2016 IAAF Diamond League: MonacoJul 14, 2016 by Allie Woodward Woodward
Preview: Star-Studded Fields at Monaco Diamond League
Preview: Star-Studded Fields at Monaco Diamond League
Missing your track and field fix after 10 days of U.S. Olympic Trials? Jump back into the action on Friday, July 15, with LIVE UPDATES and post-race intervi
Missing your track and field fix after 10 days of U.S. Olympic Trials? Jump back into the action on Friday, July 15, with LIVE UPDATES and post-race interviews from the Diamond League meet in Monaco. Here are five events to keep an eye on.
When: 1:05 p.m. CT
Why: Adekoya, the 2016 world indoor champion in the 400m, will test her speed against Spencer, Tate, and Little, who have also found success running the open 400m while still dominating in the 400m hurdles. Spencer snagged the third spot to Rio for Team USA last weekend in Eugene, Oregon. Little, who was the favorite going into the Trials, will race for redemption after failing to make the final.
Watch Little win her third national title this year at NCAAs:
When: 1:35 p.m. CT
Why: This race has not just one, not two, but THREE Olympic champions in the field. Nike Oregon Project star Mo Farah, 2012 Olympic gold medalist in the 5K and 10K, will dip down in distance this week to prepare for the games in Rio. Challenging Farah will be Kiprop, the 2008 gold medalist in the 1500m, and Makhloufi, who won gold in the event in London in 2012. Another big entry is Abdelaati Iguider, bronze medalist in the 1500m at last year's world championships.
When: 1:45 p.m. CT
Why: Schippers is the 2015 world silver medalist in the 100m and currently owns a 2016 world-leading time of 7.00 in the 60m. She'll face Jamaica's Veronica Campbell-Brown, who is a three-time Olympic gold medalist and matches Schippers' season's best of 10.83. Look to Bartoletta to also be a strong contender in this race--she just secured her spot on Team USA in the long jump and 100m with a new PB of 10.78.
Here's what Bartoletta had to say after qualifying for the Olympic Team for the second time:
When: 2:20 p.m. CT
Why: When the world's top two 800m runners meet, the result is bound to be fast. After losing to Semenya in Rome earlier this year, Niyonsaba narrowly challenged Semenya's world-lead time of 1:56.64 at her last Diamond League race in June. In the meantime, Semenya has shown her wheels are consistent. She's run 1:56 twice this season and hasn't lost a Diamond League 800m this year. At this point, Semenya is the favorite for gold in Rio.
When: 2:45 p.m. CT
Why: For U.S. athlete Andy Bayer, this race is a chance to bounce back from the disappointment of finishing fourth at the Olympic Trials. Bayer says he's fitter than his 8:28 finish in Eugene showed, so this will be a great chance for him to run fast alongside 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Paul Kipsiele Koech and Conseslus Kipruto, who ran a world-leading 8:00.12 in Birmingham, England, this season.
Bayer talks through his race after a tough fourth-place finish at the Olympic Trials:
Women's 400m Hurdles
Who: Shamier Little (USA), Ashley Spencer (USA), Cassandra Tate (USA), Kemi Adekoya (BRN)When: 1:05 p.m. CT
Why: Adekoya, the 2016 world indoor champion in the 400m, will test her speed against Spencer, Tate, and Little, who have also found success running the open 400m while still dominating in the 400m hurdles. Spencer snagged the third spot to Rio for Team USA last weekend in Eugene, Oregon. Little, who was the favorite going into the Trials, will race for redemption after failing to make the final.
Watch Little win her third national title this year at NCAAs:
Men's 1500m
Who: Mo Farah (GBR), Asbel Kiprop (KEN), Taoufik Makhloufi (ALG)When: 1:35 p.m. CT
Why: This race has not just one, not two, but THREE Olympic champions in the field. Nike Oregon Project star Mo Farah, 2012 Olympic gold medalist in the 5K and 10K, will dip down in distance this week to prepare for the games in Rio. Challenging Farah will be Kiprop, the 2008 gold medalist in the 1500m, and Makhloufi, who won gold in the event in London in 2012. Another big entry is Abdelaati Iguider, bronze medalist in the 1500m at last year's world championships.
Women's 100m
Who: Dafne Schippers (NED), Tianna Bartoletta (USA), Veronica Campbell-Brown (JAM)When: 1:45 p.m. CT
Why: Schippers is the 2015 world silver medalist in the 100m and currently owns a 2016 world-leading time of 7.00 in the 60m. She'll face Jamaica's Veronica Campbell-Brown, who is a three-time Olympic gold medalist and matches Schippers' season's best of 10.83. Look to Bartoletta to also be a strong contender in this race--she just secured her spot on Team USA in the long jump and 100m with a new PB of 10.78.
Here's what Bartoletta had to say after qualifying for the Olympic Team for the second time:
Women's 800m
Who: Caster Semenya (RSA) and Francine Niyonsaba (BDI)When: 2:20 p.m. CT
Why: When the world's top two 800m runners meet, the result is bound to be fast. After losing to Semenya in Rome earlier this year, Niyonsaba narrowly challenged Semenya's world-lead time of 1:56.64 at her last Diamond League race in June. In the meantime, Semenya has shown her wheels are consistent. She's run 1:56 twice this season and hasn't lost a Diamond League 800m this year. At this point, Semenya is the favorite for gold in Rio.
Men's 3K Steeplechase
Who: Conseslus Kipruto (KEN), Paul Kipsiele Koech (KEN), and Andy Bayer (USA)When: 2:45 p.m. CT
Why: For U.S. athlete Andy Bayer, this race is a chance to bounce back from the disappointment of finishing fourth at the Olympic Trials. Bayer says he's fitter than his 8:28 finish in Eugene showed, so this will be a great chance for him to run fast alongside 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Paul Kipsiele Koech and Conseslus Kipruto, who ran a world-leading 8:00.12 in Birmingham, England, this season.
Bayer talks through his race after a tough fourth-place finish at the Olympic Trials: