The Gateshead meet has Dix versus Spearmon, Powell vs Gay and that’s just the sprints!
Alfons Juck race to race, to give us a preview of the superb meet. RBR is stranded in US,
but will have photographs, and onfield insights for our fans in the colonies and the other 168
countries where our subscribers habitate!
GATESHEAD
PREVIEW
GATESHEAD (GBR): The 8th leg of the Diamond league and the first one, out of
two, on British soil will see no less than 41 Olympic medalists and 58 World
medalist toe the starting line. Jessica Ennis and Phillips Idowu will be
without doubt the local stars but the most anticipated event will be the men’s
100m in which former world record holder Asafa Powell and American record
holder Tyson Gay will go head to head for the first time this season.
Event by
event preview
MEN
100 m: Highly anticipated as Jamaican Asafa Powell and American Tyson Gay will
go head to head for the first time this year.
200 m: Rematch of the US national championships final with Walter Dix, this
time not from lane one, and Wallace Spearman.
1500 m: World leader Augustine Choge as well as Asbel Kiprop lead a large
field of British middle distance runners of which Andrew Baddeley is the most
anticipated.
5000m: Tariku Bekele is the favorite for the win, but Mo Farah will be ready to
compete just a few weeks ahead of Barcelona.
110mHurdles: USA takes on GBR with David Payne, Jason Richardson and Allen
Johnson against Andy Turner, William Sharman and Lawrence Clarke.
Long Jump: Irving Saladino takes on home favorites Chris Tomlinson and Greg
Rutherford.
Triple Jump: High hope for Phillips Idowu to bring a top performance.
High Jump: Strong field with the best Americans and the top Europeans.
Discus Throw: Olympic Champion Gerd Kanter is the man in shape and ready show
he is set for Barcelona.
WOMEN
100 m: Carmelita Jeter makes a serious attempt for a fast time.
Fraser will be missed.
200m: British favorite Jessica Ennis comes back after sickness to compete in
the 200m.
400m: Debbie Dunn and Shericka Williams lead the line-up, revenge after
Lausanne.
800m: US top athletes and Kenyan Janet Jepkosgei take on British stars Jenny
Meadows and Marilyn Okoro.
1500m: British athletes on top with Lisa Dobriskey, Hannah England and
Stephanie Twell.
100H: Can Danielle Carruthers beat Lolo Jones once again? More competition is
in the race with Canadians Perdita Felicien and Priscilla Lopes-Schliep.
400H: Kaliese Spencer from Jamaica is the favorite.
Pole Vault: world indoor champion Fabianna Murer and world leader Jenn Suhr go
head to head.
Shot Put: New Zealand’s Diamond league ambassador Valerie Vili is heading the
field.
Javelin Throw: Jessica Ennis in the same field as world record holder Barbora
Spotakova and American record holder Kara Patterson.
