by Alfonz Juck
Dafne Schippers, photo by PhotoRun.net
World champs in 2 hours and in new DL format
ZURICH (SUI): As ever, Weltklasse Zurich will be vying to be the best one-day meeting of the year. Out of the 17 new world champions in action, eight will face the Olympic champions in their events. Twenty-nine minor medallists from London 2017 and 14 Rio 2016 winners are also among those chasing the $50,000 winning prize in front of a sell-out 25,000 crowd as the Swiss meeting stages the first of two Diamond League finals (Brussels being the other), featuring half the disciplines. New format will be for first time under scrutiny with points not counting and the fight for prize money starts from zero.
Event by event preview
Men
100m: CJ Ujah and Akani Simbine are among those out to challenge new world champion Justin Gatlin. Asafa Powell, last year’s winner here, is looking for his 98th sub-10.
400m: Isaac Makwala in his first race after the World Championships, where he was pulled from the 400m due to illness. Steven Gardiner is the other sub-44 man in the line-up.
1500m: World champion Elijah Manangoi is joined by the other London medallists, Timothy Cheruiyot and Filip Ingebrigtsen, while Silas Kiplagat and Asbel Kiprop also challenge.
5000m: Mo Farah gets a real test for his last track race, led by the man who ended his winning streak in London, Muktar Edris, who is seeking his third Diamond League win in 2017. With Paul Chelimo, Yomif Kejelcha and Selemon Barega also in the field, the top five from London are there. 12:55.23 is the WL.
400m hurdles: World champion Karsten Warholm looks to stay unbeaten for 2017, with London silver and bronze winners Yasmani Copello and Kerron Clement out to stop him. McMaster ready for surprise after London dq.
High jump: Mutaz Barshim can challenge the 1991 meeting record of 2.40m, while Majd Gazal and Mateusz Przybylko could be in the mix.
Long jump: All three World podium-placers are here in the shape of winner Luvo Manyonga, plus Jarrion Lawson and Rushwal Samaai. Can Manyonga go for MR of 860?
Pole vault: London winner Sam Kendricks highlights the field, taking on the other two recent World medallists, Piotr Lisek and in-shape Renaud Lavillenie. Meet record 595 under threat,
Javelin: World silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch wants to spoil the German party as the two 90-metre throwers Thomas Roller and Johannes Vetter fight it out. Meet record of Raymond Hecht is 92.28 from 1996.
Women
100m (non-DL): Sub-11 runner Barbara Pierre and Gina Luckenkemper lead the A-string field.
200m: Olympic champion Elaine Thompson attempts to make up for her London disappointment, taking on London 2017 100m and 200m champions respectively Marie-Josee Ta Lou and Dafne Schippers and 200m silver medallist Shaunae Miller-Uibo.
800m: Will Caster Semenya finally go full-out for a fast time? Fellow Rio medallists Francine Niyonsaba and Margaret Wambui are also there.
3000m steeplechase: Emma Coburn replicate her World Champs surprise? Beatrice Chepkoech has a point to prove after missing the water jump in London cost her dearly, and Olympic champion Ruth Chebet is also running. Meet record 9:07.00 should go.
100m hurdles: World champion Sally Pearson seeks to end her season on a high, taking on world silver medallist Dawn Harper-Nelson and quickest in the field, Jasmin Stowers with in-shape Sharika Nelvis.
400m hurdles (non-DL): A rare line-up without the London winner or indeed any medallists should make Zuzana Hejnova favourite. Lea Sprunger and retiring Petra Fontanive will receive the home support, though.
Shot: Michelle Carter and Anita Marton are out to stop world champion Gong Lijao becoming the first Chinese Diamond Race winner.
Triple jump: World champion Yulimar Rojas attempts to come back from her Birmingham seventh place as Catherine Ibarguen, Olga Rypakova and Kimberly Williams provide opposition.
Javelin: World champion Barbora Spotakova takes on Olympic winner Sara Kolak. They are this year 2:1 in favor of the Czech World champion.
4×100 m (non-DL): In the Zurich Trophy USA and Jamaica will fight against Germany and Britain for the win with home side having some plans.
