Diamond League 101: What It Is and Why Runners Care! with Dave McNeill

There’s something special about hearing the Diamond League explained by someone who’s lived it.

Jays from Rundais sat down with three-time Australian Olympian, physiotherapist, and founder of NthSide Collective, Dave McNeill, to unpack what makes this series so important.

From how the competition works to the Aussies chasing big moments on the world stage, Dave shares the kind of insight that makes you want to lace up and follow along.

Jayson H: For those who might not know, what exactly is the Diamond League and how does it work? 

Dave M: “The Diamond League is a season-long series of athletics meets that represents the very top tier of international competition. If athletics were a pyramid, the Olympics and World Championships would sit at the very top, with the Diamond League just beneath them.”

“Across 15 meets held worldwide, most major disciplines are contested. Selection is largely merit-based, athletes are invited based on recent performances, though meet organisers and managers also have some discretion.”

“Athletes earn prize money at each meet (1st–8th place) and accrue points based on their finishing positions. Points are tallied across the season, with top athletes qualifying for the series final, held this week in Zurich. At the final, prize money is increased and the winners of each discipline are crowned Diamond League Champions.”

JH: Why does the Diamond League hold such a unique place in athletics?

DM: “For both athletes and fans, the Diamond League offers a more premium experience. Athletes experience a higher level of competition, greater financial earning capacity (both from the event itself and from the exposure a Diamond League brings compared to lower tiers of competition), and often, better hospitality at and around the meet. The meets are also generally better attended, so athletes get to experience the cheer of up to 70,000 fans, like at the London Diamond League.”

“Many of the events in the Diamond League series have existed as stand-alone athletic meets for decades. The history is not lost on athletes, who grew up watching their idols compete at the same meets, nor on long-term fans, who might remember moments such as Ron Clarke breaking the 10,000m world record at the very same stadium and meet that is now the Oslo Diamond League.”

“For fans, there is also the national pride of cheering for compatriots as they compete against the world’s best, and the excitement of following the series through repeated close match-ups, with results seesawing from meet to meet.”

JH: How does that experience compare with lining up at the Olympics, or even a home meet like the Melbourne Zatopek?

DM: “In many ways, the buzz can be very similar. The buzz comes from the size of the crowd, the calibre of competition, and the history and prestige of the meet. Compared to an Olympics or World Championships, there may not be quite the same nerves of knowing that your whole year culminates in anywhere from 10 seconds to 13 minutes. But it is still nerve-racking and exciting, just like trying to do your best in any competition.”

JH: The Diamond League takes place in some incredible cities around the world. Which locations stand out to you, and do you have a favourite meet?

DM: “For me, Oslo was a standout. I only competed there once, but I remember watching the meet every year as a kid, even before it was part of the Diamond League (it used to be part of a similar series called the Golden League). When I lined up in Oslo in 2021, I loved the perspective of viewing the stadium from the track rather than from a camera lens, looking up at the fans rather than down at the athletes. Even in a COVID year, the crowd was thoroughly enthusiastic and raucous. I ran a 3000m PB, walked away with some prize money, then watched my teammate Stewy McSweyn win the Oslo Dream Mile shortly afterwards, and finally saw Karsten Warholm set a 400m hurdles world record straight after that.”

“The Prefontaine Classic in Eugene is also pretty special. Again, I only competed there once, at the original, pre-renovation Hayward Field. It’s hard not to be unmoved by the meet’s namesake and what he represented, and by the feeling of running in the footsteps of so many legends.”

JH: And finally, what’s your RunReason?

DM: “Life hums along at a much more peaceful frequency WITH movement THAN without. Running is the movement and frequency at which I function best, and through it, I feel I can offer the most.”

RunDais’ Favourite Moments in Diamond League History

• Mo Farah Wins His Last Race In An Epic 5000m Battle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRTxzLJ8Emo 
• The 8 Fastest Ever Men to Run a Diamond League 100m: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_Yr6nTg1Ug 
• Australia’s Jessica Hull breaks the WORLD RECORD in Monaco 2000m – Wanda Diamond League 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXZC4Yu6Jcg&ab_channel=WandaDiamondLeague 

How to Watch the Diamond League in Australia

World Athletics “Watch Live”

World Athletics streams selected events through its Watch Live portal click here. Access depends on broadcast rights, so availability can vary in Australia! 

YouTube & Facebook (Wanda Diamond League)

The most reliable option for Australian fans is the official Wanda Diamond League YouTube and Facebook channels, which livestream events free and in full. Click here. 

Confirmed Finalists

• Nicola Olyslagers (High Jump) – Cleared 2.01m in Stockholm and has multiple wins this season. A serious contender for the overall title.
• Eleanor Patterson (High Jump) – Silver in Xiamen, consistent podium finishes across the series.
• Kurtis Marschall (Pole Vault) – World bronze medallist; a perennial top-three threat, lining up once again against Duplantis.
• Abbey Caldwell (800m / 1500m / 1000m) – Top-three finishes at multiple meets; looks set for at least one final.

Notable Contenders

• Jessica Hull (1500m / 5000m) – A world finalist and ever-present in Diamond League fields; expect her to be in the mix.
• Claudia Hollingsworth (800m) – Just 19 years old, broke the Australian 800m record with 1:57.67; charging into Zurich with form on her side.Australia has a strong presence 
• Catriona Bisset (800m) – Former Oceania record-holder, consistently dipping under 1:58. A threat if fully fit.
• Oliver Hoare (1500m) – Commonwealth champion and current Oceania record-holder; experienced at this level.
• Cameron Myers (1500m / Mile) – Teenage sensation, Dream Mile podium in Oslo; a real chance to make the final.