by Alfonz Juck
How fast will Asbel Kiprop run in Oslo? photo by PhotoRun.net
Faith Kipyegon: can she run her Mile PB in Oslo? photo by PhotoRun.net
Kiprop and Kipyegon are ready
OSLO (NOR): Famous Bislett Games as 7th IAAF Diamond League of the year will be highlighted by fast Dream Miles for first time by men and women. Great duels by Schippers-Thompson, Lavillenie-Barber. The meet is nearly sold out and no-wind is predicted for the event with good temperatures.
Event by event
Men
100m – Three athletes in the field have broken the 10 second-barrier this year: Kim Collins 9.93, Ameer Webb 9.94 and Mike Rodgers 9.97 but Andre de Grasse is racing himself into form with a fast win over 200m in Birmingham.
Mile – Asbel Kiprop is looking for his fifth Dream Mile win. Pacemakers have been asked to hit 800m in 1:51 and 1200m in 2:47. Should be fast, first sub 3:50 of the year.
5000m – A third DL win for Muktar Edris? Pacemakers have been asked to reach 3km in 7:44. WL very possible.
400m hurdles – Michael Tinsley will be looking for his third DL win of the season. He is narrowly the fastest on paper this year at 48.74.
Triple jump – Wide open event. American Chris Benard has the best season’s best at 17.19m.
Pole vault – Should be a head-to-head between Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie and world champion Shawn Barber.
Javelin – Another excellent field has been assembled for one of the event’s highlights. Top names include world champion Julius Yego, Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott and world-leader Thomas Rohler.
Shot put – Joe Kovacs leads the world rankings by a large margin with 22.13m from the Eugene DL. Konrad Bukowiecki makes his DL debut.
Women
200m – Expect a World Champs rematch between Dafne Schippers and Elaine Thompson. Schippers is the fastest on paper with a 22.02 clocking.
400m – Three athletes have broken 51-seconds in 2016: Natasha Hastings (50.86), Novlene Williams-Mills (50.87) and Stephenie Ann McPherson (50.98).
Mile – Faith Kipyegon is aiming to break Svetlana Masterkova’s 4:12.56 world record. Jenny Meadows has been asked to hit 800m in 2:06.5 and 1000m in 2:38
3000m steeplechase – The pacemakers have been asked to reach 2km in 6:03. Will world champion Hyvin Kiyeng break the nine minute-barrier after running 9:00.01 in Eugene?
100m hurdles – Brianna Rollins and Jasmin Stowers will be looking to capitalise in the absence of the World leader.
High jump – A typically wide open event. Levern Spencer leads the Diamond League race thanks to a win in Shanghai and a runner-up finish in Eugene.
Long jump – Top four from the World Champs (Bartoletta, Spanovic, Proctor, Nettey) all in action.
Discus – Sandra Perkovic is unbeaten and holds the two longest throws in the world in 2016. Top four from the World Champs (Caballero, Perkovic, Muller, Perez) all compete.
