by Alfonz JuckThe second Diamond League Meeting of 2018 has some seriously exciting events. Here’s the previews of the meet, courtesy of EME News. Remember to watch this excellent event on Saturday, May 12!
Gong Lijao, photo by PhotoRun.net
Manyonga, Lavillenie, Lasitskene top jumping
SHANGHAI (CHN): 9th IAAF Diamond League continues with second leg in Shanghai and some top clashes. Specially in women 200 m and men´s pole vault. Also men´s 110 m hurdles and 100 m are of special interest. Home crowd will also follow women shot put and javelin with the hope for a Chinese win. In total 20 Olympic and World gold medalists are entered.
Short previews
Men
100 m: The entry-list is headed by reigning world champions Justin Gatlin and Ramil Guliyev and Diamond League winner Chijindu Ujah. Seven runners in the field have sub-10 PBs. WL 9.97 in danger.
400 m: Steven Gardiner from the Bahamas will be looking for back-to-back wins after clocking 43.87 in Doha on Friday.
800 m: Recently crowned Commonwealth champion Wycliffe Kinyamal could begin as the favourite in a race missing some notable names. Meet record 1:44.63 could go.
1500 m: World silver medallist Timothy Cheruiyot is the favourite with world champion Elijah Manangoi not competing. Also watch out for world indoor champion Samuel Tefera and Moroccan veteran Abdelaati Iguider. Also here WL is realistic.
5000 m (non-DL): World champion Muktar Edris opens his track season against a field including teammates Dejen Gebremeskel and Hagos Gebrhiwet and Olympic silver medallist Paul Chelimo. World and Olympic steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto makes his international debut at the distance. Another WL expected.
110 m hurdles: World and Olympic champion Omar McLeod faces former world champion Sergey Shubenkov, world record-holder Aries Merritt and Commonwealth champion Ronald Levy who is the fastest with a 13.19 season’s best.
LJ: World champion and meet record holder (861) Luvo Manyonga goes head-to-head with Olympic champion Jeff Henderson who is back in form with a season’s best of 8.44m.
PV: Top field is headed by reigning world indoor champion Renaud Lavillenie who leads the world lists with 5.95m. World champion Sam Kendricks, European indoor champion Piotr Lisek and Commonwealth champion Kurtis Marschall are also in the line-up, along with three former world champions (Pawel Wojciechowski, Raphael Holzdeppe and Shawn Barber).
Women
200 m: Should be a repeat of the World Championships with Dafne Schippers, Marie-Josee Ta Lou and Shaunae Miller-Uibo all competing. Meet record 22.36 should not be valid after this race.
100 m H: Expect another clash between reigning Olympic champion (and WL holder) Brianna McNeal and world record-holder Kendra Harrison. Also here meet record 12.56 under serious threat.
400 m H: Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad faces Commonwealth champion Janieve Russell who has already clocked 54.01 this year.
3000 m steeplechase (non-DL): Kenyans Beatrice Chepkoech (8:59.84) and Norah Jeruto (9:03.70) are the fastest based on PBs. WL very possible.
HJ: Reigning world indoor and outdoor champion Mariya Lasitskene opens her season. Commonwealth champion Levern Spencer, who leads the world lists with 1.95m, also competes.
TJ: Entry-list is headed by reigning Olympic champion Caterine Ibarguen from Colombia and recently crowned Commonwealth and world indoor champion Kimberly Williams from Jamaica.
JT: Fresh from a 66.53m PB, Poland’s Marcelina Witek faces a strong field including Sunette Viljoen and European champion Tatiana Khaladovich. Also Chinese chances high here. MR 64.08 to be beaten.
SP: Excellent field is headed by reigning world champion Gong Lijiao, world indoor champion Anita Marton, Commonwealth champion Danniel Thomas-Dodd and Raven Saunders who leads the world lists with 19.56m. Valerie Adams also returns to the Diamond League circuit.
