by Alfonz JuckThe Athletissiam meeting is one of my favorite events of the year. A fine stadium, excited crowd and fine weather make the meet a big PB night. Watching the Pole Vault at one end of the field and Mariya Lasitskene doing the high jump at the other end of the track. Swiss fans love their athletes so, Lea Sprunger and Selina Buchel, plus the Swiss 4x100m team.
Here’s the predictions from EME News on 2019 Athletissima DL!
Mondo Duplantis is on fire! photo by PhotoRun.net
Lyles vs Guliyev vs De Grasse vs Brown
LAUSANNE (SUI): The 44th Athletissima is promising a firework of top rivalries and results. Mariya Lasitskene could be in position to attack the global mark. Cuban Echevarria the World lead. Men´s 200 m with Lyles, De Grasse and Guliyev will be special. Great fields in men´s 1500 and 5000 m, traditionally men´s hurdles. Great clashes like Ibarguen-Rojas, Kendricks-Duplantis or Naser-Jackson. And some Swiss interest with Kambundji, Sprunger, Wanders and the relay.
Short previews
Men
100m (non-DL): In-form Justin Gatlin follows up his recent 9.87. Rodgers will try to be close.
200m – Noah Lyles is favourite but Ramil Guliyev and Andre de Grasse will be hoping to run him close. In-form Alex Wilson will have the crowd behind him.
800m – An open race as Diamond League champion Emmanuel Korir looks for his first victory of the season, with Amel Tuka arriving on two wins from two this season. Brandon McBride is quickest this year.
1500m – Timothy Cheruiyot looks for his third DL win of the series with Samuel Tefera and Jakob Ingebrigtsen pushing. First sub 3.30 of the year?
5000m – World No.1 Telahun Haile Bekele is one of 15 sub-13 athletes in the field, including Yomif Kejelcha, Hagos Gebrhiwet, Selemon Barega and Eugene two miles winner Joshua Cheptegei. Also here a hunt for a WL.
110m hurdles – Has season debutant Pascal Martinot-Lagarde sufficiently recovered from injury to threaten Orlando Ortega, who looks to continue on from his Eugene win? Andy Pozzi, Xie Wenjun and Ronald Levy among the other challengers. Pro debut for US sensation Daniel Roberts.
400m hurdles (non-DL) – Seb Rodger is quickest in the field on this season’s times.
Pole vault – Armand Duplantis has the momentum after his Eugene win, but Sam Kendricks has three wins this season. Renaud Lavillenie is also there.
Long jump – Will Claye switches to long jump after joining the 18m club. Juan Miguel Echevarria and Luvo Manyonga may need to be near top form.
Women
100m – Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Dina Asher-Smith try to get back on course after recent blips with Marie-Jose Ta Lou heading towards top form.
200m (non-DL) – An open race is expected between several contenders, including Jodie Williams, Anthonique Strachan and Olga Safronova.
400m – Can Salwa Eid Naser make it four out of four for the DL this year? Shericka Jackson will threaten after 49.78 at the Jamaican Champs.
800m (non-DL): Nelly Jepkosgei is quickest this year with home Selina Buchel and young Slovak Gabriela Gajanova the others to look out for.
400m hurdles – Shamier Little and Ashley Spencer lead the way on times, but Lea Sprunger will have home support.
High jump – Mariya Lasitskene is the obvious favourite, can she improve her 206 WL?
Triple jump – Caterine Ibarguen is unbeaten since 2017 in this event, but following her recent world lead, Yulimar Rojas starts favourite. They will meet for first time since 2017.
Shot – Chase Ealey seeks to add to her Shanghai win with Christina Schwanitz and Danniel Thomas-Dodd the leading threats.
Javelin – After a recent 67m throw, Tatsiana Khaladovich looks for her first Diamond League win of the year. Sara Kolak, Kelsey-Lee Barber and Liu Shiying challenge. But Spotakova also seeks the shape.
4x100m (non-DL) – Switzerland feature three teams with France and Netherlands among the others.
