The Diamond League returns on Thursday with a go to to Lausanne. The Swiss metropolis hosted the primary Diamond League after the Tokyo Olympics and does the identical following Paris, simply ten days after the Olympic Video games drew to a detailed. James Rhodes previews the middle-distance races.
The historic assembly of Athletissima isn’t any stranger to quick races and this yr’s version appears to be like set to be no totally different. Robust fields are assembled, however will we see post-Paris heroics or hangovers?
Males’s 800m
Some of the thrilling races within the French capital was the lads’s 800m. A race like few earlier than it, the place 1:41.67 – a time that put Bryce Hoppel seventh on the all-time record – didn’t make the rostrum.
It was not simply the pace, however the margin of victory; simply 0.01s separated Emmanuel Wanyonyi from Marco Arop. 1:41.19 to 1:41.20, instances solely David Rudisha and Wilson Kipketer have bettered.
The pair, plus fourth placer Hoppel, race once more in Lausanne. One can hypothesise that it’s a time chasing race, given it’s not a Diamond League self-discipline. They’re joined by fellow Olympic finalists Andreas Kramer, Gabriel Tual and Mohamed Attaoui. The notable absentee is Djamel Sedjati. Nonetheless, he joins the gang in Silesia three days later, the place 5 within the subject have PBs inside 1:42, a primary.
Elliot Giles can also be on account of race in Lausanne, following Neil Gourley’s withdrawal. Frenchman Ludovic Le Meur and Catalin Tecuceanu of Italy full the sector.
Picture: James Rhodes
Girls’s 800m
Not like the lads’s race, there was little doubt who was profitable the ladies’s 800m in Paris as the ultimate dwelling straight approached. Olympic Champion Keely Hodgkinson is absent in Lausanne, however count on to see her seem over two laps earlier than the season ends. She is racing over 400m at ISTAF in Berlin on Sunday 1 September.
The Swiss capital sees two bronze medallists compete; 800m’s Mary Moraa and 1500m’s Georgia Bell. Loads will be stated about Georgia’s season, however there’s no need. Her successes converse for themselves, a “Parkrun-to-podium” headline just isn’t wanted right here.
Georgia ran 1:56.28 on the London Diamond League final month and can undoubtedly be stuffed with confidence right here. Let’s not overlook, like many appear to have, that this was her specialist occasion as a junior.
Jemma Reekie will likely be seeking to bounce again from not making the ultimate in Paris. She has the quickest PB of these entered.
Picture: James Rhodes
Olympic finalists Shafiqua Maloney and Renelle Lamote additionally compete as do Swiss stars Audrey Werro and Rachel Pellaud. Individuals Allie Wilson and Nia Akins, 2019 World Champion Halimah Nakaayi and Natoya Goule-Toppin full the sector.
Males’s 1500m
For some, Cole Hocker’s Olympic victory got here as a shock. The previous twelve months had constructed up the race as a battle between reigning World Champion Josh Kerr and Olympic Champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen. A two-horse race, besides it wasn’t.
Ingebrigtsen has been open on what he believes had been his incorrect ways, and Hocker made essentially the most with a storming final lap. The pair race once more in Lausanne, and it will likely be intriguing to see how the race unfolds. Tactical, quick, or each. Cole confirmed in Paris he can stay with a quick tempo; 3:27.65 was an Olympic Document, and his kick is notoriously robust. Nonetheless, we noticed Jakob transfer one step nearer to his World Document aim in Monaco. Given his busy racing schedule, together with 3000m in Silesia on Sunday, an assault on 3:26.00 would possibly wait for one more day. Jakob’s Assembly Document of three:28.72, set final yr, could also be underneath menace.
Picture: James Rhodes
A fortnight later, the pair will race in Zurich alongside Kerr and bronze medallist Yared Nuguse. That would actually be one to look at.
It’s a robust subject past these two. George Mills is the only British entrant, working alongside On teammate Luke McCann of Eire.
Commonwealth Video games Champion Oliver Hoare, Olympic finalists Stefan Nillessen, 2019 World Champion Timothy Cheruiyot and World Indoor bronze medallist Hobbs Kessler all characteristic.
Girls’s 3000m
The 3000m is commonly a melting pot of 1500m and 5000m specialists, and this race isn’t any totally different. Revee Walcott-Nolan and Melissa Courtney-Bryant are within the subject, each dropping to 1500m in Silesia on Sunday.
Picture: James Rhodes
Longer distance specialist Ethiopian Ejgayehu Taye is quickest over 7.5 laps, with a 8:19.52 PB. Nonetheless, given it’s a comparatively sometimes raced distance, PBs aren’t the one metric to guage.
Diribe Welteji, who completed fourth within the 1500m closing in Paris, is a part of a powerful African contingent together with Freweyni Hailu and Hirut Meshesha. Oslo Diamond League winner Georgia Griffith may additionally be searching for a repeat efficiency. Hold a watch additionally on Individuals Karissa Schweizer and Elise Cranny.
Different Occasions
Males: 200m, 400m, 110m hurdles, pole vault, lengthy leap, javelin.
Girls: 100m, 100m hurdles, 400m hurdles, excessive leap, shot put, 4x100m relay.
The Lausanne Diamond League will likely be proven on BBC2 between 19:00 and 21:00 on Thursday (21 August). Control Quick Operating socials for on-the-ground updates.
