by Alfonz Juck
Samuel to Schippers, 4x100m, NED, photo by PhotoRun.net
First time Thiago Braz vs Lavillenie since the Games
ZURICH (SUI): The Weltklasse Zurich first IAAF Diamond League final of the year is having all top names who were available, sold out stadium and nice weather forecast. Some home spirit is also expected (Hussein, Buchel, Kambundji, 4×100 m). Five athletes are already confirmed winners of the Diamond Trophy, they just need to compete (Lavillenie, Schippers, Harrison, Spanovic, Perkovic). In other three the situation also looks clear (Merritt, Taylor, Beitia). Fast times are expected in men 5000 m and women 1500 m, question remains whether Jebet will try for another World record in women steeple. And the top event of the evening concerning participation is women 200 m. Special is the first duel after Rio between Thiago Braz and Renaud Lavillenie in pole vault.
Event by event
Men
100 m: Will Asafa Powell record his 97th sub-10 wind-legal clocking? Omar McLeod makes his Diamond League debut in the 100m flat while Paris winner Ben Youssef Meite also starts.
DR: Meite or Rodgers is the question. Theoretical chances also for Powell, Martina and Simbine.
400m: LaShawn Merritt should dominate again with possible Caribbean opposition (Brenes, Gardiner, Taplin).
DR: Merritt could be third and still wins the trophy.
5000m: World-lead of 12:59.29 looks vulnerable if the field is up for it. Line-up includes silver and bronze medallists Paul Chelimo and Hagos Gebrhiwet and Paris 3000m winner Yomif Kejelcha.
DR: Very open situation, looks like the winner should get it, close are Edris, Kejelcha, Gebrhiwot.
400 mH: Another clash between Olympic champion Kerron Clement and world champion Nicholas Bett who is returning to form after a poor early summer.
DR: Clement has 6 points over Culson, should be enough.
TJ: Olympic and world champion Christian Taylor returns to action and is expected to dominate. Still waiting on years first 18 m and MR is 17.79.
DR: Taylor could be fourth and still will win the Diamond Race.
PV: First Olympic rematch of Thiago Braz vs Renaud Lavillnie. Sam Kendricks and Shawn Barber also in the field. Six meters never at Weltklasse yet.
DR: Lavillenie confirmed winner (in all Diamond League editions so for 7th time).
SP: After an exciting clash in Paris, Tom Walsh and Ryan Crouser will renew their rivalry with world champion Joe Kovacs also likely to figure.
DR: Walsh 38 and Kovacs 34, who will win?
JT: Olympic champion Thomas Rohler and former Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott head the field along with in-form Czech Jakub Vadlejch.
DR: Rohler has 34 and Vadlejch 30, another duel for the trophy.
Women
200m: The event of the evening? The line-up is headed by Olympic champion Elaine Thompson, world champion Dafne Schippers and former Olympic champions Allyson Felix and Veronica Campbell-Brown.
DR: Schippers confirmed winner.
800 m: Field includes all eight Olympic finalists with Caster Semenya expected to dominate again. Pacemaker has been asked to pass 400m in 55.0-55.5.
DR: Semenya has 2 points over Niyonsaba (40:38) but whould would dare she could be beaten?
1500 m: Laura Muir is back in action after her sensational 3:55.22 world-lead in Paris. Only notable absentee is Genzebe Dibaba but dark horse going down a distance is Obiri.
DR: Kipyegon has 8 points advantage over Muir, that should be enough.
SC: Will Ruth Jebet despite her quotes chase another fast time after her 8:52.78 world record in Paris? Hyvin Kiyeng and Emma Coburn also compete. MR for sure.
DR: Jebet has 36 and Kiyeng 32. That is close in case something unexpected happens.
100 mH: Keni Harrison has run 12.42 and 12.44 since her world record run. Can she break Gail Devers’ meet record of 12.39?
DR: Harrison confirmed winner.
400 mH (non-DL): Olympic silver medallist Sara Petersen faces in-form Eilidh Doyle and world silver medallist Shamier Little. Home Sprunger hopes to be back in top shape.
4x100m (non-DL): US and Jamaica will be fielding teams of Zurich Trophy. MR is 41.60.
LJ: Olympic champion Tianna Bartoletta and European champion Ivana Spanovic are the names to watch along with former olympic winner Brittney Reese who comes in.
DR: Spanovic (first Serbian) confirmed winner.
HJ: Olympic champion Ruth Beitia is looking for a two meters clearance.
DR: Beitia with 41 points looks to be safe also here.
DT: Sandra Perkovic expected to extend her unbeaten streak.
DR: Perkovic confirmed winner.
