A Quick Fan's Guide To The 2010 Paris Diamond League Meet

By LetsRun.com
July 16, 2010

*Paris Schedule/Results Here (Paris is 6 hours ahead of EST) *Full List Of Entrants (PDF) *LetsRun.com's Faithful's Predictions Here

The 9th Diamond League meet of the year takes place Friday night in Paris and it promises to be a real dandy. The running events start at 2:03 pm EST with the men's 400 and the men's 100 concludes things at 3:46 pm, so it should be an unbelievably jam-packed two hours of track and field action.

Our $20,010 LetsRun.com Puma Paris Prediction Contest is still going on. You have until 2 pm Eastern Friday to get in your picks (Puma also is having it's own separate prediction contest on Usain Bolt's winning time in Paris, click here for that).

The race generating the most buzz in the popular press is undoubtedly the men's 100 meters, as it features the first serious test for Usain Bolt since his 40-plus day absence due to an Achilles injury. Bolt will clash with co-world leader Asafa Powell (both men have run legal 9.82s this year). The race also is creating buzz because it includes France's own Christophe Lemaitre, who last week became the first white man in history to break 10.00. Lemaitre will be battling it out with Jamaican Yohan Blake for possibly 3rd place and honors as the greatest 20-year-old sprinter on the planet, as both competitors are just 20.

Fantastic Men's 800
LetsRun.com fans undoubtedly will be paying a lot of attention to the men's 800 meters, where Abubaker Kaki will be looking to match David Rudisha and break the 1:42 barrier. Kaki has already run 1:42.23 last month and says his fitness has improved since then. The race also is a must-see as it includes 2009 world champ Mbulaeni Mulaudzi plus all of the top Americans in Nick Symmonds, Andrew Wheating and Khadevis Robinson (KD). Can Symmonds top his 1:43.83 PR from last year? How will Wheating fare in the first European race of his life? Will KD race or is he rabbiting?

Burka & Lakhouad + 3 Americans In Women's 1,500
The women's 1,500 also if a must-see event for the LRC faithful. Up front, there will be a rematch of last week's thriller between Btissam Lakhouad and Geleta Burka in Lausanne, where Burka got the narrowest of wins in the first sub-4 of the season. However, those two likely will be challenged by Russian Anna Alminova, who is flying in to Paris after dominating the Russian champs in her outdoor opener on Thursday, July 15th. Yes - the day before Paris. Alminova opened her season so late as she was out with a 3-month drug ban, but her dominating 4:00.84 victory (she won by 3.72 seconds) shows she's clearly in great form. The race also is worth watching since it includes all three of the 2009 US World Championships team in Anna Pierce, Shannon Rowbury and Christin Wurth-Thomas as well as Worlds silver medalist Lisa Dobriskey of Great Britain.

Can Dan Huling Get American Record In Men's Steeple?
Olympic steeple champ Brimin Kiprop Kipruto comes into Paris in great form as he set a new personal best to win in Lausanne last week (8:01.62). Undoubtedly, he'll want to get under 8:00 for the first time but he may face a stiff test from two-time world champ Ezekiel Kemboi, who is making his 2010 European debut, as well as Ugandan Benjamin Kiplagat, who ran 8:03 for 2nd in Lausanne last week. But the story of the day in this race from the LRC perspective may end up being Dan Huling's performance in this race as he might give the American record of 8:08.82 a scare as he set a personal best in Lausanne last week (8:13.29). If Huling does get the AR, he'll have given himself the best 27th birthday present ever (Huling's b-day is July 16th).

Totally Stacked Women's 5,000
The women's 5,000 is stacked as well and should largely be a replay of the Shanghai 5,000, which is a good thing, as the Shanghai 5,000 was one to remember. In Shanghai, the top four put on a show as all finished within a second of each other and all ran under 14:32. In Shanghai, Ethiopian Sentayehu Ejigu (14:30.96) upset 2009 world champion Linet Masai (14:31.14) as Meselech Melkamu (14:31.91) and Sylvia Kibet (also 14:31.91) also ran well. All of them are running in Paris except for for the 2009 10k world champ Masai, but in her place is 2009 5k world champ Vivian Cheruiyot, who edged Ejigu in the 2-mile at Gateshead last week. NCAA 10k record holder Lisa Koll is also in the field and will be looking to get her PR near 15-flat.

