by Alfonz Juck
Conseslus Kipruto takes gold in London 2017, photo by PhotoRun.net
Conseslus Kipruto is aming for a big sub 8 minute steeplechase in Brussels. Hope that former Badger, Evan Jager makes him work for every meter. EME News provided the preview of Brussels right below.
Kipruto aims for first sub 8 of 2017
BRUSSELS (BEL, Sep 1): The second of the two IAAF Diamond League finals will produce 15 more Diamond League winners after Zurich resulted in some surprises. The horizontal jumps could potentially provide the highlights, while a meeting known for distance performances has a good women’s 5000m in store. Unbeaten so far this season are Stefanidi and Lasitskene with Kipruto. Women discus and men triple meet records are under threat at 41st AG Memorial Van Damme. The meet will as usual end with musical concert and firework.
Men
100m (non-DL): Julian Forte looks to continue good form after back-to-back wins in Berlin and Rovereto, while Yohan Blake and Isiah Young could be his closest challengers.
200m: World champion Ramil Guliyev stands to become Turkey’s first Diamond League winner but Brits Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake and Zharnel Hughes are among those out to stop him.
400m (non-DL): The three Borlees hope to send the local crowd home happy.
800m: London minor medallists Adam Kszczot and Kiyegon Bett face Nijel Amos as Asbel Kiprop steps down.
1500m (non-DL): World champion Elijah Manangoi should be a big favourite as Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad and Adel Mechaal are the next best.
3000m steeplechase: World and Olympic champion Conseslus Kipruto aims to stay on top as Evan Jager looks to come back from his London disappointment. Soufianne El Bakkali and Jairus Birech ought to be in the mix too. WL is a possibility.
110m hurdles: London silver medallist Sergey Shubenkov leads be favourite as 2012 Olympic champion Aries Merritt, Garfield Darien and Ronald Levy are also in the field.
Triple jump: Christian Taylor and Will Claye were a class apart in London, but back to the fray comes Pedro Pablo Pichardo for the first time since his 17.60m beat Taylor in Lausanne before injury struck.
Discus: World top two Andrius Gudzius and Daniel Stahl feature alongside Olympic champion Christophe Harting and Fedrick Dacres.
Women
100m: Elaine Thompson hopes for silverware after her London disappointment as Michelle-Lee Ayhe and Marie-Josee Ta Lou stand in her way.
400m: Shaunae Miller-Uibo could make up somewhat for London by becoming a double Diamond winner after her 200m win in Zurich. Courtney Okolo and world silver medallist Salwa Eid Nasser are the other main contenders.
1500m: Can Faith Kipyegon repeat her London win with world No.1 Sifan Hassan and world silver medallist Jenny Simpson in the field? Also there are Dawit Seyaum and Winny Chebet, top two in Birmingham recently.
5000m: World champion Hellen Obiri should be a comfortable winner. The next best could be Senbere Teferi or Agnes Tirop and it will be interesting to see what sub-nine steepler Beatrice Chepkoech can do on the flat.
400m hurdles: Zuzana Hejnova is the form athlete if you disregard the world final. London silver medallist Dalilah Muhammad will hope to upstage her.
Pole vault: Ekaterini Stefanidi seeks her 14th straight win this year, with most of her top rivals there, including Yarisley Silva and Olympic silver medallist Sandi Morris.
High jump: Mariya Lasitskene tries to extend her unbeaten run to 27, but London silver and bronze medallists Yuliya Levchenko and Kamila Licwinko hope to offer resistance. World heptathlon champion Nafi Thiam (1.98m last year) will thrill the home crowd.
Long jump: The closeness of the World final contest offers hope of similar drama here as the top five from that are in action. Gold medallist Brittney Reese goes for a third Diamond League title, trying to hold off Darya Klishina, Tianna Bartoletta and Ivana Spanovic.
Discus: Sandra Perkovic is looking for a record-breaking (for a woman) sixth conseucutive Diamond League title, but can she hold off the improving World silver medallist Dani Stevens? The other London medallist, Melina Robert-Michon is also in the field.
