Shot put women (Wednesday, 5 p.m.): Valerie Adams of New Zealand, a Swiss local
World champion Valerie Adams’ last defeat dates back to – the shot put event at Zurich Main Station in 2010. Despite the unsatisfactory result, she cherishes fond memories of her appearance in Zurich, as it also marked the beginning of a new success story - and of her co-operation with Jean-Pierre Egger and Werner Günthör. She has been staying in Magglingen for training this summer, and has yet to be beaten this year. “I am very much looking forward to the event in Zurich. I almost feel like a local here,” she explained. The women’s shot put will be a Samsung Diamond League final event. Adams will be challenged by no less than eight Daegu finalists, including 2010 Zurich winner Nadezhda Ostapchuk (BLR), and Jillian Camarena-Williams (USA), both of them medallists in Daegu.
Shot put men (Wednesday, 6.35 p.m.): Will world champion Storl be able to defend his newly gained supremacy?
David Storl is 21 years old; the youngest shot put world champion ever. In Daegu, he bettered his personal best by 73cm, throwing the shot to 21.78m in his best attempt. No wonder several of his experienced fellow shot putters feel they have to put the record straight in Zurich: Both world leader and silver medallist Dylan Armstrong (CAN) and defeated Daegu favourite Reese Hoffa (USA, 5th at world championships) will therefore be particularly ambitious opponents. Another very young athlete, 17-year-old Gregori Ott of Switzerland, will get a very special opportunity to compete alongside the shot put stars. Ott holds the U18 national record, and he was a finalist at the U18 world championships. Whereas he will be using a 5kg shot (the standard shot for his age group), his colleagues will catapult a 7.26 kg through the station hall arena.
Discus throw men (6.30 p.m.): a fiercely contested Diamond Race
The Daegu medallists – world champion and 2010 Weltklasse Zürich winner Robert Harting (GER), Olympic champion Gerd Kanter (EST), and Ehsan Hadadi (IRI) - will all throw their discus in pursuit of the Diamond Trophy. But so will others in the field – discus star Virgilijus Alekna, for instance, or world leader Zoltan Kovago (HUN), or European champion Piotr Malachowski (POL). 40-year-old Alekna is in the most favourable position for an overall win. And after winning the event on four occasions, he is used to shining in Zurich. Kanter and Harting will have to give it their very best to snatch the Trophy from the experienced Lithuanian thrower.
Long jump men (6.55 p.m.): the medallists’ showdown
Australian world leader Mitchell Watt may have had to make do with silver in Daegu, but in this year’s Diamond Race not even quadruple world champion Dwight Phillips will be able take away the trophy from him. But the US star will definitely try and defeat Watt in the Zurich event – and so will bronze medallist Ngonidzashe Makusha of Zimbabwe and Sebastian Bayer of Germany.
Pole vault women (7.00 p.m.): Isinbayeva to challenge world champion and world leader
Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS) is one of the stars out to make amends for their defeat at the world championships. She has managed to prove her true position in the women’s pole vault before, when she set a new world record in Zurich two years ago. This time around, it will require a flawless performance, as the field includes the likes of world champion Fabiana Murer (BRA), silver medallist and German record holder Martina Strutz and world leader Jennifer Suhr (USA). As many as six athletes are still in contention for the Diamond Trophy. The two Swiss competitors, Nicole Büchler and Anna Katharina Schmid will both be tackling the national record, currently at 4.50m.
High jump men (7.40 p.m.): Is Jesse Williams in for another bravura performance?
As many as six high jumpers of the 2011 Weltklasse Zürich field have managed to clear 2.35 or even 2.37 this season. As a consequence, the top seven athletes of the Diamond League ranking have been scoring within a difference of a mere five points. Throughout the summer, the men’s high jump has been a most unpredictable event. There will quite a bit of suspense at Letzigrund Stadium, no doubt to the delight of the Zurich crowd. World champion Jesse Williams and silver medallist Aleksey Dmitrik (RUS) are both considered favourites, but so is Olympic champion Andrey Silnov (RUS), who failed to qualify for Daegu.
400m h women (8.05 p.m.): Demus versus Walker, Spencer about to win Diamond Race
After her ultra-fast race in Daegu, Lashinda Demus (USA) is an obvious top favourite for Zurich. But Melaine Walker from Jamaica is in superb shape, as well. Nevertheless, Kaliese Spencer, who placed fourth at the championships will almost certainly win the Diamond Trophy. The only athlete with a (slight) chance to steal it from her at the last moment is Zuzana Hejnova (CZE).
5000m women (8.15 p.m.): Diamond all laid out, ready for double world champion Cheruiyot
After winning gold in the 5000m and the 10000m, Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot of Kenya is all set to pick up the Diamond League Trophy. She is leading the Diamond Race impressively. Her fiercest opponents will – again – be her fellow countrywomen. Three Kenyan long distance medallists are in the line-up for the Weltklasse Zürich 5000m.
