Weltklasse Zürich features superb Swiss athletes

The signature Letzigrund Stadium atmosphere tends to give them wings. And the number of Swiss athletes who are lining up next to international stars has been on the rise, not least thanks to the sustained support provided by Weltklasse Zürich. The trend underlines the positive development in Swiss athletics.

Swiss highlights in sprint races

A highlight of the national programme of events (which features a number of international competitors), European indoor champion and world championship finalist Jason Joseph would like to make his mark in the 110m hurdles. His opponents include his training partner Finley Gaio and European U23 champion Sasha Zhoya (FRA). And whenever Joseph steps on the track these days, there is the question of whether he might improve his own national record (13.10).

Joseph’s female counterpart is Ditaji Kambundji. The Bernese obliterated the national record in the 100mh when she ran 12.47 this year. The result made her a serious opponent for the world championship medallists Danielle Williams (JAM), Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PRI), and Kendra “Keni” Harrison (USA).

Ditaji’s big sister and 60m world champion Mujinga will try to make things as difficult as possible for new world champion Sha’Carri Richardson and Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah. Due to health issues, the season has been difficult for the Swiss national record holder. Her primary goal is to end the summer on a positive note.

The final of event of the night, the Zürich Trophy, will feature two teams in the 4x100m relay race.

Consolation for Simon Ehammer? Local fans will be excited to see Simon Ehammer again. He and Mujinga Kambundji are the only two active Swiss world championship medallists at this time. Decathlete Ehammer, who has extraordinary long jumping skills, was able to secure the bronze medal at the Eugene world championships last year. In Budapest, however, he unfortunately dropped out in the final, and is no doubt determined to wipe out this most recent experience by competing well against Olympic, world, and European champion Miltiadis Tentoglou (GRE).

In the women’s 400m, Giulia Senn and Julia Niederberger, two local heroes who both have already run sub-52-second races this summer, will challenge one the sport’s greats: Two-time Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH), who returned to competing in Budapest after a four-month baby break, will be lining up at Letzigrund Stadium, as well.

Several Swiss athletes in middle- and long-distance races

Audrey Werro and Lore Hoffmann are facing as many as five world championship finalists in the 800m. Two-time European U20 champion Werro and Hoffmann, who placed fourth at the European championships will try and challenge the likes of Halimah Nakaayi (UGA), the 2019 world champion and Olympic bronze medallist Reavyn Rogers (USA).

In the men’s races Tom Elmer, a member of the Zurich athletics club LCZ and a world championship semi-finalist, will compete in the 1500m, his preferred event. And Zurich’s Jonas Raess is getting ready to challenge many international stars and Switzerland-based refugee Dominic Lobalo.