100m women (8:59 pm): An open Diamond Race
At Zürich 2014, Mujinga Kambundji enchanted her home crowd with three national records in the 100m and the 200m. And double sprint champion Dafne Schippers (HOL), a heptathlete at heart, made good use of the new Conica surface on Zurich’s magic track. The two 22-year-old athletes will meet again at Letzigrund Stadium to line up against the world’s sprint queens, including 200m Olympic champion Allyson Felix (USA). Since leader Tori Bowie will miss the competition due to an injury, the Diamond Race in the 100m is wide open.
1500m women (8:38 pm): Can Aregawi take revenge?
In a gripping European championship final, Sifan Hassan (NED) had managed to hold world champion Abeba Aregawi (SWE) at bay. On the occasion of the IAAF Diamond League final race, the two Ethiopian-born middle distancers will line up for another duel. The two have each won four duels so far, but Aregawi leads the Diamond Race by 2 points (Aregawi/12 points; Hassan/10 points). However, both former world champion Jennifer Simpson (USA), who won the race in Stockholm, and 800m world champion Eunice Sum (KEN), who is known for her fast finish, will try to steal the Europeans’ thunder on Thursday.
100m hurdles (9:17 pm): A diamond for Queen?
The margin by which Queen Harrison (USA) leads the Diamond Race, ahead of her fellow countrywoman Dawn Harper-Nelson (USA) has narrowed from 6 to 4 points with the race in Birmingham on Sunday. Can Queen Harrison grab the Diamond Trophy, or will world leader Harper-Nelson snatch it from her on the finish line? The two US hurdlers are the only contenders for the trophy. Olympic champion Sally Pearson (AUS), world champion Brianna Rollins (USA), and European champion Tiffany Porter (GBR), however, will all try to win the prestigious race. Swiss Noemi Zbären, ninth at the Europeans, gets to run in front of her home crowd once again and to collect valuable experience in a world-class field of athletes.
3000m steeplechase women (8:14 pm): Emma Coburn to challenge Ethiopian stars
Nine of the world’s top ten steeplechase runners will run at Weltklasse Zürich, this year. And still, the Diamond Race will most probably be decided in an Ethiopian duel between world leader Ayalew Hiwot (15 points) and the second-fastest runner of this year, Sofia Asseffa (11 points). However, Emma Coburn (USA) will try to crash their party. She has collected 10 points and will challenge the two Ethiopian stars. Another contender to win the Zurich race is Olympic silver medallist Habiba Ghribi (TUN), who came in second in Stockholm last week.
High jump women (8:15 pm): Blanka Vlasic’s championship final
Blanka Vlasic (CRO) had to forego the European championships due to an injury. But now she is back and ready to challenge the Zürich 2014 medallists, including Ruth Beitia (ESP), Mariya Kuchina (RUS), and fellow countrywoman Ana Simic (CRO). If she wins the competition, she will also collect a diamond. With three wins and a second place, Vlasic and European silver medallist Kuchina lead the Diamond Race. If they both fail, Simic is the strongest contender for the trophy.
Pole vault women (7:35 pm): Samba or Sirtaki?
World leader Fabiana Murer (BRA) and the two Greek athletes Katerina Stefanidi and Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou could dance either samba or sirtaki to celebrate the 2014 IAAF Diamond League. Before beginning the party, however, they should watch out for Olympic champion Jennifer Suhr (USA). Will she be able to turn the tide in her favour? Winning the competition will only yield a diamond for Suhr, if Murer misses the podium. Nicole Büchler of Switzerland will have another chance to shine in front of her home crowd, after she failed to progress to the final at the European championships. She has been in excellent shape recently: This Sunday, she jumped 4.50 in Arlesheim.
Long jump women (5:55 pm): Bartoletta to be challenged by strong field
Tianna Bartoletta (USA/7.02m), née Madison, is the only long jumper who has jumped farther than 7m this year. And she has collected three wins at Diamond League meetings so far. A very fast sprinter (she is a 4x100m world record holder and former bobsleigh pusher), the 2005 world champion can usually rely on her speed during the approach run. Bartoletta will be challenged by all Zürich 2014 medallists (Éloyse Lesueur/FRA, Ivana Spanovic/SRB, Darya Klishina/RUS), and by Olympic and three-time world champion Brittney Reese (USA). Swiss national record holder Irene Pusterla, third at Weltklasse Zürich 2010, will try to prove that she could have been able to prevail in the European championship final.
Discus throw women (6:05 pm): A third diamond for Perkovic
Sandra Perkovic (CRO) is currently ruling the discus ring. The reigning European, world, and Olympic champion has only been defeated once this year (by Gia Lewis-Smallwood/USA in Glasgow). The Croatian record holder and world leader likes competing in Zurich, where she just won her third consecutive European title. Her farthest throw – 71.08m – was the best result in almost 26 years. It will be the third diamond in as many years for Perkovic. Can she break the 70m barrier for the fourth time in her career?
4x100m women (9:55 pm): Another chance for the Swiss relay team
Relay races are full of pitfalls. And Switzerland and the Netherlands have had their share of bad luck in the final at the European championships: Lining up as contenders for a medal, they failed to get the baton to the finish line in the final. For them, Weltklasse Zürich is a terrific opportunity to make amends. This time, world champion USA and Olympic champion Jamaica will be in the race, providing for a prestigious duel between the two leading sprint nations.
Wheelchair race men/women (7:25 pm): Catch me if you can!
Swiss wheelchair athlete Marcel Hug, who won three European titles in Swansea last week, will be challenged by strong opponents – both male and female. In a 3000m pursuit race, he will try to catch up with the women who will have to cover 2600m only. The women’s entry list features Manuela Schär, four-time European champion. How much ground will the men be able to make up?
At the IAAF Diamond League final events, athletes can score double points. 8 points will be awarded to the winner of a Diamond Race, 4 points to the athlete placing second, and 2 points to the athlete placing third. At level score and the same number of wins, the better result at the final event will count. Athletes are required to compete at the Diamond League final events in Zurich or Brussels to win a Diamond Race.
(as at Wednesday, 27 August, 9 am)
27 August, 2014