Javelin throw women (8.25 p.m.): Christina Obergföll versus Daegu medallists
After a world championship final full of drama and suspense, the women’s javelin throw in Zurich is one of the much anticipated showdowns: World champion Maria Abakumova (RUS) will have to face both world record holder Barbora Spotakova (CZ) and Christina Obergföll (GER), the 2011 Diamond League leader who just missed podium in Daegu. Surprise bronze medallist Sunette Viljoen of South Africa would like to confirm her championship coup by succeeding at Weltklasse Zürich.
110m h men: (8.35 p.m.): Star Hurdlers defending their reputation
Both Dayron Robles (CUB) and 2011 world leader David Oliver (USA) will attempt to defend their reputation as the superstars of high hurdling. Being in top positions to win the Diamond Race, the two will challenge world champion Jason Richardson (USA). All in all, seven Daegu finalists will line-up at Letzigrund Stadium. Swiss record holder Andreas Kundert (LC Brühl) will try and benefit from the world-class field to better his SB of 13.57.
Long jump women (8.40 p.m.): Daegu medallists versus Swiss record holder
Six top competitors of the 2011 world championships will be trying to jump far. But whoever aspires to win the event, will most probably have to beat Brittney Reese (USA) – world champion, 2010 winner and 2011 world leader. Swiss record holder Irene Pusterla will try to make up for her disappointing performance in Daegu by repeating her success at Weltklasse Zürich 2010, where she placed third in a similarly strong field.
400m men (8.45 p.m.): Kirani James’ next coup?
Kirani James of Grenada is the third youngest world champion in the history of athletics. The 19-year-old’s mission will be to fend off LaShawn Merritt’s (USA) bid to make amends for his three-hundredths-of-a-second defeat in Daegu. Jermaine Gonzales (JAM), fourth at the world championships, is in the most promising position to win the 400m Diamond Race. However, newly crowned champion James could still win the trophy, as well.
800m women (8.50 p.m.): a remake of the world championship final
All eight world championship finalists have been entered for the race. Five of them clocked a sub 1.58 time in the Daegu final. All three medallists, Mariya Savinova (RUS), Caster Semenya (RSA), and Janeth Jepkosgei (KEN) are favourites for the Zurich race. For the top contenders in the Diamond Race, however, the championships did not go as planned. Will Kenia Sinclair (JAM, seventh in Daegu) and Jennifer Meadows (GBR, semi-finalist in Daegu) be able to prevail?
100m men (9 p.m.): Daegu podium versus world leader
A true thriller: All three world championship medallists – Yohan Blake (JAM), Walter Dix (USA), and Kim Collins (SKN) – will measure their 100m skills with world leader Asafa Powell (JAM) who had to pass on the championships due to injury. Will Powell be back in shape after his forced break? Will Blake be able to defy the pressure of being a new champion?
1500m men (9.10 p.m.): Kenyan League
In the 1500m Diamond League ranking, the top four positions are taken by Kenyan athletes. Anything other than a Kenyan triumph at Weltklasse Zürich would come as a big surprise. Top favourites are Asbel Kiprop and Silas Kiplagat, who placed first and second in Daegu.
100m h women (9.20 p.m.): Lisa Urech’s world championship final
Swiss national record holder Lisa Urech missed the 100m h final of Daegu by two hundredths of a second. In Zurich, she will get an opportunity to catch up on the race she missed at the championships. Six Daegu finalists will be lining up with her. Top favourite for the win seems to be world champion Sally Pearson of Australia, who clocked the fourth fastest time ever in Daegu. Nikkita Holder (CAN), the athlete who snatched the spot in the final from Urech, will be in the race as well.
200m women (9.30 p.m.): Jeter versus Felix
In Daegu, the much anticipated duel between 100m world champion Carmelita Jeter and 400m silver medallist Allyson Felix ended in Jeter’s favour, but only just. The Zurich race will include six world championship finalists. Defending her leading position in the Diamond League will therefore be quite a task for Bianca Knight (USA). Chances are that both Jeter and Felix will have a say in the matter.
3000m SC (9.35 p.m.): world champion Kemboi against world leader Koech
Paul Kipsiele Koech may be currently leading the Diamond Race, but the title in Daegu was out of his reach this year. After failing to qualify for the world championships at the Kenyan trials, he was forced to watch fellow countrymen Ezekiel Kemboi taking the 3000m SC crown. In Zurich, the two steeplers will be lining up against each other, both of them hunting Diamond League laurels this time. World champion Kemboi is the only athlete who could take the overall win from world leader Koech. However, placing second in Zurich will suffice for Koech to secure his Diamond League triumph.
4x100m Men (9.50 p.m.): USA and Switzerland out to make amends for championship disappointment
After their disappointing result in Daegu, the US team is determined to defeat the Jamaican squad at Weltklasse Zürich. The Swiss team failed to make it past the heats after a mistake during a changeover. Two years ago, they managed to make amends for a disappointing race in Berlin by setting a new national record in Zurich a few days later.
06 September, 2011
