🇧🇪#DiamondLeague
📸@gorczynskamarta / @DanVernonPhoto pic.twitter.com/8UdTjPeTqq
Werro was pushed all the way by Femke Broeders-Bol, the Dutch athlete steadily improving as she transitions from the 400m hurdles, an event in which she was twice a world champion.
Werro, 22, dipped for the line after a tight final 200 metres for victory in 1min 54.75sec, one of eight meet records set during a high-octane night of track and field in the Belgian capital.
"I felt Femke putting me under pressure during the whole race and that absolutely pushed me to not slow down," Werro said. "Her presence is a big source of motivation for me to stay sharp going into next year."
This rivalry keeps delivering! 🔥
— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) September 5, 2026
Diamond League Champion Audrey Werro goes toe-to-toe with Femke Broeders-Bol all the way to the line, finding just enough to come out on top in 1:54.75 💎#BrusselsDL #DiamondLeague pic.twitter.com/RIbsu5tRTt
Just a week out from the inaugural season-ending World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Russell and Dos Santos did not disappoint.
Russell was not the fastest out of the blocks, but delivered in the final 50 metres to win the 100m hurdles in 12.20sec.
Just a week on from setting a world record of 12.09sec in Zurich, Russell made it 12 wins from 12 outings this season.
Remarkably, Russell has broken a meeting record in every one of the seven Diamond League races she has competed in this year.
"Another win! I feel very blessed and thankful to keep collecting those, especially on my first time coming here in Brussels," said Russell.
"Winning a Diamond League final is just as important as taking those big championship wins."
In the absence of Norway's Karsten Warholm, Dos Santos led from gun-to-tape in the men's 400m hurdles.
The Brazilian timed 46.70sec to obliterate the meet's previous best of 47.51 set by American Andre Phillips back in 1986.
HIS SEASON 🫡
— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) September 5, 2026
Diamond League Champion Alison dos Santos 🇧🇷 puts together a dominant 400m hurdles performance, clocking 46.70 seconds to take the victory and set a new meeting record which was 40 years old to this day! 💯💎#BrusselsDL 🇧🇪 #DiamondLeague pic.twitter.com/6eq4ax5bQc
Two-time Olympic silver medallist Kenny Bednarek equalled his own world lead of 19.62sec when winning the 200m – the American dominating a sprint in which reigning Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo of Botswana came fourth in 20.01.
And Jamaica's Tina Clayton wrapped up the 100m in 10.92sec, with European champion Amy Hunt of Britain taking second ahead of American Sha'Carri Richardson.
CAMPBELL MAKES HISTORY
After six meet records on Friday, the opening four events a day later followed suit.
First up, China's Ziyi Yan dominated the women's javelin with a best of 68.42m before Jamaica's Rajindra Campbell set a national record of 23.08m, a world leading mark, in the men's shot put.
Italy's Andy Diaz Hernandez then went out to 17.74m in the triple jump before unbeaten Marileidy Paulino clocked 48.64sec for a fourth trophy in the 400m to further re-write the King Baudouin stadium record books.
Campbell's effort moved him to fourth in the all-time list – the Jamaican shot putter becoming just the fifth man ever to throw beyond the 23m-mark.
"There have been signs in practice of a throw like this being on the way, but to put it together today feels incredible," said Campbell.
"The 23-metre line is a badge of honour for every shot putter," added the Jamaican, who said he still hoped to represent Turkey come the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, his initial bid to transfer allegiance having been refused by World Athletics in April.
"The Turkish federation has given me all the support that I was missing and it pays off immediately."
There was a shock in the women's 1 500m as Poland's Klaudia Kazimierska clocked a national record and world lead of 3:54.05, smashing Faith Kipyegon's meet record by a huge 0.70sec.
British favourite Georgia Hunter Bell could only finish fourth.
American Hana Moll, 21, followed up on her victory in Zurich by improving by 1cm her personal best to 4.91m to win the pole vault.
Finally, Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage wrote himself into the history books by becoming the first Sri Lankan to become a Diamond League champion by winning the men's javelin with a best of 89.04m.
WHERE CHAMPIONS ARE MADE 💎
— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) September 5, 2026
A season of hope and glory! #BrusselsDL 🇧🇪 you finished the 2026 #DiamondLeague season off in style 💯
2027 is already pending ⏳#athletics pic.twitter.com/DxzzlxHfXJ