2016 IAAF Diamond League: LondonJul 20, 2016 by Meg Bellino
Usain Bolt to Return From Injury at London Diamond League
Usain Bolt to Return From Injury at London Diamond League
The final Diamond League competition before the 2016 Rio Olympic Games will feature two of the sport's biggest superstars: Mo Farah and Usain Bolt. FloTrack
The final Diamond League competition before the 2016 Rio Olympic Games will feature two of the sport's biggest superstars: Mo Farah and Usain Bolt. FloTrack will provide LIVE UPDATES and archived interviews from London on Friday, July 22, and Saturday, July 23.
Farah will be challenged by a slew of young American talent in the 5000m while all eyes will be on Bolt's return from injury at the Jamaican trials. His 200m race will be telling of what we can expect from the world's fastest man in Rio.
Who: Usain Bolt, Nickel Ashmeade, Brendon Rodney, Alonso Edward
When: Friday, July 22, 3:52PM CST
Why: Bolt generated some buzz a few weeks ago when the six-time Olympic gold medalist pulled out of the Jamaican Olympic Trials due to injury. But last week, Jamaica added him to the Olympic team with a medical exemption. If he can prove his health in this race, we will see Bolt in Rio.
Who: Mo Farah, Ryan Hill, Eric Jenkins, Bernard Lagat, Ben True
When: Saturday, July 23, 10:36AM CST
Why: Two of Lagat's biggest races of the season resulted in DNFs (Pre Classic 5K and Olympic Trials 10K) before he won the trials 5K with a blistering final lap. Lagat, 41, is obviously healthy and will take on double Olympic champion Mo Farah and three Americans that left Eugene without the coveted Olympic berth. Farah will make his 5K season debut after running 3:31 in the 1500m in Monaco last week and a 3K PB (7:32) in Birmingham earlier in June. Four men in the field (Bethwell Birgin, Isiah Koech, Edwin Soi and Getaneh Tamire) have broken 13:10 in 2016 and will likely string this race out.
Watch for Americans Ben True, Ryan Hill and Eric Jenkins to get some post-Trials redemption on the track. After finishing fifth, sixth and fourth, respectively, in Eugene, Hill went on to run a 1500m PB in Belgium. He shared his thoughts on the London 5K with FloTrack:
Who: Amanda Eccleston, Sifan Hassan, Dawit Seyaum, Morgan Uceny, Laura Muir
When: Friday, July 22, 3:27PM CST
Why: Eccleston and Uceny finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the final of this event at the Trials, and will chase fast times to add their names to a list of athletes seeking post-Trials redemption. Eccleston has already enjoyed success in Europe with a win and new PB (4:04.88) in Italy.
The competition should be fierce with world indoor champion Hassan and silver medalist Seyaum in the field, as well as 4:19-miler Muir. Hassan holds only a 4:13 season's best, and failed to win the European Championship final, while Seyaum broke 4:00 twice in this event so far in 2016. Look for Muir, Eccleston and Uceny to hold on and contend with the world's best.
Who: Marvin Bracy, Mike Rodgers, ?
When: Saturday, July 23, 8:20AM CST
Why: 100m Olympian Bracy and 4x100m relay team member Rodgers will contest the 100m on Friday and will likely run on the Team USA relay the following day. While Team Stars and Stripes is entered, it is unclear who will compete on the American squad. But one thing is clear: This team should probably practice. In fact, Rodgers said in his heartbreaking post-race interview that this team (with their history of botching relay exchanges at major competitions) absolutely needs to practice if they want to medal, or win, in Rio.
Who: Molly Ludlow, Lynsey Sharp
When: Saturday, July 23, 10:04AM CST
Why: Caster Semenya and Francine Niyonsaba will not toe the line in London, so local fans will cheer for U.K. superstar Lynsey Sharp while Americans will continue to root for Ludlow, the seventh-fastest all-time over 800 meters. Armed with the fastest entry of the field, Sharp will certainly have the stadium's attention, but it was Ludlow who nipped Sharp at the line en route to her 1:57.68 PB in Monaco.
Who: Shamier Little, Dalilah Muhammad
When: Friday, July 22, 2:39PM CST
Why: U.S. Trials champion Muhammad stunned the field with her 52.88 world lead in Eugene. Three-time NCAA champion and world silver medalist Little will look to challenge Muhammad, perhaps a favorite for gold in Rio, after failing to qualify for the U.S. finals. It was a shock to all, even Little, who is just trying to put the performance behind her.
