Diamond League Champions Set to Be Crowned in Switzerland

By Scott Bush

Just because the IAAF World Outdoor Championships are over doesn’t mean the international track and field season has concluded. The IAAF Diamond League has two more contests to go, the first taking place Thursday in Zurich, Switzerland.

Over 25 world champions are set to compete, numerous Diamond League champions will be crowned and the season concludes for many of the world’s finest track and field athletes.

With so much talent on the track and in the field, here are some of the best events to watch at the Weltklasse Zurich meeting.

American Record Watch in Women’s 3,000m

The American women’s 3,000m record is 8:25.83, set by Mary Slaney in 1985. With a stacked field ready to push the pace in Zurich, do not be surprised if Americans Jenny Simpson and Shannon Rowbury challenge Slaney’s long-standing mark.

Last year in Brussels, Simpson and Rowbury staged an epic battle, with Simpson narrowly nipping Rowbury at the line, 8:29.58-8:29.73, as the two placed fourth and fifth. This Thursday, the two meet again, ready to prove just who is having the better 2015 season.

Zurich’s 3,000m field includes 1,500m world record holder Genzebe Dibaba (ETH), 5,000m world champion Almaz Ayana (ETH), Senbere Teferi (ETH), Viola Kibiwot (KEN) and Mercy Cherono (KEN).

Each of the listed runners is more than capable of dipping below 8:25, so fans can only hope the pace is honest early on. If so, anticipate Simpson and Rowbury challenging Slaney’s mark.

Merritt Seeks Revenge on Van Niekerk in 400m

The 2015 World Outdoor Championships men’s 400m final will go down as one of the greatest 400m races in history. The youthful Wayde Van Niekerk (RSA) took down veterans LaShawn Merritt (USA) and Kirani James (GRN), as all three ran sub-44 seconds. With the top six finishers from Beijing in the Zurich 400m event, expect fast times yet again.

For Merritt, who set a new personal best in Beijing, he’ll look to close the gap with Van Niekerk. In the final 50 meters of the 400m final, it seemed as though Merritt might just catch the South African, but he ran out of track as he crossed the finish in second. Merritt peaked perfectly for the World Championships, meaning he should be more than ready to go in Zurich.

Luguelin Santos (DOM), Isaac Makwala (BOT) and Rabah Yousif (GBR) round out the Beijing finalists in attendance, while 2015 U.S. champion David Verburg and top ten ranked Steven Gardiner (BAH) round out the field.

Fraser-Pryce Leads Loaded 100m Field

Seven of the top eight finishers in the women’s 100m in Beijing are entered in Thursday’s competition, led by gold medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. Missing from the field is 200m world champion and 100m runner-up Dafne Schippers (NED), but the talent and depth in the field is special.

The seven World Championship finalists also rank as seven of the top nine fastest women in the world in 2015. Tori Bowie (USA) gives Americans a star to cheer for, while Fraser-Pryce is joined by fellow Jamaicans Veronica Campbell-Brown and Natasha Morrison.

Throw in Michelle Lee-Ahye (TTO), Kelly-Ann Baptist (TTO) and Blessing Okagbare (NGR) and fans should see the entire field run sub-11 and perhaps a few challenge the 10.8 second barrier.

U.S. Long Jumpers Look to Redeem Themselves

The IAAF World Outdoor Championships were not kind to American long jumpers. Young pro Marquis Dendy failed to make the final, while Jeff Henderson, who has the top three furthest jumps in 2015, and Michael Hartfield failed to finish in the top eight. Needless to say, Beijing was a disappointment for all three athletes.

But with a new meet comes a fresh start for all three men. The U.S. contingent, including Olympic gold medalist Christian Taylor, faces an incredible field, including gold medalist Greg Rutherford (GBR), silver medalist Fabrice LaPierre (AUS) and bronze medalist Jianan Wang (CHN).

With no rounds to worry about, both Henderson and Dendy should be eyeing marks over the 8.30m barrier, while Hartfield could challenge the mark, as well.

Bartoletta Hopes to Soar Once More

It took until the final jump in Beijing for Tianna Bartoletta (USA) to bring home her first gold medal in a decade. The long jump standout soared to a new personal best of 7.14m, taking away top prize from Shara Proctor (GBR) and Ivana Spanovic (SRB), who both set their own personal bests and national records in the process.

Bartoletta was the favorite heading into competition at the World Championships. She was the only athlete to jump further than seven meters this season and for the past two years has shown time and again that when she’s found her rhythm, she’s nearly unbeatable.

While Bartoletta enters Thursday’s competition as the pre-meet favorite, she’ll have her hands full with Proctor and Spanovic seeking a little redemption, while other notable athletes such as Christabel Nettey (CAN) and Darya Klishina (RUS) are entered.

Can Jager and Huling Set New Personal Bests?

No event is more talented based on World Championship results than the men’s 3,000m steeplechase, which includes the top nine finishers in Beijing. Leading the charge is Ezekiel Kemboi (KEN), who won his third world title in style. He’ll look to end his 2015 on a winning note, but it won’t come easy.

Fellow Kenyans Conseslus Kipruto (KEN), Brimin Kipruto (KEN) and Jairus Birech (KEN), who finished 2-3-4 in Beijing, are all entered, as are the fifth and sixth place finishers in Bowerman Track Club teammates Dan Huling and Evan Jager.

For Huling and Jager, both seek to set new personal bests in the event. Jager has had his eyes set on going sub-8 all season long. He nearly bested the mark earlier in the season before stumbling over the final hurdle, but he’s shown he has the fitness to challenge for such a time. He’ll seek to rebound from a sub-par performance in the final in Beijing.

Huling nearly earned a personal best in Beijing, running an exceptionally executed race to finish in 8:14.39. His PR is 8:13.29 set in 2010, a time he’s been chasing much of the past two years. He’ll have his chance to break his best and perhaps even challenge for sub-8:10 in Zurich.