by Alfonz Juck
Aberraham Samba sets NR, MR, DLR, with 47.57 for 400 meter hurdles in Doha DL, photo by PhotoRun.net
Karston Warholm, London 2017 World Champion, photo by PhotoRun.net
The Rome Diamond League is the fourth of the fourteen meets of the 2018 Diamond League season. The Stadio Olimpico features a great track, and a group of fans who love track and field. Here’s our event by event preview from EME News.
Samba vs Warholm could be something special, Tortu for the home fans
ROME (ITA): IAAF Diamond League races hot up as the series reaches Europe at the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea on Thursday. 100 m show-down with Coleman, Baker, Vicaut and home fast sprinters Tortu and Jacobs is the highlight.
Event by event short previews
Men
100m – Ronnie Baker faces a rematch with world indoor 60m champion Christian Coleman after he beat him in Eugene. World 200m champion Ramil Guliyev steps down. After recent 10.03, can teenager Filippo Tortu break the Italian record of the man after whom the meeting is named? WL in danger.
400m – 43.70 man Fred Kerley makes his European outdoor circuit debut, trying to make up for Shanghai fourth. Abdallelah Haroun is the man to beat. Oscar Husillos comes out for the outdoors hoping to smash through 45 seconds after his 44.92 World Indoor dq.
800m – Emmanuel Korir tries to remain on top as he takes on Shanghai winner Wycliffe Kinyamal. Jonathan Kitlit and Adam Kszczot also there.
1500m – World champion Elijah Manangoi faces Taresa Tolosa, who beat him in Doha and Timothy Cheruiot and Samuel Tefere, who beat him in Eugene. World junior champion and his brother George Manangoi is in the field too.
400m hurdles – After his sensational 47.57 in Doha, can Aberraham Samba go even quicker? Olympic champion Kerron Clement and world champion Karsten Warholm, plus Yasmani Copello are out to halt the emergence of a new star.
3000m steeplechase (non-DL) – After his shock Eugene win, Benjamin Kigen looks to stay as the man against world and Olympic champ Conseslus Kipruto. Lawrence Kipsang and Amos Kirui also line up. What is the shape of Mekhissi? They should run a WL.
Pole vault – World champion Sam Kendricks seeks to continue good shape after Eugene win. World silver medallist Piotr Lisek is most likely to challenge as Olympic champion Thiago Braz and former world champ Shawnacy Barber seek return to form.
Long jump – World and DL champion Luvo Manyonga is out to prove his dominance as he takes on Olympic champion Jeff Henderson, world bronze medallist Rushwahl Samaai, Marquis Dendy and World Indoor champion Juan Miguel EchevarrÃa. Is 861 MR the target?
Discus – Andrius Gudzius, the 2017 DL and world champion, versus world silver medallist Daniel Stahl plus in-form Lukas Weisshaidinger. in shape also Jamaican Dacres, late withdrawal is Christioph Harting due to back problems. But boys lets go for MR 68.78.
Women
200m – Third in Shanghai, Shericka Jackson faces world silver medallist Marie-Josee Ta Lou. Kyra Jefferson, Felicia Brown and Joanna Atkins are also in the field.
400m (non-DL) – World silver medallist Salwa Eid Naser makes her 2018 debut as quickest in the field this year is Jaide Stepter. In shape also Swiety from Poland.
100m hurdles – Olympic champion Brianna McNeal and Sharika Nelvis are the standouts as Commonwealth champion Tobi Amusan, Danielle Williams and Elvira Herman look to get in on the act.
400m hurdles (non-DL) – Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad and Commonwealth winner Janieve Russell swapped the top two places in Eugene and Shanghai and vie for honours here. Georganne Moline is the biggest challenger to this pair as Lea Sprunger climbs barriers for first time in 2018.
3000m steeplechase – World champion Emma Coburn makes her chase debut for 2018, while Celliphine Chespol looks to avenge Commonwealth defeat at the hands of Aisha Praught. After fast runs in Shanghai, winner Beatrice Chepkoech, Norah Jeruto, former World champion Hyvin Kiyeng and Daisy Jepkemei are back. WL and MR expected.
High jump – Mariya Lasitskene goes for win No.40 in a row but can she set a world record at the site of the existing one? Will she go for 202 WL? Shanghai runner-up Mirela Demireva, former world indoor champion Vashti Cunningham, Commonwealth champion Levern Spencer and world silver medallist Yuliya Levchenko are also there.
Discus – The top four from Doha are back, including world and Olympic champion Sandra Perkovic and 2015 world champion Denia Caballero, plus Yaime Perez. MR 68.90 is the target.
