by Alfonz Juck
Mondo Duplantis takes Oslo DL in 6.01m, photo by Diamond League AG
This is the preview of the Stockholm meeting by EME News.
Duplantis and much more
STOCKHOLM (SWE): Fifth this year Wanda Diamond League meet BAUHAUS-Galan offers for allowed 6000 spectators excellent line-up full of Olympic medalist contenders. In 15 DL events and a robust programme of accompanying events a nice Scandinavian early afternoon of athletics is expected. Home hero Mondo Duplantis will face a tougher field than in Oslo. Daniel Stahl will fight again with Kristjan Ceh. Femke Bol is also there. The new ingredient will be Yaroslava Mahuchikh in the high jump. First year sub 9 time in women steeple is possible and Juan Miguel Echevarria returns to the place of his windy huge jump from 2018.
Short previews
Men
100m – The line-up features four sub-10 second performers: the US trio of Ronnie Baker (9.85), Marvin Bracy (9.85) and Isiah Young (9.89) and European indoor champion Marcell Jacobs (9.95).
400m – Botswana’s Isaac Makwala is returning to form with a 44.47 season’s best but former world champion Kirani James from Grenada is also looking good again.
800m – World silver medallist Amel Tuka and world bronze medallist Ferguson Cheruiyot Rotich are among the standout names in the line-up. Nobody in the field has broken 1:44 outdoors this year although Elliot Giles did run 1:43.63 indoors.
1500m – Timothy Cheruiyot is the big favourite despite missing out on Kenyan team selection.
400m hurdles – Second in Oslo in 47.38, Brazil’s Alison Dos Santos should take victory although Kyron McMaster has improved to 47.50 this season.
Long jump – Cuba’s Juan Miguel Echevarria returns to the scene of his incredible marginally wind-aided 8.83m (2.1) from 2018. World champion Tajay Gayle from Jamaica is also in the line-up.
Pole vault – Armand Duplantis competes fresh from clearing a meeting record of 6.01m in Oslo. He faces world champion Sam Kendricks along with Renaud Lavillenie and from Bydgoszcz field Chris Nilsen and Piotr Lisek. Can Duplantis improve his meeting record which also stands at 6.01m?
Discus – Home favourite Daniel Stahl and the vastly improving Kristjan Ceh are due to clash for the third time in eight days.
Women
200m – Shericka Jackson is now the outstanding favourite with Sha’Carri Richardson not competing due to a one month ban. Will Namibia’s Beatrice Masilingi improve her 22.67 PB?
800m – In-form Cuban Rose Mary Almanza faces Oslo winner Kate Grace and the British trio of Keely Hodgkinson, Laura Muir and Jemma Reekie.
3000m steeplechase – The line-up features world champion Beatrice Chepkoech and world bronze medallist Gesa Felicitas Krause along with former world champion Hyvin Kiyeng.
400m hurdles – Femke Bol will be looking to extend her win streak to 10 raced but Shamier Little should provide tough opposition to the Dutchwoman. The meeting record of 53.70 held by Zuzana Hejnova looks vulnerable.
Long jump – Another head-to-head between Malaika Mihambo and Ivana Spanovic? European indoor champion Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk will look to improve on her last performance in Oslo where she didn’t record a valid jump.
High jump – Yaroslava Mahuchikh is the big favourite although Australia’s Nicola McDermott has also cleared 2.00m this year.
Pole Vault (non DL) – British record holder Holly Bradshaw looks to be name to watch.
Shot put – The line-up features the in-form European indoor champion Auriol Dongmo from Portugal and the great Valerie Adams from New Zealand. Six of the throwers have broken the 19 metre-line this year.
