by Alfonz JuckComebacks by Thompson, Hall and Pichardo
SHANGHAI/KEQIAO(CHN): Keqiao district of Shaoxing in Zhejiang province is the stage for 2nd Wanda DL meet 2025. Forecast for 30+ weather, season progressing, overall expectations are higher than week before. Although this time no WR attempts, still lot of WL/MR possible. Duplantis for six meters, Mahuchikh for two meters, Thompson to duel with Simbine, Hall is back for first time since Paris, can young Yan be a threat for Kitaguchi? Many good questions. And usual hurdles dramas. Warholm with attack on earliest ever sub 47 in the season.
Short previews
Men
100 m: Xiamen field with winner Simbine and added in his first 100 since Paris Games silver medalist Kishane Thompson. WL is 9.90.
400 m: Similar field as in Xiamen with winner Ndori on top, but Olympic winner Hall comes in (first race since Olympic win). Can they come close to 44 seconds? MR is 43.99.
5000 m: Was not in Xiamen. MR is 12:55.68 and outdoor WL 13:05.87 both within the reach. Main target Tokyo standard 13:01 (pacers Akbache and E. Kibet). Aregawi and Kipkorir the names to watch.
Steeple: Xiamen field without El Bakkali, can they go faster than 8:05.61 last week? Would be WL, MR is 8:01.16. New pacer Kones with Bouassel, aim: 8:02 (2:40, 5:21).
110mH: Holloway is out, but Broadbell comes in. Can Tinch repeat, first sub 13 of the year?
400mH: Warholm debut at his main distance. WL 47.61 and MR 47.27 both in danger. Lima for first sub 48 of his career? Earliest sub 47 was achieved by Dos Santos last year on May 10 (46.86).
Pole Vault: All from Xiamen except of Guttormsen. Mondo ready for high quality mark, they played golf and all well relaxed. Should be better results than last weekend. MR is 600.
Long Jump: (non-DL): Nearly the same field, Zhang wants to repeat, but Adcock and co will be against.
Triple Jump: This time DL scoring, Oly winner Pichardo comes in (1st competition since DL Final), Zhu wants to win but J. Scott is in shape. Outdoor WL 17.37 and MR 17.24 doable.
Women
200 m: New rival for Xiamen winner Battle is Adeleke. Norwegian Jager comes in.
800 m: Was not in Xiamen, MR 1:58.58, WL 1:58.23, all possible. Duguma there, pace by Jaguscik POL 58.5.
100mH: Whole field from Xiamen there, only Clay as 10th missing, Stark and Charlton with difficulties last Saturday this time attacking Williams. Why not WL 12.49 or MR 12.50.
HJ: Australians to attack Olympic winner Mahuchikh. MR of Vlasic 202 dates back to 2007. Doable.
Shot Put: Meet record 20.23 under threat, outdoor WL 20.47 also. Schilder vs Jackson, Gong not competing this time, but added Dodd-Thomas.
Discus (non-DL): Clear favorite Allman, all here from Xiamen except home Feng Bin.
Javelin: Oly winner Kitaguchi in season opener, and home young WJR breaker Yan Ziyi (will be 18 this month), can Tzengo confirm her shape from Xiamen.
