MONACO (MON): EBS Herculis offers on Friday a World mile record by Faith Kipyegon and Scandinavian stars Karsten Warholm and Mondo Duplantis. Another highlight should be Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in the 400 m and Gabby Thomas vs. Shericka Jackson in the 200 m. Fast men 5000 m is also planned, as is Jaydon Hibbert´s European debut within the DL circuit in the triple jump. Yulimar Rojas is late long jump addition.
Event-by-event short previews
Women
200m – US champion and world leader Gabby Thomas goes head-to-head with world champion and Jamaican champion Shericka Jackson. They have season bests of 21.60 and 21.71, respectively. Could Merlene Ottey’s long-standing meeting record of 21.77 fall?
Gabby Thomas, Wanda Diamond League Athletics Meeting
Herculis EBS
July 21, 2023, Monaco, photo by Kevin Morris
400m – US champion and world leader Sydney McLauglin-Levrone takes on three athletes who have also broken 50 seconds this year, including Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke (49.20). Can Mary Moraa improve on her 50.38 Kenyan record?
Sydney McLaughlin Levrone, Wanda Diamond League Athletics Meeting
Herculis EBS
July 21, 2023, Monaco, photo by Kevin Morris
Mile – Having broken the world’s 1500m and 5000m records in 2023, can Faith Kipyegon break the world mile record? Sifan Hassan (4:12.33) set it on this track in 2019.
Faith Kipyegon, photo by Justin Lagat
100m hurdles – Expect a US clash between Kendra Harrison (12.35), Alaysha Johnson (12.37), and Nia Ali (12.37).
Kenni Harrison, USATF New York Grand Prix
Continental Tour Gold
presented by Global Athletics & Marketing Inc., photo by Kevin Morris
Long jump – In-form Larissa Iapichino takes on seven-meter-plus performers Tara Davis-Woodhall (7.07m), Ackelia Smith (7.08m), and world indoor champion Ivana Vuleta. Yulimar Rojas makes her long jump debut for 2023.
Diamond League trophy, Wanda Diamond League Athletics Meeting
Herculis EBS
July 21, 2023, Monaco, by Kevin Morris
High jump – Another clash is expected between Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Nicola Olyslagers, who have cleared 2.02m this year. World champion Eleanor Patterson continues her comeback from injury.
Men
100m – Ferdinand Omanyala (9.84) takes on four other sub-10-second athletes, including Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake and Courtney Lindsey from the USA, both of whom have run 9.89 this year. Akani Simbine is the Silesia winner.
Ferdinand Omanyala speaks with Kip Keino Classic, photo by Justin Lagat.
800m – Wide open race features world leader Emmanuel Wanyonyi (1:43.27), Canada’s Marco Arop (1:43.30), and in-form Algerians Slimane Moula (1:43.38) and Djamel Sedjati (1:43.40).
5000m – Incredible field features Ethiopians Berihu Aregawi (12:40.45), Telahun Haile Bekele (12:46.21), and Hagos Gebrhiwet (12:49.80) up against Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo (12:41.73). But could Mohamed Katir (12:52.09) spoil the party?
In a spectacular 5,000m, Berihu Aregawi held of Joshua Cheptegai, photo by Matthew Quine /Diamond League AG
3000m steeplechase – A big opportunity with Lamecha Girma and Soufiane El Bakkali both absent. Kenya’s Abraham Kibiwott is the fastest, with 8:05.51. Can Conseslus Kipruto find some of his old forms?
400m hurdles – How fast will Karsten Warholm run? What sort of shape is Alison Dos Santos in after injury? Warholm’s meeting record of 47.08 should be vulnerable.
Karston Warholm, Wanda Diamond League Athletics Meeting
Herculis EBS
July 21, 2023, Monaco, photo by Kevin Morris
Triple jump – World U20 champion Jaydon Hibbert, who has jumped 17.87m this year, makes his European debut. The field also includes world indoor record-holder Hugues Fabrice Zango, who jumped 17.81m this year.
Jaydon Hibbert, Wanda Diamond League Athletics Meeting
Herculis EBS
July 21, 2023, Monaco, photo by Kevin Morris
Pole vault – Armand Duplantis is the natural favorite. The line-up also includes four other six meter-performers, including Ernest Obiena, who has cleared 6.00m this year.
Mondo Duplantis, Wanda Diamond League Athletics Meeting
Herculis EBS
July 21, 2023, Monaco, photo by Kevin Morris
Based on recent form, Javelin – Jakub Vadlejch (89.51m) and Julian Weber (88.72m) are the in-form athletes. Can world champion Anderson Peters improve on his 85.88m season’s best?
