by Alfonz JuckThe Shanghai DL meet is to be held on May 18, 2018. Jeff Shaver, special correspondent to @runblogrun, will be covering the second DL of the season for us. The following is the preview by EME News.
The men’s 400m hurdles race is probably one of the most exciting duels of this or and season, with Samba’s 46.98 and Benjamin’s 47.02, the opening in 2019 could be very fast.
The women’s 1,500m looks exciting as well as the women’s steeplechase.
Abderhaman Samba, photo by PhotoRun.net
Rai Benjamin, photo by PhotoRun.net
Coleman for 100 m, Samba vs Benjamin, great field events
SHANGHAI (CHN): The 10th IAAF Diamond League continues with second leg at Chinese businness main city on a new track. Superb fields feature many notable season openers, several World leads and meet records are expected. But with in shape Abderrahmane Samba and Rai Benjamin in the 400 m hurdles even more could happen. Back after injury breaks Andre De Grasse in the 200 m and Bohdan Bondarenko in high jump, pro debut of Sydney McLaughlin is also something to watch. Home wins are expected in women´s shot and javelin. Last year fastest man Christian Coleman after passing on indoor competes in first individual race of the year.
Short event by event previews
Men
100m – All nine entrants have broken the 10 second-barrier. They include Americans Christian Coleman (9.79) and Noah Lyles (9.88) and last year’s winner Reece Prescod (9.94).
200m (non-DL) – Seven entrants boast sub-20 PBs including world champion Ramil Guliyev (19.76) and Olympic silver medallist Andre de Grasse (19.80). The fastest on paper is South Africa’s Clarence Munyai at 19.69.
400m – World silver medallist Steven Gardiner, who won in 2018 in a meet record of 43.99, and USA’s Fred Kerley both make their season’s debuts in the 400m.
5000m – The Ethiopian trio of Selemon Barega, Hagos Gebrhiwet and Yomif Kejelcha could dominate proceedings. Other standout entrants include Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei and Olympic 5000m silver medallist Paul Chelimo from the USA. WL very possible.
110m hurdles – World and Olympic champion Omar McLeod from Jamaica is targeting his fourth successive win in Shanghai. He faces former world champion Sergey Shubenkov who makes his season’s debut.
400m hurdles – Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba and USA’s Rai Benjamin, the second and joint third fastest athletes of all-time, go head-to-head for the first time. The meeting record of 48.63 is expected to fall. Can they come close to WR?
High jump – Line-up features the three medallists from the European Championships (Przybylko, Nedasekau, Ivanyuk) while former world champion Bogdan Bondarenko from Ukraine returns to competition after injury. WL should be established.
Long jump – World champion Luvo Manyonga is expected to win. A strong Chinese contingent including Wang Jianan should be competitive.
Javelin – Germans Thomas Rohler and Andreas Hofmann both make their season’s debuts. World leader Cheng Chao-Tsun from Chinese Taipei (86.72m) also competes.
Women
100m – Double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson contests her first 100m since July. She faces four sub-11 competitors including Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare. WL possible.
400m – Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser races for the first time since her busy schedule at the Asian Championships while Sydney McLaughlin makes her Diamond League debut.
1500m – Sifan Hassan drops back down in distance after outings over 10,000m and the half marathon. WL for sure.
3000m steeplechase – World record-holder Beatrice Chepkoech contests her first steeplechase of the season. Her main rivals include Kenyan teammates Celliphine Chespol and Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai. MR possibe, WL for sure.
Pole vault – Excellent field assembled including world and Olympic champion Ekaterini Stefanidi and world indoor champion Sandi Morris.
Shot put – China’s world champion Gong Lijiao will be challenging for victory on home soil. The field also features USA’s Chase Ealey (19.67m) and Jamaica’s Danniel Thomas-Dodd (19.48m) whose season’s bests are in excess of Gong’s 19.18m.
Javelin – Lyu Huihui will be looking for victory on home soil after an early season world-leading 67.72m. Germany’s European champion Christin Hussong and Tatsiana Khaladovich have also surpassed 65m in 2019.