Farah will be challenged by a slew of young American talent in the 5000m while all eyes will be on Bolt's return from injury at the Jamaican trials. His 200m race will be telling of what we can expect from the world's fastest man in Rio.
1. Men's 200m
Who: Usain Bolt, Nickel Ashmeade, Brendon Rodney, Alonso Edward
When: Friday, July 22, 3:52PM CST
Why: Bolt generated some buzz a few weeks ago when the six-time Olympic gold medalist pulled out of the Jamaican Olympic Trials due to injury. But last week, Jamaica added him to the Olympic team with a medical exemption. If he can prove his health in this race, we will see Bolt in Rio.
2. Men's 5000m
Who: Mo Farah, Ryan Hill, Eric Jenkins, Bernard Lagat, Ben True
When: Saturday, July 23, 10:36AM CST
Why: Two of Lagat's biggest races of the season resulted in DNFs (Pre Classic 5K and Olympic Trials 10K) before he won the trials 5K with a blistering final lap. Lagat, 41, is obviously healthy and will take on double Olympic champion Mo Farah and three Americans that left Eugene without the coveted Olympic berth. Farah will make his 5K season debut after running 3:31 in the 1500m in Monaco last week and a 3K PB (7:32) in Birmingham earlier in June. Four men in the field (Bethwell Birgin, Isiah Koech, Edwin Soi and Getaneh Tamire) have broken 13:10 in 2016 and will likely string this race out.
Watch for Americans Ben True, Ryan Hill and Eric Jenkins to get some post-Trials redemption on the track. After finishing fifth, sixth and fourth, respectively, in Eugene, Hill went on to run a 1500m PB in Belgium. He shared his thoughts on the London 5K with FloTrack:
3. Women's 1500m
Who: Amanda Eccleston, Sifan Hassan, Dawit Seyaum, Morgan Uceny, Laura Muir
When: Friday, July 22, 3:27PM CST
Why: Eccleston and Uceny finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the final of this event at the Trials, and will chase fast times to add their names to a list of athletes seeking post-Trials redemption. Eccleston has already enjoyed success in Europe with a win and new PB (4:04.88) in Italy.
When you fall down (literally) you get back up and keep smiling. New PR of 4:04:88 FTW in Padova, Italy! #believe @brooksrunning #runhappy
— Amanda Eccleston (@AmandaEcc) July 17, 2016
The competition should be fierce with world indoor champion Hassan and silver medalist Seyaum in the field, as well as 4:19-miler Muir. Hassan holds only a 4:13 season's best, and failed to win the European Championship final, while Seyaum broke 4:00 twice in this event so far in 2016. Look for Muir, Eccleston and Uceny to hold on and contend with the world's best.
4. Men's 4x100m Relay
Who: Marvin Bracy, Mike Rodgers, ?
When: Saturday, July 23, 8:20AM CST
Why: 100m Olympian Bracy and 4x100m relay team member Rodgers will contest the 100m on Friday and will likely run on the Team USA relay the following day. While Team Stars and Stripes is entered, it is unclear who will compete on the American squad. But one thing is clear: This team should probably practice. In fact, Rodgers said in his heartbreaking post-race interview that this team (with their history of botching relay exchanges at major competitions) absolutely needs to practice if they want to medal, or win, in Rio.
5. Women's 800m
Who: Molly Ludlow, Lynsey Sharp
When: Saturday, July 23, 10:04AM CST
Why: Caster Semenya and Francine Niyonsaba will not toe the line in London, so local fans will cheer for U.K. superstar Lynsey Sharp while Americans will continue to root for Ludlow, the seventh-fastest all-time over 800 meters. Armed with the fastest entry of the field, Sharp will certainly have the stadium's attention, but it was Ludlow who nipped Sharp at the line en route to her 1:57.68 PB in Monaco.
6. Women's 400m Hurdles
Who: Shamier Little, Dalilah Muhammad
When: Friday, July 22, 2:39PM CST
Why: U.S. Trials champion Muhammad stunned the field with her 52.88 world lead in Eugene. Three-time NCAA champion and world silver medalist Little will look to challenge Muhammad, perhaps a favorite for gold in Rio, after failing to qualify for the U.S. finals. It was a shock to all, even Little, who is just trying to put the performance behind her.