News : Diamond League Finals Zurich Preview: Schedule, television, duels
After a very intense summer and in which the meetings of the Diamond League have made us vibrate and enjoy in style, Zurich hosts the finals this September 8-9 of the Wanda Diamond League. The Swiss town will bring together the best athletes in the world, all those who have achieved the necessary points to qualify for this last match in which the Diamond of each discipline is at stake and, logically, a lot of money and prestige as well.
The organization has divided the ‘feast’ into two days, so those 8 and 9 we will have first level athletics in vein. Unlike what happens in each meeting, where only some disciplines and distances are held and others are not, here the winner of the diamond must be decided in each one of them.
We are going, as always, to review test by test what one of the athletic events of the summer can bring us.
Thompson-Herah, very favorite
Let’s start with speed. In the women’s 100, a favorite, a very favorite, and some notable absences. Elaine Thompson-Herah, who has achieved this year the second best mark ever (10.54), will fight against herself as her maximum rival and compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce is not on the starting line. Shericka Jackson is missing either (she runs 200). The Ivorian Marie-Josée Ta Lou, the second with the best mark this course (10.78).
The men’s 100 will have a tremendous level with the US Army (Ronnie Baker, Trayvon Bromell and Fred Kerley) and the Olympic medalist André De Grasse (9.89). Also keep an eye on the South African Simbine (9.84SB).
De Grasse vs. Bednarek and Kerley
A De Grasse who will repeat in 200, where he is a brand-new Olympic champion (19.62SB) and will be seen with the other big favorite, Kenneth Bednarek, and Kerley, who also doubles as the Canadian.
In the women’s 200, as we said, Shericka Jackson, the Jamaican (21.82) will again see their faces with the big favorite, the athlete from Namibia Christine Mboma (21.81SB), which comes from beating Jackson in Brussels.
Paulino, in great shape
In the women’s 400 the big favorite will be the Dominican Paulino, in top form and who has managed this course to go until 49.20. Jamaicans McPherson (49.34) and McLeod (49.51), along with American Hayes (49.78), their great rivals.
Kirani James and Michael Cherry are the two great names of the men’s 400. The North American links 13 races in a row, falling below 45 seconds (in 2021 he has gone to 44.03), while James, an Olympic bronze, is the only participant who has fallen below 44 seconds (43.78). They will not be the champion and Olympic runner-up Gardiner and Zambrano.
Hodgkinson, without Mu
Nor will Olympic champion Athing Mu be in the women’s 800. Yes runner-up Kelly Hodgkinson, favorite with those spectacular 1.55.88. Her great rivals, the Jamaican Goule (1.56.44), and the also British Jemma Reekie (1.56.80).
Gala squad in the men’s 800. The Canadian Arop (1.43.26SB), the Olympic champion Korir (1.43.04SB) and his compatriot, the runner-up in Tokyo Rotich (1.43.57), the American Clayton Murphy (1.43.17). Almost nothing.
Marta Pérez, Katir and Fontes
In the female ‘milqui’, Spanish participation. The soriana Marta Pérez will try again to improve herself (He has a personal best of 4.00.12 achieved in Tokyo); the favorites, the Kenyan Olympic champion Kipyegon (3.51.07SB), the Dutch Sifan Hassan (3.53.60) and far behind the Australian Hall or the American Norris.
Two Spaniards on the starting line of the 1,500. Ignacio Fontes (3.33.27 SB) and Mohamed Katir (3.28.76), which comes from being eighth in Brussels after deflating in the final stretch. Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Timothy Cheruiyot will fight again in a beautiful duel (be careful because the race can be opened to more candidates, obviously) as in Tokyo, where the Norwegian beat the Kenyan at the end. Look out for McSweyn, winner in Brussels, and Kipsang (3.29.56). Carrerón.
Obiri, Jakob, Barega …
Without 3,000, the two races of 5,000 will be fought on the 8th. In women, Hassan has decided not to fold, so that favoritism goes to the Obiri (14.26.23SB), Niyonsaba (14.25.34, winner in Brussels the other day) and the Ethiopians Taye (14.14.09) and Worku (14.26.80).
At the male level, the Ethiopian (Barega, Aregawi, Kejelcha) and Kenyan (Kimeli, Kibet, Krop or Birgen) armies impose. Be careful because it seems that Jakob Ingebrigtsen doubles (he has 12.48.45 of personal mark), reason why it is necessary to put it between the favorites. There is also the Bahraini Balew (12:57).
