Dayron Robles in Lausanne (© Denis Roulet)
- Just one month before the 36th edition of Athletissima - Samsung Diamond League - is attracting much of the world’s best, indeed in several disciplines, there are 2 to 3 times as many athletes wishing to compete as spots available. In other words, the level will be very high on 30 June, with 10 World champions already confirmed.
The 100m has eight sprinters who have already run under 10 seconds. They will be led by Asafa Powell and Christophe Lemaître.
In the 800m, David Rudisha, the man who smashed the World record twice last year, will run against Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, Alfred Kirwa Yego and Youssef Saad Kamel, who were gold, silver and bronze medallists at the last World Championships.
In the 5000m, the first confirmed athletes have all run under 13 minutes last year, with, for example the Ethiopians Imane Merga, who ran world leading time in Rome last night, and Tariku Bekele. The young Ethiopian Yenew Alamirew, who set the world season lead at 3000m in Doha, will also be in the race.
The 110m Hurdles will be led by the World record holder Dayron Robles, whereas, in the 400m Hurdles, we will see all medallists of the last World championships in Berlin with Kerron Clement, Javier Culson and Bershawn Jackson.
The field events will be just as fascinating, with Renaud Lavillenie, who set a world lead in Rome last night, confirmed in the Pole Vault, Andreas Thorkildsen in the Javelin Throw, Teddy Tamgho versus Phillips Idowu – also a world lead last night in the Italian capital - in the Triple Jump, Christian Cantwell versus Tomasz Majewski in the Shot Put. Shot put men has not been part of the Athletissima programme since 2000.
In the women’s events, the following World champions are already confirmed: Sanya Richards in the 400 m, Maryam Jamal in the 1500m – set world lead in Rome - Brigitte Foster-Hylton in the 100m Hurdles, Blanka Vlasic in the High Jump and Dani Samuels in the Discus Throw.
Lisa Urech (100m Hurdles) and Beatrice Lundmark (High Jump) are also confirmed, and of note the women’s 3000m steeple will be part of the Athletissima programme for the first time.
Organisers for the Samsung Diamond League
