American Distance Runners Miss Diamond League Titles in Brussels as Cameron Myers Wins 1500m
The 2026 Diamond League final in Brussels ended without an American middle- or long-distance champion, extending a seven-year drought. Despite a record-breaking season for US distance runners, who won 11 regular-season races, no American secured the series title. In the men’s 1500m, Australian Cameron Myers edged Kenyan Phanuel Koech by 0.04 seconds, with US stars Cole Hocker, Ethan Strand, and Yared Nuguse finishing 7th, 3rd, and 5th, respectively. In the men’s 5000m, Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew defeated US runner Graham Blanks. The women’s 1500m was won by a non-American, as Nikki Hiltz and Emily Mackay failed to contend. While Americans excelled in other events, including the 800m and steeplechase, the lack of distance titles highlights a persistent gap between championship success and Diamond League performance.