Trackstaa previews the next stop on the Diamond League circuit as Olympic stars arrive at the first European post-Olympics stop in Lausanne, Switzerland.
In total the athletes who will line up in Lausanne at the Athletissima meet will arrive with an astonishing total haul of 19 gold medals from the Olympic Games. With a crowd of 12,200 expected and with the field including Olympic champions: Jakob Ingebrigsten, Elaine Thompson-Herah, Yulimar Rojas and Mondo Duplantis, further track and field history is likely to be made.
Women’s 100m
We have been spoilt in recent weeks in the women’s 100m, seeing some of the best races and quickest times in history. Principally this is due to the unparalleled form, performance and ability of Elaine Thompson-Herah. Having run, in many people’s eyes, the quickest time in history in Eugene (10.54), the double Olympic champion now has her eyes on the previously unsurpassable (if not a little sceptical) world record 10.49 of Florence Griffith Joyner. She’ll be joined on the start again by her compatriots and BFFs Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce and Shericka Jackson. It’s a stacked field elsewhere however, with Marie Josse Ta Lou, Ajla del Ponte and the 200m winner in Eugene, Mujinga Kambundji.
Men’s 400m
If it wasn’t for the generational talent that is Jakob Ingebrigsten, Karsten Warholm would be the undisputed King of Norway. He will for many track fans however, be the owner of possibly the greatest performance in the history of athletics with his stunning 45.94 world 400m hurdles record. Today, he runs in the 400m flat. Inexplicably, this will not be shown on the live stream (poor from the Diamond League), but many are wondering whether he can get close to Wade van Niekerk’s 400m record of 43.03. Despite the quality field of Isaac Makwala of Botswana and Vernon Norwood, this should be a comfortable win for Warholm and the only question is how fast can he really go. The European record of 44.33 is surely likely to go. Anything under 44 seconds will be so impressive.
Men’s Pole Vault
Sam Kendricks is back in competition in the Diamond League after missing out on the Olympics thanks to a positive Covid test and inevitably, he will have to jump as high as he has ever jumped to overtake the dominance of Mondo Duplantis who won the Olympic gold comfortably and nearly surpassed his own world record. Pushing Mondo to the final round would be an achievement in itself. Renauld Lavillenie and Chris Nilsen, Olympic silver medallist are also competing.
Can Mondo finally go over 6.19m? In the right conditions, it’s got to be on.
Men’s 800m
Relative to the women’s 800m, the men’s 800m is a little underwhelming this season with slow times and average races. This field contains the top-7 from Tokyo and Marco Arop who beat an almost identical field in the Pre-Classic last week. He would have to be the favourite but, given he didn’t even make the Olympic final, anything could happen.
Watch out for Ferguson Rotich and the Olympic champion, Emmanuel Korir.
Women’s 400m Hurdles
The superstar in this 400m hurdles is once again Dalilah Muhammed. The world champion will start as the overwhelming favourite but with a field that includes Dutch athlete, Femke Bol, Olympic bronze medallist (52.03 PB), she’s going to have to run 52 low or a 51 high to be sure of the victory so this won’t be a walk in the park.
Most fans will be hoping to see Femke Bol continuing to build on her incredible form and duck under the 52 second barrier for the first time.
Men’s 3000m
Once again we are being spoiled with a field that must be one of the strongest 3000m fields in history. It includes 2 Olympic champions in Selemon Barega and Jakob Ingebrigsten as well as scores of other Olympic and major championship medallists.
Like his compatriot and with Daniel Komen’s world record probably out of reach at the moment, Jakob Ingebrigsten will have his sights set on the European record of 7:26.62 (a PB of nearly a full second) and given his Olympic performance, as well as his performance at the Pre Classic, must start as the favourite. He’s likely to get a strong challenge from a field that’s full of talent, not only Barega but other athletes including the aggressive runner Stewy McSweyn and Canadian athlete of Bowerman TC, Mo Ahmed. Many people will be watching to see whether Getnet Wale can recreate the 7:24.98 that he ran indoors in February. USA’s Paul Chelimo and Jacob Kiplimo have pulled out of the race, .
It’s likely to be the most intriguing race of the night and also includes UK’s Andy Butchart, Norway’s Filip Ingebrigsten and the USA’s Grant Fisher.
Full programme
For details of the full programme and entry lists which also includes Olympic champions and world record holders Ryan Crouser and Yulimar Rojas in the field, click this link, here.
When does it start and how can I watch?
The coverage of the event on the live stream starts at 20:00 (CET), which is 19:00 UK time (BST).
Fans inside the UK can watch the action LIVE from 19:00 on BBC 2 or via the iPlayer here.
Alternatively, if you’re outside the UK, click the link below to watch the live stream on the Diamond League YouTube channel.