Women hurdles and high jump along with Lavillenie, Pichardo and Gatlin
ROMA (ITA): Golden Gala IAAF Diamond League meet (fourth this season in the series) is promising on Thursday in great weather in several events something special. Gatlin´s attack on Bolt meet record, superb fields in women 100 m hurdles and high jump, in-shape Pichardo, javelin battle, Ethiopians trying for fast times in the 5000 m, women duel for first sub 4 of the year.
Event by event preview
Men
100 m: Gatlin in his first European race of the year against the clock, Bolt´s MR 9.76 under threat.
200 m (non-DL): Lemaitre is here, also C. Mitchell, but maybe best current shape Greek Tsakonas.
800 m: Revenge for Eugene: Aman vs Amos.
5000 m: Ethiopians for fast times (in order to qualify for Beijing), Turkish Ali Kaya for European U23 record (13:10.40). WL for sure.
110mH (non-DL): Europeans Shubenkov and Darien against overseas (Riley, Porter, O´Farrill).
400mH: Dutch to continue in winning?
PV: Lavillenie wants now in every meet 6 meters, that would be here meet record.
TJ: Havana and Rome similarly hot climate, something for Pichardo ambitions. MR 17.60 should go.
SP: Storl this time against Whiting, easier than in Eugene.
JT: Full elite here, who will be the one with the best throw. From Ihab to Vesely, from Pitkamaki to Yego, from Rohler to Walcott.
Women
200 m: Shelly-Ann in solo ? What is the shape of Strachan.
400 m: McCorory vs McPherson is the duel here.
1500 m: Simpson comes from Pre win, Seyaoum from Doha win. Also Hassan. First sub 4 2015 finally coming?
SC: Nyambura to prove her sensation from Doha.
100mH: In-shape revelations Stowers and Nelvis against champions Harper-Nelson, Rollins, Pearson.
400mH (non-DL): US to win with Demus or Moline.
HJ: Field of the night. Chicherova. Licwinko. Kuchina. Beitia. Doha winner Palsyte. Home Trost. Season openers for Shkolina and Vlasic. WL should be registered.
LJ: Proctor vs. Klishina should be the battle.
DT: Perkovic should be clear and attacking 68.90 MR, but Caballero comes with huge improvement in Cuba.