News30 Jun 2014


Middle-distance masters return to Monaco – IAAF Diamond League

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Asbel Kiprop goes to fourth on the 1500m world all-time list at the 2013 Monaco Diamond League (© Philippe Fitte)

Since becoming part of the IAAF Diamond League in 2010, the Herculis meeting in Monaco has been the setting of many historic middle-distance races.

In 2011, Brimin Kipruto set an African record in the 3000m steeplechase with 7:53.64, only a hundredth of a second away from the world record. Last year, Asbel Kiprop went to fourth on the world all-time 1500m list with 3:27.71 and in the same race Mo Farah broke the European record with 3:28.81.

Both marks by Kipruto and Kiprop are IAAF Diamond League records.

Since 2010, the average winning times in Monaco in the 800m is 1:43.14 for men and 1:57.87 for women. The average winning time in the men’s steeplechase is 7:58.57 and in the 1500m it’s 3:29.08.

This year, the Herculis meeting will once again gather the world’s best middle-distance stars in Monaco on 18 July.

Perhaps the most anticipated battle will be in the men’s 800m where world champion Mohammed Aman will run against Olympic champion David Rudisha and Olympic silver medallist Nijel Amos.

The trio clashed earlier this year in Eugene with Amos coming away the surprise winner with a world-leading 1:43.63. This time, Aman and Rudisha will be out for revenge.

In the women’s 800m, world champion Eunice Sum of Kenya will take on US champion Ajee Wilson as both will have their eye on bettering the current world-leading mark of 1:57.74, while Kiprop will return to the principality in his specialist event, the 1500m.

For the first time ever, the Herculis meeting will stage a women’s 5000m. World indoor champion Genzebe Dibaba will take on world silver medallist Mercy Cherono, who finished a few seconds ahead of Dibaba over 3000m in Doha earlier this year.

In the men’s 3000m steeplechase, world and Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi will face a tough opponent in the form of rising star Jairus Birech, the world leader and winner of the IAAF Diamond League meetings in Rome and Oslo.

Organisers for the IAAF

2014 IAAF Diamond League calendar

Doha, QAT – 9 May
Shanghai, CHN – 18 May
Eugene, USA – 31 May
Rome, ITA – 5 Jun
Oslo, NOR – 11 Jun
New York, USA – 14 Jun
Lausanne, SUI – 3 Jul
Paris, FRA – 5 Jul
Glasgow, GBR – 11-12 Jul
Monaco, MON – 18 Jul
Stockholm, SWE – 21 Aug
Birmingham, GBR – 24 Aug
Zurich, SUI – 28 Aug
Brussels, BEL – 5 Sep

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