Chorzow, Poland Diary: Allyson, Brittney, Genzebe, Renaud take a Trip to Poland

CHORZOW (POL): Renovated Slaski Stadium here is looking forward to Friday´s debut with top international athletics. The oldest Polish Meeting Kusocinski Memorial (EA Classic) will stage its 64th edition here. And with some international top stars. French World record holder Renaud Lavillenie is facing home duo Piotr Lisek and Pawel Wojciechowski in pole vault. Genzebe Dibaba will run her first outdoor European race in 2018 in the 1500 m with the goal to attack the 4 minutes barrier. In shot put Olympic winner Ryan Crouser and World champion Tom Walsh are clashing not only with Michal Haratyk and Konrad Bukowiecki but also with German David Storl. Two female US stars will enhance the quality of the event with expected up to 30 000 spectators. Multiple Olympic winner Allyson Felix will run her first 400 m of the year against Polish elite headed by improved Justyna Swiety-Ersetic. World champion Brittney Reese in long jump plans her only competition in Europe here with the aim to attack the World lead of 699 against Shara Proctor and Christabel Nettey. From London 2017 winners also there Andrius Gudzius in duel with Olympic champion 2012 Robert Harting, Ehsan Hadadi and home top duo Piotr Malachowski and Robert Urbanek. Another World champion competing is Sergey Shubenkov in the 110 m hurdles. Kipyegon Bett and Ferguson Rotich will ran against Adam Kszczot the 800 m, US sprinter Deajah Stevens is clashing with Ewa Swoboda in the 100 m. Both hammers are part of IAAF Hammer Challenge. Men with local heroes Pawel Fajdek and Wojciech Nowicki against Briton Nick Miller, Olympic winner Dilshod Nazarov and in-shape Bence Halasz of Hungary. On the women side second competition of the season for World and European gold medalist Anita Wlodarczyk. In high jump European leader Dmitriy Nabokau against Andriy Protsenko and home Sylwester Bednarek. In the 400 m in-shape US runner Paul Dedewo competes against top Polish this year Karol Zalewski.

RunBlogRun: Well, Chorzow is rocking this year. The fields are as good as some Diamond League meetings. We shall hope to be watching this meet on Polish TV (how I watched FBK Games).