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RUDISHA VS REST OF THE WORLD

ZURICH (SUI): Weltklasse is real World Class, nearly everybody will compete in Letzigrund with some really excellent line-ups like men 100 m and 800 m and 5000 m with women 1500 m. Only Merritt and Perkovic are clear Diamond winners, they just need to compete. In remaining 14 events decision will be made during the evening. New meet record realistic in women steeple, World leads possible in men 800 m and 5000 m. Superb first IAAF Diamond League final 2014 is expected.

Event by event

Men

100 m (non-DL): In two races the best current sprinters assembled. Eurowinner Dasaolu and Gemili against former super stars Powell and Gay with fast this year Thompson, Carter, Bailey-Cole and Rodgers.

200 m: Fight for Diamond Race between Ashmeade and Edward.

400 m: Merritt is confirmed DR winner, how fast he will be? Attack from Rooney or Makwala?

800 m: The field of the evening, nobody missing. Rudisha, Aman, Amos, from mile coming Kiprop and Souleiman. Also Rudisha and Amos fighting for DR. Attack for WL?

5000 m: Ethiopia (leaders Alamirew, Muktar, Gebrhiwot) against Kenya (Soi, Longosiwa, Ndiku) with Rupp as another possibility. It is also about DR win between Alamirew and Ndiku. Another WL after Stockholm?

400mH: Another direct fight for DR Tinsley vs Culson. But spectators will watch their home hero Hussein.

TJ: Also here US duel for Diamond Taylor vs Claye, but winner could be also Eurochamp Compaore and Commonwealth/African winner Mokoena.

SP: Storl and Hoffa both want the Diamond.

JT: Here very open, five can win the Diamond. Ihab, Rohler and European podium. Who will be the lucky one.

Women

100 m: Stewart has the most points, but win can go not only to African stars Okagbare and Ahoure but also VCB and mainly Eurochamp Schippers. The previous leader Bowie ist out due to injury. Kambundji will get the cheers.

1500 m: Hassan vs Aregawi vs Simpson, this is the Diamond fight. But also from behind Obiri, 800 star Sum and junior champ Seyaoum.

Steeple: The usual duel Ayalew vs Coburn. This time also about the Diamond. The only top chance for new meet record (9:21.32).

100mH: US duel for Diamond Harper with Harrison. But ready also Pearson with Porter, not to speak about World champ Rollins.

HJ: Zurich podium with Blanka. Still three can win the Diamond (Vlasic, Simic, Kuchina).

PV: Suhr as favorite, but Murer with Stefanidi for the Diamond Trophy.

LJ: World leader Bartoletta, Eurowinner Lesueur and Spanovic still in Diamond contention. Surprise from Reese or Klishina?

DT: Perkovic is confirmed DR winner. The question – how far she can throw. MR 70.20 possible?

4×100 m (non-DL): Home Switzerland can make it for Euro disaster. But USA, Jamaica, Britain and Netherlands are very tough opponents.

Author

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 52-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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