AG Insurance Van Damme Memorial PreView: Gatlin double, Barshim VS Bondarenko

Valerie Adams, photo by PhotoRun.net

Valerie Adams will be competing in Brussels tomorrow with final Diamond League event for 2014. She should remain undefeated for all of 2014. Alfons Juck gives us a quick preview of the AG Insurance Memorial Van Damme.

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GATLIN DOUBLE, BARSHIM VS BONDARENKO

BRUSSELS (BEL): The last meet of the 5th IAAF Diamond League 2014 the AG Insurance Memorial Van Damme in Brussels expects on Friday before full stadium not only decision in 8 Diamond Races (other 8 are clear and the winner just needs to compete) but also for example GatlinÂ´s sprinting double, AmanÂ´s 1000 m race and hopes for home success mainly in men 400 m and women 100 m hurdles. World leads could be in danger for example in pole vault, women javelin or shot put. Special duels Kiplagat vs Kiprop in the 1500 m, Barshim vs Bondarenko in high jump, Harting vs. Malachowski in discus, Felix vs Okagbare in the 200 m and Cherono vs Dibaba in the 3000 m. Adams could be the only one winning all Diamond League meets.

Event by event

Men

100 m: Gatlin is unbeaten, can also win the DR, his main rival should be in-shape Bailey-Cole. Meet record 9.80.

200 m (non-DL): Gatlin after one hour in good lane against Diamond winner Edward.

400 m (non-DL): Who can beat K. Borlee? Possibly Henriques or Quow.

1000 m (non-DL): Aman to attack MR (2:14.95) and WL (2:15.08) against Polish duo (Kszczot+Lewandowski) and strong group of Kenyans (F. Rotich, T. Kitum among others).

1500 m: Kiplagat vs Kiprop for Diamond win, also in shape Makhloufi and Souleiman. Coming down is Rupp.

Steeple: Birech has the Diamond (in 10 races of the year 7 wins). Teammates Kemboi and both KiprutoÂ´s (Conseslus and Brimin) but possibly the main favorite Mekhissi-Benabbad who wants to attack his ER. First years sub 8?

110mH: PML has the Diamond, but top shape in last meets by Ortega. Shubenkov won rainy Zagreb. Last race of this event at the meet was a World record.

HJ: Barshim vs Bondarenko for the Diamond and for new meet record (238). So far 7:6 (career) and 3:2 (2014) in favor of Ukrainian. What about Drouin, Ukhov, Prostenko the other 240 jumpers this year.

PV: AirLavillenie has the Diamond, will he attack MR 596 and WL 592 ? From others in-shape mainly Hollis and Wojciechowski.

LJ: Theoretically even 6 jumpers can get the Diamond, the winner would have the best chances. Taylor looks to be in best shape.

DT: Harting vs Malachowski for the Diamond. Malachowski can be beaten only when Harting wins and he will be third or lower.

Women

200 m: Felix vs Okagbare for the Diamond, but World leader Schippers can beat them.

400 m: Williams-Mills has the Diamond, McCorory is the WL holder, SRR is the star, Grenot is the European champion.

800 m: Sum is the confirmed series winner, Wilson leads the lists, but Zurich medalists Arzamasova, Sharp should not be underestimated.

3000 m: Cherono has plus 4 points over Genzebe, that is a duel. But will it be enough for the win with Hassan and in-shape Simpson moving from 1500 m?

100H (non-DL): Home Zagre should be star of the race, but win more probable for Ali or Talay with Roleder.

400mH: Spencer has enough points for the Diamond and lost only one race in the season (with Adekoya in Doha), Child is European champion.

TJ: Ibarguen is unbeaten since 2012. Who can challenge her? Eurowinner Saladuha?

SP: Valerie in her biggest current winning streak. She could be the only one in the current season winning all Diamond League meets in her events. WL 20.46 – something to attack?

JT: Spotakova is the favorite with 14 points, Ratej has chances in theory (she must win and Spotakova third or lower). WL 67.32 also a goal?

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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