The fences, of difficult prognosis
Nivelazo in the 100 women’s hurdles with the Dutch Visser (winner in Brussels), the medalist in Tokyo Tapper (12.53 SB), the American Cunningham (12.53) or the Nigerian Amusan. Also the British Cindy Sember (12.53SB). Tremendous equality.
On the 110 hurdles, sin Ortega ni Holloway attentive to the Jamaicans Parchment (13.03) and Levy (13.08) and the North American Allen (13.08).
Warholm and Femke Bol
Total favoritism for the Norwegian and world record holder Warholm at the 400 hurdles (45.94SB). The Brazilian Dos Santos, who won a few days ago in Brussels, will try to give the bell. The Virgin Islands athlete Kyron McMaster, another of the highlights (47.08).
Without McLaughlin or Muhammad, the Dutch Femke Bol, who has had a wonderful season (52.03PB, Olympic bronze) She is the great favorite in the women’s four hurdles. Her great rival will be the American Shamier Little (52: 39SB).
The Bakkali, recovered
The three Olympic medalists of the 3,000 hurdles, Chemutai (9.01.45SB), Frerichs (8.57.77SB) and Kiyeng (9.00.05SB) a spectacular test anticipates us. Kenyan Jeruto, yes, is the one with the best mark this 2021 (8.53.65).
Recovered from his terrible fall in Paris, the Bakkali is the favorite to win the diamond. The Olympic champion (8.08.54SB) will face the Kenyans Kibiwot (8.07.81SB) and Kigen (8.07.12) and the Ethiopians Girma, Wale and Taekele.
Dongmo and Crouser
On the 8th, in addition to the 5,000 races, the shot put will be held. The portuguese Dongmo is the big favorite (19.75 meters SB) in the absence of the three medalists in Tokyo. In the female weight, Tokyo champion Ryan Crouser should have no rival (23.37SB)But he can’t be trusted against the Walsh or Kovacs.
Also on the 8th, an exciting female height will be played with the three ‘queens’ this 2021: Lasitskene (2.04SB), McDermott (2.02SB) and Mahuchikh (2.03SB). The three Olympic medalists will compete for the diamond. Tamberi, Nedasekau and Ivanyuk (2.37 meters this year), in principle, the men’s diamond will be contested.
Balance in length
Equality also in male length. The Swede Montler is the one with the best mark (8.27 meters), but very close to the American McCarter (8.26 meters) and the South African Samaai (8.16). In the women’s length, the Serbian Spanovic and the German Mihambo are the only ones who have reached seven meters in 2021. Also pay attention to the Swedish Sagnia (6.93 meters).
Duplantis, against himself
The first swords of the women’s pole will not fail in Zurich. The Olympic champion Nageotte (4.95 meters), the British Bradshaw (4.90) or the Russian Sidorova (4.92). In the men’s section, Duplantis, who has just made the season mark (6.05 meters), will once again compete against himself and will seek that World Record that resists him (it is a tremendously complicated company, obviously). Americans Nilsen, Kendricks and Lightfoot will seek to surprise.
Balance and difficult prognosis in the female disc. Allman and Pérez, medalists in Tokyo, are the big favorites, but also watch out for the Croatian Perkovic (68.31SB). In the case of the boys, the Swede Stahl (71.40) starts as a great favorite against the Slovenian Ceh (70.35).
Yulimar wants to continue to improve
In the triple jump, without Ana Peleteiro, it will again be Yulimar Rojas against herself. The Venezuelan is in a brutal moment with that World Record of 15.67 that he achieved at the Games. The Portuguese mamona (15.01) and the Jamaican Rickets (14.98) will try to present battle. In men, the Portuguese Pichardo (17.98 this 2021) points to the winner, but watch out for Hugues-Fabrice Zango (17.82) and the Algerian Triki (17.43).
In the women’s javelin, the Olympic runner-up Andrejczyk (71.40SB) with the German Hussong as the main rival (69.19). In the men’s section, the German Vetter has thrown much further than his opponents (96.29SB), but in the Games we already saw that this is not pure mathematics.
Schedules and Television
Movistar + will make extensive coverage of the two days of competition (September 8 and 9). In principle, it will start on the 8th with the 5,000 women (17:30) and the 9 with the 400 women at 19:00.
Review the SCHEDULES.