ZURICH (SUI): As ever, Weltklasse Zurich will be vying to be the best one-day meeting of the year. Out of the 17 new world champions in action, eight will face the Olympic champions in their events. Twenty-nine minor medallists from London 2017 and 14 Rio 2016 winners are also among those chasing the $50,000 winning prize in front of a sell-out 25,000 crowd as the Swiss meeting stages the first of two Diamond League finals (Brussels being the other), featuring half the disciplines. New format will be for first time under scrutiny with points not counting and the fight for prize money starts from zero.
Event by event preview
Men
100m: CJ Ujah and Akani Simbine are among those out to challenge new world champion Justin Gatlin. Asafa Powell, last year’s winner here, is looking for his 98th sub-10.
400m: Isaac Makwala in his first race after the World Championships, where he was pulled from the 400m due to illness. Steven Gardiner is the other sub-44 man in the line-up.
1500m: World champion Elijah Manangoi is joined by the other London medallists, Timothy Cheruiyot and Filip Ingebrigtsen, while Silas Kiplagat and Asbel Kiprop also challenge.
5000m: Mo Farah gets a real test for his last track race, led by the man who ended his winning streak in London, Muktar Edris, who is seeking his third Diamond League win in 2017. With Paul Chelimo, Yomif Kejelcha and Selemon Barega also in the field, the top five from London are there. 12:55.23 is the WL.
400m hurdles: World champion Karsten Warholm looks to stay unbeaten for 2017, with London silver and bronze winners Yasmani Copello and Kerron Clement out to stop him. McMaster ready for surprise after London dq.
High jump: Mutaz Barshim can challenge the 1991 meeting record of 2.40m, while Majd Gazal and Mateusz Przybylko could be in the mix.
Long jump: All three World podium-placers are here in the shape of winner Luvo Manyonga, plus Jarrion Lawson and Rushwal Samaai. Can Manyonga go for MR of 860?
Pole vault: London winner Sam Kendricks highlights the field, taking on the other two recent World medallists, Piotr Lisek and in-shape Renaud Lavillenie. Meet record 595 under threat,
Javelin: World silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch wants to spoil the German party as the two 90-metre throwers Thomas Roller and Johannes Vetter fight it out. Meet record of Raymond Hecht is 92.28 from 1996.
Women
100m (non-DL): Sub-11 runner Barbara Pierre and Gina Luckenkemper lead the A-string field.
200m: Olympic champion Elaine Thompson attempts to make up for her London disappointment, taking on London 2017 100m and 200m champions respectively Marie-Josee Ta Lou and Dafne Schippers and 200m silver medallist Shaunae Miller-Uibo.
800m: Will Caster Semenya finally go full-out for a fast time? Fellow Rio medallists Francine Niyonsaba and Margaret Wambui are also there.
3000m steeplechase: Emma Coburn replicate her World Champs surprise? Beatrice Chepkoech has a point to prove after missing the water jump in London cost her dearly, and Olympic champion Ruth Chebet is also running. Meet record 9:07.00 should go.
100m hurdles: World champion Sally Pearson seeks to end her season on a high, taking on world silver medallist Dawn Harper-Nelson and quickest in the field, Jasmin Stowers with in-shape Sharika Nelvis.
400m hurdles (non-DL): A rare line-up without the London winner or indeed any medallists should make Zuzana Hejnova favourite. Lea Sprunger and retiring Petra Fontanive will receive the home support, though.
Shot: Michelle Carter and Anita Marton are out to stop world champion Gong Lijao becoming the first Chinese Diamond Race winner.
Triple jump: World champion Yulimar Rojas attempts to come back from her Birmingham seventh place as Catherine Ibarguen, Olga Rypakova and Kimberly Williams provide opposition.
Javelin: World champion Barbora Spotakova takes on Olympic winner Sara Kolak. They are this year 2:1 in favor of the Czech World champion.
4×100 m (non-DL): In the Zurich Trophy USA and Jamaica will fight against Germany and Britain for the win with home side having some plans.
