by Alfonz Juck
Noah Lyles running 19.50 in Lausanne (5 July), photo by PhotoRun.net
The Monaco Herculis meeting is one of my favorites, and on 12 July it will have some amazing events! This is the event by event preview from EME News.
How fast will be men´s 1500 m, Lyles for fast 100 m
MONACO (MON): Herculis meet of Monaco in top fresh air should be the bonanza for fast middle distance times. World leads possible in men´s 800 m, steeple and women´s mile (staged as Brave Like Gabe Mile). Top women clash should be Shaunae Miller-Uibo against Elaine Thompson in the 200 m. Top men´s triple jump can end with 18+ result. Women triple will be staged already on Thursday in the Monaco port. Lisek after 601 or McLaughlin in the 400 m hurdles are other top themes. Lyles goes for fast 100 m time after Lausanne superb 200 m. And we should not forget Lasitskene she still can attack the WR.
Short previews
Men
100m: World champion Justin Gatlin faces two men who have run quicker at 9.86 this season, Noah Lyles and Divine Oduduru, the latter making his DL debut. Gillespie is also making European debut and Simbine with Vicaut should not be forgotten.
400m: Steven Gardiner comes after Hungary win as obvious favorite but hurdles star Abderahman Samba is back from injury and will try to revise his flat PB of 44.60 set earlier this year.
800m: Meeting record-holder Nijel Amos looks for another Monaco win as he meets Adam Kszczot, Ferguson Cheruyiot, Amel Tuka, Brandon McBride and comeback man Pierre Ambroise-Bosse. Set up for WL.
1500m (non-DL): A venue which has produced seven of the top twenty times in history has assembled arguably the best field of the year so far, which has eight of the world’s current top ten: Timothy Cheruiyot, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Ayanleh Souleiman, Filip Ingebrigtsen and Samuel Tefera are included.
3000m steeplechase: Getnet Wale aims to follow up his 8:06 Rabat world lead (expected to be improved). Last year’s winner, Soufiane El Bakkali and Ben Kigen are among those trying to stop him.
Pole vault: Following his world lead 6.01m in Lausanne, Piotr Lisek looks to stay on top, facing Renaud Lavillenie, Armand Duplantis and Sam Kendricks.
Triple jump: Three of the six men to jump over 18 metres are here as the newest recruit to the club, Will Claye, takes on Pedro Pablo Pichardo and Christian Taylor. 17.75 is the MR to beat.
Javelin: Olympic champion Thomas Rohler looks for his first DL win of the season as he takes on Andreas Hofmann, the winner at Shanghai, world No.1 Magnus Kirt and world decathlon record-holder Kevin Mayer.
Women
200m: Blessing Okagbare tries to prove her Stanford win was no fluke with a repeat clash with Dafne Schippers and Elaine Thompson. Shaunae Miller-Uibo, after her 22.18 in Hungary this week, should be a
match for anyone though. First sub 22 of the year?
800m (non-DL): Laura Muir steps down for some speed work with Ajee Wilson and Habitam Alemu in the field.
Brave Like Gabe Mile: Sifan Hassan seeks to continue on from her Stanford two-miles form. Five have run sub-four this year, including Rabab Arafi, Gudaf Tsegay and Axumawit Embaye. Laura Weightman could challenge too. MR 4:24.22 comes back from 1996 by Regina Jacobs, time to beat it. WL for sure.
100m hurdles: Keni Harrison looks for her seventh win out of seven this year. Like her, Christina Clemons and Danielle Williams are chasing their second DL win of 2019. But also Ali, Nelvis and WL holder Brown.
400m hurdles: Sydney McLaughlin starts favourite and could challenge the world lead, but Zuzana Hejnova is on her way back and Ashley Spencer is a threat too.
High jump: Mariya Lasitskene could be looking to go yet higher after 2.06m already this season. Mirela Demireva would seem to be her closest challenger. Meet record is 205.
Triple jump: The big clash is on again after Caterine Ibarguen held on to her winning streak amid the challenge of comeback athlete Yulimar Rojas in Lausanne. The only event taking place Thursday at the port, not in the stadium.
