2018 Paris DL Diary: Mondo Duplantis verus Renaud Lavillenie

PARIS (FRA): Five things to look out at Paris DL on Saturday. Caterine Ibargüen is on a mission to reclaim her Diamond Trophy this season, and she has already booked her place in the IAAF Diamond League Final with victories in Shanghai and Oslo. In Paris, though, the Colombian faces her toughest test yet in Paris as she goes up against both Olga Rypakova and Yulimar Rojas. Having surged to fame and glory last season, Norwegian hurdler Karsten Warholm has been outshone by the man of the moment Abderrahman Samba so far this season, the Qatari breaking the Diamond League record on no less than three occasions as they will clash again. In the other hurdling Diamond Discipline, Paris is set to welcome a host of superstars, as the likes of Orlando Ortega, Diamond Trophy holder Sergey Shubenkov and Aries Merritt descend on the French capital. Right up until Dina Asher-Smith’s fine win in Stockholm, 2018 had been the undisputed year of the Ivorians in the women’s sprints, with Murielle Ahouré and Marie-Josée Ta Lou sharing the spoils between them in the 100m and 200m. In Paris, Ta Lou has the chance to continue her winning ways and book a place in the Final as she lines up against the likes of Shericka Jackson, Kyra Jefferson and Kimberlyn Duncan. After winning a first Diamond League meeting and also beating Sam Kendricks for the first time in Stockholm, young Mondo Duplantis can be considered very much among the favourites for the Diamond Trophy in the men’s pole vault. In Paris, though, he not only faces Kendricks, but also his childhood hero Renaud Lavillenie.