World Record (WR) holder over the 100m/200m, Usain Bolt will be the top athlete headlining the tenth leg of the Diamond League series, at the Muller Anniversary Games in London on Friday, July 22nd.
The Games which will extend into a two day event will see the multiple Olympic Champion competing on the first day in the 200m, which is a non-Diamond League event.
Bolt who has had a couple of impressive performances this season before his injury set-back at the Jamaican trials, will hope to speed to a good time ahead of the Olympics.
The Jamaican will be up against a respectable field that includes his teammate Nickel Ashmeade, Diamond Race leader Alonso Edward, British pair of Adam Gemili and Daniel Talbot, Canada’s Brendon Rodney who has a Season’s Best (SB) of 19.96s, and Frenchman Christophe Lemaitre.
Meanwhile the women’s 100m Hurdles has been tipped as one of the most mouth-watering events on the night, as all the women competing have gone under the 13s mark at least once in their career. No wonder it has been grouped as one of the two events to stage a semifinal before the final.
Top on the list of hurdlers is Diamond League/World Leader Kendra Harrison, who will be seeking redemption after failing to make the Olympic team at the US trials, where she finished outside the top three.
She’ll be up against her national rivals once again in US Champion Brianna Rollins, and Kristi Castlin and Nia Ali who were surprise Silver and Bronze medallist at the US trials.
Others include sisters Tiffany Porter and Cindy Ofili of Great Britain, Olympic Heptathlon Champion Jessica Ennis-Hill also of Great Britain, and World Silver medallist, Germany’s Cindy Roleder.
The men’s 100m won’t be short of a stacked field as well, featuring top British athletes consisting of Richard Kilty, Adam Gemili, Chijindu Ujah, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, James Dasaolu and Ojie Edoburun going against some of the best in the world.
Their stiffest competitors are expected to be newly crowned European Champion Churandy Martina, joint European Record holder Jimmy Vicaut, USA’s Bronze medallist Marvin Bracy, Canada’s Aaron Brown and never ageing Kim Collins.
World 400m Silver medallist Shaunae Miller, currently sits top of the diamond standings with just a point ahead of 2nd placed Stephenie Ann Mcpherson.
With both women being lined up on the night, one can only expect a fast race as a win for either of them or even 4th placed Natasha Hastings, means staying on top before the Olympics.
Also included in the field is Great Britain’s duo of Christine Ohuruogu and Anyika Onoura, who will be aiming for an upset in front of their home crowd.
Kerron Clement claimed the US title in the men’s 400m Hurdles. The three-time World Champion will be aiming for another win when he lines up against his teammate Michael Tinsley and Puerto Rico’s Javier Culson, with both having the chance of staying on top of the diamond standings if they gain maximum points on the night.
World Champion in the 200m, Dafne Schippers currently enjoys the bragging rights of being the Diamond Leader in both the 100m/200m.
The Dutchwoman will be gunning to extend her lead in the 200m against a modest field that comprises of Joanna Atkins, Shalonda Solomon, Jeneba Tarmoh, Tiffany Townsend and home girl Jodie Williams.
However in the long distance events, the spotlight will be on Olympic 5000/10000m Champion Mo Farah, when he races in front of his home crowd against US Champion Bernard Lagat and African Champion, South Africa’s Stephen Mokoka.
