by Alfonz JuckThe Gateshead meet is Tuesday. It will be the last DL meeting of the pre Tokyo Olympic timeline. Some good races, as EME news previews below.
Katerina Johnson Thompson, Jake Wightman, Holly Bradshaw, photo by Diamond League AG
Superb men´s 100 m field, German stars
GATESHEAD (GBR): Final Wanda DL meet before Olympic Games will have several medal contenders competing. The Muller British Grand Prix was moved from London to Gateshead and the great field is in men´s 100 m, also women’s 400 m hurdles. In javelin and long jump with German stars Johannes Vetter and Malaika Mihambo. Interesting men´s 3000 m and 110 m hurdles in the program too. After Olympic Games, the first DL meet will be Prefontaine Classic on August 20-21.
Short previews
Men
100m – After Monaco loss, US champion and world leader Trayvon Bromell faces teammates Fred Kerley and Isiah Young, both of whom have also broken the 10 second-barrier this year. Treble Olympic champion Andre De Grasse also competes and is the fourth sub-10 second athlete in the line-up
400 m (non-DL) – In the British field the top name Matthew Hudson-Smith.
800m – US champion Clayton Murphy faces teammates Isaiah Harris and Bryce Hoppel along with Kenya’s Wycliffe Kinyamal who has also broken the 1:44-barrier this year.
Mile (non-DL) – Jake Wightman is the standout entrant in the Emsley Carr Mile. Also running 800 m star Elliot Giles.
3000m – Spain’s Mo Katir and Stewart McSweyn from Australia will be looking to post fast times after recent national records over 1500m in Monaco.
110m hurdles – Jamaica’s Omar McLeod races for the first time after pulling up at the Jamaican Championships. He faces his compatriots Ronald Levy and Rasheed Broadbill and world indoor champion Andrew Pozzi.
High jump – Sweden’s Fabian Delryd is the only athlete to have cleared 2.30m outdoors this year.
Triple jump – Pedro Pablo Pichardo is the outstanding favorite after recently setting a world lead of 17.92m.
Javelin – Will Johannes Vetter extend his streak of 90 meter-plus throws?
4×100 m – Home Britain goes against Canada and Brazil with some all-stars teams.
Women
100 m (non-DL) – Swiss Ajla Del Ponte as the main name here.
200m – Double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah competes for the first time after her sizzling 10.71. The line-up also includes newcomer Tamara Clark who clocked 21.98 at the US Championships.
400m – Jamaica’s Stephenie Ann McPherson is the only athlete to have broken the 50-second barrier in the line-up with 49.61.
Mile – Sifan Hassan is a late withdrawal from this race (thigh niggle). Will Kate Grace translate her fine recent 800m form to the longer distance?
100m hurdles – A home win for Cindy Sember who is the fastest on paper at 12.53 this season? The line-up also features Jamaica’s former world champion Danielle Williams and Nadine Visser who continue her return from injury.
400m hurdles – Another head-to-head between Femke Bol and Shamier Little is anticipated after close races in Stockholm and Szekesfehervar.
Long jump – World and European champion Malaika Mihambo from Germany faces European indoor champion Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk from Ukraine. World heptathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson returns to top-level competition after injury.
Pole vault – Holly Bradshaw goes head-to-head with reigning world indoor champion Sandi Morris.
4×100 m – Netherlands and Switzerland with Canada will be the rivals for the home Great Britain team.
