by Alfonz Juck
Mo Farah wins 2017 London 10,000 meters, photo by PhotoRun.net
Tomorrow is the last domestic track race for Mo Farah. It will be an emotional race, for both the athlete and his fans. Birmingham has a great history in putting together a fine meeting. EME news, as they do each meeting, provided some quick predictions below for Sunday in Birmingham!
Farah home track farewell, 50+ Worlds medalists
BIRMINGHAM (GBR): Mo Farah gets top billing in his last domestic track race, but more competitive interest also elsewhere. More than 50 London 2017 medallists, including Dafne Schippers, Mutaz Barshim, Hellen Obiri and Sandra Perkovic, are in action as this meeting gets a huge boost from being the first post-Worlds IAAF Diamond League and the last opportunity for athletes to gain qualification points for the finals in Zurich and Brussels.
Short event by event preview
Men
100m (non-DL): Relay World champions CJ Ujah and Adam Gemili head the all-domestic line-up.
200m: Ramil Guliyev is out to prove his London win was no fluke by holding off Britain’s Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake and Isaac Makwala, who could be stronger now after illness.
400m (non-DL): Vernon Norwood and Kevin Borlee challenge three members of Britain’s London medal-winning quartet Martyn Rooney, Rabah Yousif and Dwayne Cowan.
800m: World medallists Adam Kszczot and Kipyegon Bett are favourites as an interesting starter is Asbel Kiprop.
Mile (non-DL): World steeple bronze medallist Evan Jager steps down and faces London finalist Chris O’Hare and world 5000m sixth-placer Mohammed Ahmed.
3000m (non-DL): It’s all about Mo Farah’s last track race on home soil. Leading opposition Bethwell Birgen and Adel Mechaal are not expected to spoil the party.
110m hurdles: World medallists Sergey Shubenkov and Balasz Baji head the roster, which also features Aries Merritt and Andrew Pozzi.
High jump: Mutaz Essa Barshim is the big favourite, but can Germany’s Mateusz Przybylko make up for a disappointing worlds. Bronze medallist Majed Ghazal and Britain’s Robbie Grabaraz could be in the mix.
Long jump: New world silver medallist Jarrion Lawson is joined by bronze winner Ruswahl Samaai. Maykel Masso and Michel Torneus are also there, while Jeff Henderson tries to come back from his London qualifying round mishap.
Shot: Ryan Crouser has a point to prove after his potential winning mark in London was deemed a foul. London winner Tom Walsh, Joe Kovacs and Tomas Stanek are part of a strong field.
Hammer (non-DL): In a men/women hammer challenge World champion Pawel Fajdek is the top star. The event will be held for first time, so meet record will be established.
Women
100m: Olympic champion Elaine Thompson seeks to return to winning ways after her illness-affected Worlds campaign. London 2017 silver and bronze medallists Marie Josee-Talou and Dafne Schippers are set to challenge. World sprint hurdles champion Sally Pearson is in action, plus 200m fourth-placer Dina Asher-Smith. Heats and finals are planned, another interesting entry is Bahamian 400 m specialist Shaunae Miller-Uibo.
400m: Phyllis Francis and Allyson Felix look set for another close race after the Worlds. London absentee Courtney Okolo might spring a surprise. And also in the field surprise medalist Salwa Eid Naser.
800m (non-DL): London finalists Lynsey Sharp and Charlene Lipsey head the field.
1500m: Jenny Simpson leads the way in a field which includes Angelika Cichocka, Winny Chebet and Gudaf Tsegay.
3000m: Can Hellen Obiri challenge her non-Chinese world best and go sub-8:20? A top field, including steeplechase heroines Emma Coburn and Emma Frerichs, Sifan Hassan, Shannon Rowbury and Genevieve LaCaze, awaits. Meet record 8:33.00 should go.
400m hurdles: World No.1 Dalilah Muhammad goes against London 2017 bronze winner Ristananna Tracey. Former world champion Zuzana Hejnova, London finalist Eilidh Doyle and Sara Petersen also line up.
Pole vault: The first four from London are here, led by champion Ekaterini Stefanidi, who is trying to continue her 2017 unbeaten streak. Britain’s Holly Bradshaw looks to capitalise on the home crowd support. In shape also Sandi Morris.
Triple jump: Caterine Ibarguen and Yulimar Rojas had a great battle in London – could it be close again? Olga Rypakova makes it a London top three on the startlist.
Discus: Sandra Perkovic looks to continue her domination, but can Dani Stevens go closer after London silver. Olympic champion Denia Caballero is also in the field.
