The diamonds of the first 16 Diamond Trophies will be shining along with the stars lining up for the competitions of Weltklasse Zürich 2010 at Letzigrund Stadium. The names entered in the start lists most likely amount to the strongest fields of the current season: 13 current world leaders, 8 reigning world champions, 8 reigning Olympic champions, and 16 newly-crowned European champions have travelled to Zurich to compete in the inaugural Samsung Diamond League final on Thursday night.
All in all, the athletes competing at the Weltklasse Zürich meeting combine as many as 191 medals -- 70 of them being gold medals - from past and recent international championships (including relays) and 74 European championship medals. The impressive figures illustrate the enormous amount of athletics stars gathering in Zurich for the first Diamond League showdown. The promoters’ philosophy to invite the best athletes in all events instead of focusing on a few big names is paying off - particularly, as some stars are injured and will not be able to compete at Letzigrund Stadium this year.
Chasing the First Diamonds
On the occasion of the first of two Samsung Diamond League finals, 16 Diamond Trophies will be awarded. Another 16 Diamond Race winners will get the opportunity to pick up their Trophy at the second final in Brussels next week. The BIG SHOT event at RailCity/Zurich Main Station taking place on Wednesday, at 5 p.m., will launch the finals. The winner of the women’s shot put will be the first athlete to receive a Diamond Trophy in the history of the new series.
The athletes of six events have already secured the highest overall score, leading by more than eight points: Walter Dix (USA/200m), Jeremy Wariner (USA/400m), David Oliver (USA/110m h), Carmelia Jeter (USA/100m), Nancy Jebet Langat (KEN/1500m) and Kaliese Spencer (JAM/400m h). The hunt for the 200m diamond is still on, however. An injury is preventing Walter Dix from running in Zurich, and therefore from collecting the trophy: Competing at the final event represents one of the prerequisites to receive the precious award.
High Hurdler David Oliver - a High Flyer
In a meeting with more than one favourite in most events, high hurdler David Oliver (USA) is one of very few high flyers. The 28-year-old national record holder (12.89) has repeatedly demonstrated that - in ideal weather conditions - he can even challenge Dayron Robles’ world record. David Oliver has special ties with Zurich: He never missed a single Weltklasse Zürich meeting as a professional athlete. When he started out in 2005, he ran in the B heat. Two years ago, the Zurich race became the second sub 13.00 result of his career.
In the 2010, he won all of the 11 races he has run so far. He managed to set a new national record and ran four sub 13.00 races. In his blog, he has called Weltklasse Zürich “the meet of all meets”. The title of his latest post: “Mission 12.85”.
Challenging Competition
Contrary to David Oliver, all other contenders for the Diamond Race are not current world leaders in their events. Performing at their best in Zurich will therefore be a crucial challenge - even for athletes who are considered favourites based on excellent results at past major meetings.
Carmelita Jeter, for instance, will face world leader and double 200m Olympic Champion Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica in the 100m. In addition, the surprise winner of London Marshevet Myers (USA) will be close on Jeter’s heels. In the men’s 400m, triple Weltklasse Zürich winner Jeremy Wariner and world leader Jermaine Gonzales (JAM) are both determined to demonstrate their supremacy in the event. 1500m runner Nancy Jebet Langat will have to prove that she can prevail in a race aiming at a winning time of sub 4 minutes. Five of her opponents have run faster than her this summer. Finally, with her convincing win in London, Kaliese Spencer made it clear that she is a favourite in the 400m h. In Zurich, she will be taking on Natalya Antyukh (RUS), who recently won the European Championship title in 52.92 - more than half a second faster than Spencer’s personal best.
Star-Studded Fields Promising Gripping Athletics Suspense
The outcome of all other events is anyone’s guess. The fans at Letzigrund Stadium will be able to enjoy some gripping athletics suspense. The line-up for the women’s 400m illustrates how difficult even predicting the podium will be in some cases: As many as five athletes are still in contention for the Diamond Trophy. These five contenders happened to place top 5 in London last Saturday - clocking times within 31 hundredths of a second. Still, Allyson Felix (USA), with her three 400m wins at Diamond League meetings, seems to be in pole position. The triple 200m world champion could actually become the only athlete to win the Diamond Race in two events within one week. In the 200m, the Trophy is already awaiting her in Brussels.
Prestigious 3000m Steeplechase
The 3000m SC has been a traditional highlight in Zurich. This year, the Kenyan stars - including world champion Ezekiel Kemboi, Olympic champion Brimin Kipruto, and Paul Kipsiele Koech - and world record holder Saif Saeed Shaheen (QAT) will be challenged by the new European Champion Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad of France and his fellow countryman Bouabdallah Tahri, the European record holder.
The men’s 5000m race is yet another race for which any predictions seem pointless: The star list includes 16 sub 13- minute-runners. Among them will be double European champion Mo Farah (GBR) and the US-American Chris Solinsky, who became the first white athlete to break the 27-minute barrier in the 10 000m in Stanford this spring.
Stars and Scores to Settle in the Field Events
The field events will offer a fair share of athletics action: Barbora Spotakova, the Czech javelin world record holder, would like to make up for her defeat in Barcelona. She will therefore be a determined opponent for the two German medallists Linda Stahl and Christina Obergföll. In the men’s long jump, Dwight Philipps (USA), triple world champion and 2004 Olympic champion, will meet European champion and world leader Christian Reif from Germany. In the men’s discus, European champion Piotr Malachowski (POL), world champion Robert Harting (GER), and Olympic champion Gerd Kanter (EST) will all try to demonstrate their skill and shape and of course to win the competition.
Six Swiss European Championship Finalists
Weltklasse Zürich 2010 is proud to present a number of rising Swiss talents: High hurdler Lisa Urech, pole vaulter Anna Katharina Schmid, as well as the 4x100m relay squad with Pascal Mancini, Aron Beyene, Reto Amaru Schenkel, and Marc Schneeberger were all finalists at the European Championships in Barcelona, and will compete in the international Weltklasse Zürich programme on Thursday night. In addition, Irene Pusterla, who missed the long jump final in Barcelona by a very narrow margin, will be making her debut at Weltklasse Zürich. Marathon European Champion Viktor Röthlin will get a special tribute after the athletes’ presentation (7.15 p.m.).
After his success in London last week, Marcel Hug is even eyeing a win in his race, the 1500m wheelchair.
