by Alfonz Juck
STOCKHOLM (SWE): The last Wanda DL meet before the European Championships will be after the Bislett Games, another Scandinavian classic, the Bauhaus Galan, at another legendary venue, Stockholm´s Olympic Stadium. Home fans will cheer for Mondo Duplantis in the pole vault, Daniel Stahl in the discus, and new running star Andreas Almgren in the 3000 m. Femke Bol will run her first 400 m hurdles of the year, DL debut 2024 also for Yaroslava Mahuchikh in the high jump. WR holder Lamecha Girma in the first steeple of the year, and Alison dos Santos comes from a big Oslo win. Traditional Diamonds are ready for those who achieve meeting records.
Short previews
Men
M 100m: Sani Brown and Eseme with Forde may be the favorites. Is it Larsson for another NR?
M 800m: The WL holder from Ostrava Sedjati wants to be faster. In the 1500 m field, World champ Wightman is also competing, as are Pattison and Moula.
M 3000m: Some from Oslo 5000m compete again (Lobalu, Almgren, Grijalva, who all set NRs), plus Narve Gilje Nordas and Birhanu Balew of Bahrain. Outdoor WL looks clear.
M 400mH: Alison does Santos compete again as does Kyron McMaster. Asian record holder Abderrahman AlSaleck (formerly Samba) in the first hurdles race of the year.
M 3000mSC: World Record holder Girma headlines the field and is joined by compatriots Getnet Wale, Samuel Firewu (Doha DL winner) and Simon Duguma. World Indoor Champion Geordie Beamish of New Zealand, Pan-American Games Champion Jean Simon Desgagnes also feature. WL very possible.
M PV: Mondo Duplantis headlines the field at his home Diamond League and may see another attempt at 6.25m WR after three attempts in Ostrava. Also in the field are Americans Sam Kendricks, Oslo winner KC Lightfoot, Chris Nilsen, and Ernest John Obiena.
M Discus: This is a strong field like Oslo’s, except without Kristjan Ceh. Mykolas Alekna will look for a second victory this week. MR 70.02 should be broken.
Women
100: TaLou-Smith against Dosso, sub 11 might be possible.
200: Oslo winner Brittany Brown faces World Champion Shericka Jackson, Jenna Prandini, and Amy Hunt of Great Britain. Another Brit, Daryll Neita, has withdrawn.
1500: Birke Haylom, Laura Muir, Oslo 3000m winner Georgia Griffith. Can they attack 3:55? MR 3:57.64 should be improved.
400H: Femke Bol opens her hurdles season in Stockholm in Oslo after training camp in Turkey (WL looks clear). Bislett winner Rushell Clayton of Jamaica, and Janieve Russell run as does EL holder Cathelijn Peeters.
HJ: Yaroslava Mahuchikh in years DL debut headlines alongside Australians Nicola Olyslagers and Eleanor Patterson.
SP: World Champion Chase Jackson faces fellow medallist Sarah Mitton of Canada, Jessica Schilder of the Netherlands, China’s Jiayun Song and Maggie Ewen.
TJ: After Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk’s withdrawal, Thea Lafond is a favorite in the triple jump. European Indoor Champion Tugba Danismaz, Keturah Orji of the United States, and Jamaican Shanieka Ricketts also jump.
Pre-Programme (non-DL): The women’s 800 m with Nigist Getachew and Jeema Reekie should be under 2 minutes. A great field has been assembled in the men’s 1500m, which is going for Olympic standard. Quincy Hall and Vernon Norwood are in the men’s 400 m, Alexis Holmes is in the women’s race, and Jerome Blake and Coby Hilton are in the 100 m.
