The Finale: Bolt, Blake, some fast distances, and Merritt at Belgacom Ivo Van Damme Memorial (Brussels, Belgium), by Alfons Juck,

Usain Bolt, photo by PhotoRun.net

Yohan Blake, photo by PhotoRun.net

Aries Merritt, photo by PhotoRun.net

The Belgacom Ivo Van Damme Memorial meeting, held on Friday, September 7 in Brussels, Belgium will be the last of the 14 Samsung Diamond League meetings this summer. In its second year, the Samsung Diamond League has attracted most of the best track & field athletes in the world.

The crowds have been terrific at nearly every one. The performances have been very good as well. TV shows its promise and its challenges. When producers are either not familiar with athletics, or trying to save a buck, TV can be less than supportive of the sport. I watched several of the broadcasts, Lausanne and Birmingham, on Canadian Broadcasting and they were superb. The same program, on Universal, has been fraught with challenges. When Universal works, it is fantastic, when it does not, as it has not for me for the past two seasons (even with payments), then I have been happy to find Canadian Broadcasting.

The other benefit of the CBC model is that you can watch the entire meetings at your leisure on their replay, and that is fantastic.

Samsung has evolved over the past two seasons. This season, with Blake, Bolt, Gay, Merritt, Jeter, Fraser-Pryce, among others. I would like to see the hammer as part of the events, because the sport then shows a united front.

This summer, in the US, ESPN had no meetings on during the summer. It was not that many years ago, that we were shown a memo from ESPN talking about the high profitability of track & field. Perhaps they should consider non-Samsung meetings, like the IAAF Challenge series: good track & field is good track & field. And the demographic of track & field: high demo graphics, nice household incomes, sports fans, is good for any network.

I am looking forward to watching the Brussels meeting and hope you support it as well!

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THE FINALE: BOLT, BLAKE, SOME FAST DISTANCES AND MERRITT

BRUSSELS (BEL): The final meet of 3rd Samsung Diamond League will not only decide about Diamond Trophy winners in remaining events but also see last races of the season for many top stars. Including Usain Bolt at 100 m and Yohan Blake at 200 m. Still world leads will be attacked in men 10 000 m, hurdles, possibly women triple and javelin. Sold out stadium (47 000) will specially wait for Borlee twins in the 400 m and Tia Hellebaut in the high jump. This should be again very special 36th edition of the Ivo Van Damme Memorial. Shaggy, Jamaican Party etc.

Event by event preview

Men

100 m: Bolt will end the season with the 100 m. He could also win the Diamond Race what will be for first time in his career. Has so far 32 legal sub 10. Other sub 10 rivals: Carter, Ashmeade, R. Bailey, possible new member of the sub 10 club could be Bailey-Cole.

200 m: This is non DL race, with Yohan Blake trying to make deja vu from last year (you remember this special 19.26). Against him Lemaitre, oly bronze winner Weir and newcomer Young.

400 m: Something for the crowd. Borlee twins in one race, possibly close to European record? They met in one race only twice this year, Jonathan was better in Monaco and Kevin at the Games. But Santos will fight for Diamond Race win.

1500 m: Superfield. All 3 oly medalists, then Chepseba, Kiplagat and Kiprop having sub 3:30 and Gebremdhin in shape. He will fight with Kiprop and Kiplagat for the Diamond Trophy.

10 000 m: The usual non DL Van Damme event. First sub 27 of the year expected. Debut of Isiah Koech, can come close to world junior record. Kenya in strong numbers, Ethiopia main player Imane Merga, Turkish Polat Kemboi can attack his own European U23 record from London Games.

Steeple: Kipsiele Koech lead is too big so he has the trophy already. But with returning B. Kipruto and other in-shape Kenyans this could be very fast.

110mH: Aries Merritt and his sub 13 usual quality. Can he this time dip more and attack the world record? He and Richardson still in Diamond Race fight.

Long jump: Without olympic medalists in-shape Menkov will fight possibly against Mokoena and Tomlinson for the Diamond. Young Morgunov can surprise them.

Discus: Kanter looks safe but Alekna still can go over him. Okoye is in shape as he showed in Zagreb.

Women

200 m: Top league missing, but Knight and Ch. Williams will fight for the Trophy.

800 m: Another superb duel Savinova vs. Jelimo, this time will also decided about Diamond Race. Savinova leads 4:2 their career head-to-head, this year they are 2:2.

5000 m: Kenyan battle for the Diamond. Vivian Cheruiyot against Mercy Cherono. Also in the race oly medalist Sally Kipyego.

400 mH: Spencer is confirmed for the Diamond. Hejnova is the only oly medalist competing. Walker in improved shape, Ouedraogo farewell.

HJ: Another emotional event for the fans with Tia. But Chicherova and Shkolina are in 2 meters shape, Lowe just need to compete to get the Trophy.

PV: Spiegelburg vs. Silva vs. Murer for the Diamond. Suhr and Isinbaeva already ended their season.

TJ: Two oly medalists for the Diamond trophy, Rypakova vs. Saladukha. This year they are 2:2, but overall 11:9 in favor of Rypakova. Still waiting for first 15 m of the season.

JT: Spotakova is clear for the Diamond, but top quality field with Viljoen, Abakumova and German oly medalists can bring first years 70+.

Author

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 51-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

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