by Alfonz Juck
BRUSSELS (BEL): The 46th Allianz Memorial Van Damme, as the last stop of the Wanda Diamond League 2022 circuit before the finals, offers 39 medal winners from the Eugene World championships, also 23 medalists from Munich European championships. Traditional interesting programme with several special events confirms the big tradition and approach of this meeting towards the sport. One hour with WR ambitions is one of such theme. Also, women steeple with global mark attacks. Great fields in all events, especially women 1500 m or men 800 m. A lot of home athletes headed by Nafi Thiam will also be in action. But maybe from the international perspective, the question is, how will end the women’s 100 m sprint promising Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce against Shericka Jackson? And what is Mondo Duplantis still able to produce?
Short previews
Men
200m – World bronze medallist Erriyon Knighton has the fastest season’s best with 19.49. He faces fellow sub-20 second performers Reynier Mena (19.63), Jereem Richards (19.80), Joseph Fanbulleh (19.83) and Alexander Ogando (19.91).
400m (non-DL) – All three Borlee brothers and Jonathan Sacoor compete in this all-European line-up.
800m – The line-up includes world champion Emmanuel Korir (1:43.71), world 1500m champion Jake Wightman (1:44.91) and world indoor champion Mariano Garcia (1:44.85).
5000m – The fastest on season’s bests are Kenyans Nicholas Kimeli (12:46.33) and Jacob Krop (12:46.79) but also watch out for Dominic Lobalu, who looks set to shatter his PB of 13:34.18 after his victory over 3000m in Stockholm.
One hour (non-DL) – The likes of Kibiwott Kandie and Sebastian Sawe from Kenya could challenge the world record of 21,330 metres set by Mo Farah in 2020.
400m hurdles – Alison Dos Santos is a big favourite, and Andre Phillips’ long-standing meeting record of 47.51 should be under threat.
Triple jump – Lazaro Martinez is the potential favourite, although Hugues Fabrice Zango has a slightly better season’s best – 17.55m to 17.50m.
Pole vault – Armand Duplantis should be in a league of his own again and looks set to improve his meeting record of 6.05m.
Shot put – Joe Kovacs and Tom Walsh are the two in-form throwers. On 2022 competitions, Kovacs leads the head-to-head 6-2. The competition will be already on Thursday at well known “Fishmarket”.
Women
100m – Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce looks set to return to competition after withdrawing from Lausanne with a niggle in the warm-up. She will go head-to-head with world 200m champion Shericka Jackson. Sha’Carri Richardson is also returning to form. Six athletes have broken the 11 second-barrier on this year’s form.
400m – Sada Williams has the fastest season’s best with 49.75. World bronze medallist Mary Moraa also drops down in distance and will be looking to improve her PB of 50.84.
1500m – Eight runners with sub-4:00 season’s bests compete, including world bronze medallist Laura Muir (3:55.28) and in-form Ethiopian Diribe Welteji (3:56.91).
3000m steeplechase – A potential world record attempt? The line-up includes Ethiopians Werkuha Getachew (8:54.61) and Mekides Abebe (8:56.08) and Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi (8:56.55). On the return from injury, current world record-holder Beatrice Chepkoech also competes along with European champion Luiza Gega.
100m hurdles – Jasmine Camacho-Quinn will be looking to return to winning ways after a defeat to Tia Jones in Luzern. Jones is also due to compete along with former world record-holder Kendra Harrison and world silver medallist Britany Anderson.
Long jump (non-DL) – Ese Brume is the only seven metre-plus performer with a 7.02m season’s bests. World indoor pentathlon champion Noor Vidts also competes.
High jump – All three medallists from the World Championships are due to compete (Patterson, Mahuchikh, Vallortigara) along with heptathlon star Nafissatou Thiam. Nicola Olyslagers also returns to competition after injury.
Javelin – The line-up features all three medallists from the World Championships (Barber, Winger, Kitaguchi) and all three medallists from the European Championships (Tzengko, Vilagos, Spotakova).
