The Diamond League returns on Thursday with a visit to Lausanne. The Swiss city hosted the first Diamond League after the Tokyo Olympics and does the same following Paris, just ten days after the Olympic Games drew to a close. James Rhodes previews the middle-distance races.
The historic meeting of Athletissima is no stranger to fast races and this year’s edition looks set to be no different. Strong fields are assembled, but will we see post-Paris heroics or hangovers?
Men’s 800m
One of the most exciting races in the French capital was the men’s 800m. A race like few before it, where 1:41.67 – a time that put Bryce Hoppel seventh on the all-time list – didn’t make the podium.
It was not just the speed, but the margin of victory; just 0.01s separated Emmanuel Wanyonyi from Marco Arop. 1:41.19 to 1:41.20, times only David Rudisha and Wilson Kipketer have bettered.
The pair, plus fourth placer Hoppel, race again in Lausanne. One can hypothesise that it is a time chasing race, given it is not a Diamond League discipline. They are joined by fellow Olympic finalists Andreas Kramer, Gabriel Tual and Mohamed Attaoui. The notable absentee is Djamel Sedjati. However, he joins the gang in Silesia three days later, where five in the field have PBs inside 1:42, a first.
Elliot Giles is also due to race in Lausanne, following Neil Gourley’s withdrawal. Frenchman Ludovic Le Meur and Catalin Tecuceanu of Italy complete the field.
Photo: James Rhodes
Women’s 800m
Unlike the men’s race, there was little doubt who was winning the women’s 800m in Paris as the final home straight approached. Olympic Champion Keely Hodgkinson is absent in Lausanne, but expect to see her appear over two laps before the season ends. She is racing over 400m at ISTAF in Berlin on Sunday 1 September.
The Swiss capital sees two bronze medallists compete; 800m’s Mary Moraa and 1500m’s Georgia Bell. Plenty can be said about Georgia’s season, but there is little need. Her successes speak for themselves, a “Parkrun-to-podium” headline is not needed here.
Georgia ran 1:56.28 at the London Diamond League last month and will undoubtedly be full of confidence here. Let’s not forget, like many seem to have, that this was her specialist event as a junior.
Jemma Reekie will be looking to bounce back from not making the final in Paris. She has the fastest PB of those entered.
Photo: James Rhodes
Olympic finalists Shafiqua Maloney and Renelle Lamote also compete as do Swiss stars Audrey Werro and Rachel Pellaud. Americans Allie Wilson and Nia Akins, 2019 World Champion Halimah Nakaayi and Natoya Goule-Toppin complete the field.
Men’s 1500m
For some, Cole Hocker’s Olympic victory came as a surprise. The preceding twelve months had built up the race as a battle between reigning World Champion Josh Kerr and Olympic Champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen. A two-horse race, except it wasn’t.
Ingebrigtsen has been open on what he believes were his incorrect tactics, and Hocker made the most with a storming last lap. The pair race again in Lausanne, and it will be intriguing to see how the race unfolds. Tactical, fast, or both. Cole showed in Paris he can live with a fast pace; 3:27.65 was an Olympic Record, and his kick is notoriously strong. However, we saw Jakob move one step closer to his World Record goal in Monaco. Given his busy racing schedule, including 3000m in Silesia on Sunday, an attack on 3:26.00 might wait for another day. Jakob’s Meeting Record of 3:28.72, set last year, may be under threat.
Photo: James Rhodes
A fortnight later, the pair will race in Zurich alongside Kerr and bronze medallist Yared Nuguse. That could certainly be one to watch.
It is a strong field beyond those two. George Mills is the sole British entrant, running alongside On teammate Luke McCann of Ireland.
Commonwealth Games Champion Oliver Hoare, Olympic finalists Stefan Nillessen, 2019 World Champion Timothy Cheruiyot and World Indoor bronze medallist Hobbs Kessler all feature.
Women’s 3000m
The 3000m is often a melting pot of 1500m and 5000m specialists, and this race is no different. Revee Walcott-Nolan and Melissa Courtney-Bryant are in the field, both dropping to 1500m in Silesia on Sunday.
Photo: James Rhodes
Longer distance specialist Ethiopian Ejgayehu Taye is fastest over 7.5 laps, with a 8:19.52 PB. However, given it is a relatively infrequently raced distance, PBs aren’t the only metric to judge.
Diribe Welteji, who finished fourth in the 1500m final in Paris, is part of a strong African contingent including Freweyni Hailu and Hirut Meshesha. Oslo Diamond League winner Georgia Griffith may also be looking for a repeat performance. Keep an eye also on Americans Karissa Schweizer and Elise Cranny.
Other Events
Men: 200m, 400m, 110m hurdles, pole vault, long jump, javelin.
Women: 100m, 100m hurdles, 400m hurdles, high jump, shot put, 4x100m relay.
The Lausanne Diamond League will be shown on BBC2 between 19:00 and 21:00 on Thursday (21 August). Keep an eye on Fast Running socials for on-the-ground updates.