Gatlin against the rest, Dibaba against the time, Monaco Preview, by Alfons Juck, EME News

Genzebe Dibaba, photo by PhotoRun.net

Big meet in the big city!

Monaco DL was the finest two hours of track I saw in 2014. It was that an excitement grew that, frankly, never stopped.

All of the stars are here, but one.

A big 100 meters, and the WR possibility in the 1,500 meters, for women (and American record), watch them well!

Here is Alfons Juck, of EME News’ predictions on the tenth meeting of

the 2015 Diamond League!

Gatlin against the rest, Dibaba against the time

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MONACO (MON): The Herculis Monaco IAAF Diamond League will offer duels between barrier breaking field eventers; Pichardo and Taylor in the triple jump and Yego and Walcott in the javelin. Dibaba will star in an ultra-competitive women’s 1500m, while men’s 100m is having Gatlin against Gay and Bromell. For many of top athletes this will be one of the last important tests before Beijing. In traditional excellent weather top marks are expected.

Event by Event

Men

100m: The US bring their top three; Bromell, Gay and Gatlin, the world leader and DR leader. Vicaut will be looking to get in the mix, also Bledman. Sub 9.7?

800m: First there is world leader Souleiman, then there is DR leader and defending champ Amos. And what about Europeans Kszczot and Tuka.

1500m (non-DL): Either Kiplagat or Kiprop has won this race for the last five years. Only Kiprop is here this time and he will have opposition from ER holder Farah and Olympic champ Makhloufi. A WL is likely, El Guerrouj’s MR of 3:27.24 will be tougher to conquer.

3000m: Ndiku was spiked in his return; here he will get a chance to show his form. Kaya could have the Euro u23 record of 7:37.50 on his mind.

400mH: Jackson is the man on form. He and Dutch will both be aiming for their third DL win of 2015.

PV: Lavillenie is on the back of two DL defeats but he has never been beaten at this meet, in three appearances. Out to put that record to bed are Holzdeppe, FilippÃdis and Wojciechowski. Although their form is also inconsistent. Breaking the MR of 600 and a win would put the French athlete right back on track.

TJ: Taylor and Pichardo duel again with 18m no longer a barrier. The MR of 17.63 should be history come the meet-closing fireworks. In their last six encounters, one has not managed to score two consecutive victories over the other.

SP: With Storl withdrawing, world leader Kovacs is the favourite, although Cantwell could pose him some problems. Kovacs has the form to beat the MR of 21.35.

JT: This year’s 90+ throwers, Yego and Walcott, are here. If they bring top form they could challenge the MR of 90.20, which was set in 1996. A very consistent Vesely is the DR leader. Pitkamaki will also be a factor.

4×100 m (non-DL): USA practice before Beijing. The A team with top composition Bromell, Gatlin, Gay, Rodgers, the B team with Kimmons, Spearmon, I. Young and McClain. France is also there but withou Lemaitre and Vicaut.

Women

200m: Miller beat Bowie in their early season clash in Kingston, now the two meet again. Tarmoh has two DL wins this season, but was 5th in Lausanne. Schippers also looks on form.

400m: World leader McCorory will hope to make up for her performance at the US trials and win her fourth DL of the season. Stephanie Ann McPherson comes from a win in Luzern. What is the shape of World Champ Ohuruogu.

1500m: G. Dibaba ran 3:54 in a solo run in Barcelona; now what can she do with high level competition? Hassan has won her last two DL 1500m races. All the other DL winners in 2015 are here; Simpson, Seyaum and Muir being the others. Dibaba has the form to break the MR of 3:56.97.

100mH: The top 5 fastest this year are here. Harper-Nelson carries the best form. Nelvis and Stowers have both gone faster than the MR of 12.42 this year. Also watch out for Kendra Harrison in her pro debut.

Steeple: Nyambura has only been beaten once this season in the steeple; that was by Kiyeng who is also in the field. If Coburn can re-find her form from US nationals, she could threaten the Kenyan pair. And what about Ethiopians? The MR of 9:14.17 is not out of reach. And Ghribi opens her season.

HJ: Chicherova is favourite after her 203 WL in Lausanne. If she improves further, she would challenge the MR of 204. Beitia and Licwinko should be her main rivals. How will Kuchina bounce back after her subpar performance in Tallinn?

LJ: Bartoletta is the world leader and DR leader, but Proctor, Klishina and Nettey can threaten if they have a good day.

DT: There are no Cubans in the field to threaten Perkovic. The Croatian would need to throw well if she is to perform better than the MR of 69.30.

4×100 m (non-DL): Again US testing, top squad Gardner-Felix-Prandini-Whitney and the other team Todd, McGrone, Tarmoh, Jefferson.

Author

Larry Eder
Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."
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