ROME (ITA): The Wanda Diamond League arrives in Europe, and the Italian capital is hosting the Pietro Mennea Golden Gala on Thursday. Three disciplines have their DL season debut, the men’s high jump and triple jump, and women’s 5000m, while both short hurdlers, and men’s 100m sprinters and shot putters will compete already for the third time this season. Three reigning Olympic champions and three reigning World champions are due to start in their championship events. Several athletes are opening their summer, or even their season, campaigns, including Melissa Jefferson-Wooden in an all-star battle against Julien Alfred. Stellar fields also in the men’s 100m with Noah Lyles, long jump and shot put, and women’s pole vault. Home stars Marcell Jacobs, Leonardo Fabbri and Nadia Battocletti against the Ethiopian contingent, and mainly a European showdown in the women’s 400m and 100m hurdles. The main session starts at 9:04 pm CET with the women’s 400m hurdles.
Short event-by-event previews
Women
200m: Treble world champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden contests her first individual race since Tokyo. She faces a field including Olympic 100m champion and world leader (21.86), Julien Alfred, and world silver medallist Amy Hunt.
400m: The field includes European champion Natalia Bukowiecka, world indoor champion Lurdes Gloria Manuel, European indoor champion and silver medallist Lieke Klaver, Henriette Jaeger and Shanghai DL winner Nickisha Pryce. Can Keely Hodgkinson challenge the 50-second barrier in her first Diamond League race at the distance?
1500m: Wide open field includes world indoor champion Georgia Hunter-Bell, who races for the first time since March. Australia’s Abbey Caldwell, who won in Xiamen in 3:57.26, is also targeting back-to-back Diamond League wins. Nikki Hiltz in her outdoor opener. 2:39 1km pace to attack 3:57.
5000m: Home favourite Nadia Battocletti returns to action after a recent bout of flu. The line-up features a massive Ethiopian cohort including Likina Amebaw, Aleshign Baweke, Medine Eisa, Senayet Getachew and Freweyni Hailu. Other notable entrants include Olympic steeple champion Winfred Yavi and European indoor 3000m champion Sarah Healy. Aiming for 8:37.5 in the 3000 m, the goal is the Italian record.
100m hurdles: Who will prevail with Masai Russell and Tobi Amusan both absent? Nadine Visser has the best season’s best with 12.47. Can 17-year-old Alessia Succo challenge the 13-second barrier on her Diamond League debut? Megan Simmonds was fastest in China.
400m hurdles: Can anyone stop Emma Zapletalová, who ran a world lead and Slovakian record of 52.82 in Rabat? She faces a slightly stronger field, including world silver medallist Jasmine Jones and former world record-holder Dalilah Muhammad.
Pole vault: Olympic champion Nina Kennedy is targeting back-to-back Diamond League wins after victory in Rabat. 5 of the top 6 ranked vaulters are competing.
Men
100m: Last race of the programme includes the last two Olympic 100m champions – Noah Lyles and Marcell Jacobs – against world indoor champion Jordan Anthony and Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo. Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala is the in-form sprinter, though. Also Jeremiah Azu and Ackeem Blake.
Marcell Jacobs, Julien Alfred, Noah Lyles,
New Balance Indoor Grand Prix
Track & Field press conference
February 2, 2025
Boston,
MA USA,
photo by Kevin R. Morris
800m (non-DL): Notable entrants include Bryce Hoppel and Gabriel Tual who won the European title on this track in 2024. World 1500m champion Isaac Nader drops down in distance. Also Donovan Brazier and Shanghai winner Mark English. 1:16 pace for 600 m with aiming for Italian record.
110m hurdles: Can Jamal Britt make it five successive wins? He faces US teammate Trey Cunningham who makes his season’s debut and Japan’s Rachid Muratake who has the fastest season’s best at 13.05. Also World indoor champion Jakub Szymanski.
High jump: A completely wide open field includes world bronze medallist Jan Štefela and world indoor silver medallist Erick Portillo. Can Matteo Sioli surprise at home? World Indoor champion Doroshchuk is a late withdrawal.
Long jump: Miltiadis Tentoglou will be targeting back-to-back Diamond League wins against a field including world indoor champion Gerson Balde, European indoor champion Bozhidar Saraboyukov, and Tajay Gayle, while injured Mattia Furlani is missing.
Triple jump: Can home favourite Andy Diaz strike for victory? He faces world outdoor leader Jordan Scott who has jumped 17.66m this year. Also Yasser Triki and Lázaro Martínez to watch.
Shot put: Joe Kovacs will be looking for back-to-back wins after setting a 22.58m world lead in Rabat. He faces world champion and world indoor champion Ryan Crouser and Tom Walsh as well as European champion Leonardo Fabbri and Xiamen winner Rajindra Campbell.
Javelin: The line-up features a field including the 1-2-3 from Rabat: Anderson Peters, Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage and world champion Keshorn Walcott.
