by Alfonz Juck
Diamond League awards, photo courtesy of Weltklasse Media
This is the preview of the the first of two Diamond League finals, which go August 30 and August 31 in Zurich and Brussels. EME News provides these previews, event by event.
Exciting clashes
ZURICH (SUI): Exciting clashes are ready to for the Weltklasse Zurich IAAF Diamond League final at sold out Letzigrund. 16 Diamond Trophy winners will be known on Thursday, at the end a show is expected. Strong fields in men steeple and women 5000 m, also in men javelin and Lyles vs Guliyev as another highlight in the 200 m. Another question is what will be Semenya´s winning time in the 800 m.
Short previews
Men
200m: Noah Lyles is back in action at this distance for the first time since July 20 as the in-form Ramil Guliyev could post his first win against the world No.1.
400: Steven Gardiner starts favourite as Fred Kerley and Baboloki Thebe lead the other contenders.
1500m: A fast pace is on cards as Timothy Cheruiyot and Elijah Manangoi go head to head again with Filip Ingebrigtsen looking to get in among them.
3000m steeplechase: World-record pace has been requested as Soufiane El Bakkali, Conseslus Kipruto, Benjamin Kigen and Evan Jager square up.
400m hurdles: Without Abderrahman Samba, Karsten Warholm is a big favourite As Yasmani Copello and Kyron McMaster hope to spring a surprise.
Long jump: Luvo Manyonga is favourite to defend his title, as Ruswahl Samaai and Jeff Henderson pose the threat.
Shot: Darrell Hill has a tough task to defend his title against European champion Michal Haratyk, world No.1 Tomas Walsh and Olympic winner Ryan Crouser.
Javelin: Five 88m-plus throwers line up, European champion Thomas Rohler, Diamond League title-holder Jakub Vadlejch, European silver medalist Andreas Hofmann and recent Asian Games winner Neeraj Chopra.
Women
100m: Marie Josee Ta Lou meets the athlete who matched her world-leading time Dina Asher-Smith. Murielle Ahoure and Dafne Schippers are also there.
800m: Big favourite Caster Semenya may be looking for another fast time. Natoya Goule, Francine Niyonsaba and Ajee Wilson are the biggest threats.
5000m: The in-form Sifan Hassan is against Genzebe Dibaba, Agnes Tirop and 2017 DL winner Hellen Obiri.
400m hurdles: Dalilah Muhammad defends her DL title with Shamier Little, Georganne Moline and Janieve Russell the chief opposition.
High jump: Mariya Lasitskene is a big favourite to retain her title as Mirela Demirova and Elena Vallortigara look to stop her.
Pole vault: Ekaterini Stefanidi seeks her third straight Diamond League title, but Sandi Morris will be a big obstacle. Anzhelika Sidorova, Katie Nageotte and Holly Bradshaw also line-up.
Triple jump: World No.1 Catherine Ibarguen is looking for her fifth Diamond League trophy and 34 DL win overall. Tori Franklin and Kimberly Williams lead the challenge.
Javelin: Lyu Huihui is best on paper this season, but compatriot Liu Shiying is out to repeat her recent Asian Games win over her.
4x100m (non-DL): European champions Great Britain and Jamaica face off for global sprint relay bragging rights in 2018. Switzerland, Netherlands and Germany will be in with a shout too.