In the men's 110 hurdles, the world record of 12.87 may be in play for American David Oliver, who has run 12.90 this year. In the men's pole vault, France's Renaud Lavillenie will try to remain undefeated on the year outdoors and hold off Olympic champ Steve Hooker, whereas Frenchman Teddy Tamgho will try to become just the 3rd guy over 18 meters in the triple jump and hold off Phillips Idowu in the process. All of that and more, including Blanka Vlasic and Chaunte Howard in the women's high jump, Allyson Felix in the women's 200 and Jeremy Wariner in the men's 400.

Below you will see what the LetsRun.com faithful think will happen in Paris based on their picks in our $20,010 Paris Prediction Contest. All we'll say is we know Usain Bolt is amazing and that Asafa Powell often chokes in big moments but we're a little surprised that 98.4% are picking Bolt to win. Also we think Alminova is being totally underestimated in the women's 1,500.

Women's 200m: Allyson Felix is running great.
Athlete % of 1st place Votes Top 3 % Comments 2010 Best Personal Best Country
1. Allyson Felix 99.0%  100.0%  3-time world champ has run way faster than everyone in the field 22.03  21.81  USA 
2. Other 0.5%  1.0%        
3. Debbie Ferguson 0.3%  24.4% Multi-time global finalist in both 100 and 200 has been at the elite level for over a decade, bronze medal in 200 at Worlds last year but under the radar this year with only 22.89 SB 22.89 22.19  BAH 
4. Sherone Simpson 0.3%  44.1% Silver medal in 100 and 6th in 200 at Beijing Olympics, only a 22.64w this season 22.64  22.00  JAM 
5. Shalonda Solomon 0.3%  40.1% USA runner-up also has a fabulous 10.90 100 this season 22.47  22.36  USA 
6. Kelly-Ann Baptiste 0.0%  20.9% NCAA 100 champ in 2008 for LSU 22.82  22.60  TRI 
7. Lina Jacques Sebastien 0.0%  1.9% Probably rounding out the field for the French 22.86  22.86  FRA 
8. Bianca Knight 0.0%  21.2% 2008 NCAA indoor 200 champ for U of Texas 22.59  22.43  USA 
9. Porscha Lucas 0.0%  47.1% Texas A&M star has been a 2-time NCAA 200 champ, 3rd at USAs this year 22.49  22.29  USA 
Women's 1,500: Stacked field with 3 great Americans.
Athlete % of 1st place Votes Top 3 % Comments 2010 Best Personal Best Country
1. Gelete Burka 80.7%  96.9% World leader for 2010 was 3rd in World Indoors 3:59.28  3:58.79  ETH 
2. Maryam Yusuf Jamal 5.6%  19.5% 2-time world champion only has a 4:09 SB for 10th in Doha 4:09.25  3:56.18  BRN 
3. Btissam Lakhouad 4.3%  49.4% It took a world leader from Gelete Burka to barely beat her in Lausanne 3:59.35  3:59.35  MAR 
4. Anna Alminova 3.6%  23.8% 3:58 performer opened up outdoors at Russian champs, where she won in dominating fashion on July 15th in 4:00  3:58.28  RUS 
5. Lisa Dobriskey 2.0%  33.2% Silver medalist at last year's Worlds is also in the sub-4:00 club and was a recent winner at Gateshead 4:01.83  3:59.50  GBR 
6. Mimi Belete 1.5%  16.4%  6th in Lausanne, fairly good cross-country runner  4:02.64  4:02.64  ETH 
7. Anna Pierce 1.3%  29.2%  6th in 1,500 at Worlds last year, top-ranked US 800 runner from 2009  4:05.96  3:59.38  USA 
8. Sylwia Ejdys 0.5%  0.7%  4th at World Indoors this year  4:05.52  4:02.30  POL 
9. Other 0.5%  1.0%         
10. Siham Hilali 0.3%  1.8%  Made finals in 2008 World Indoors and Olympics  4:03.89  4:03.74  MAR 
11. Christin Wurth-Thomas 0.3%  10.2%  5th at Worlds last year, will push the pace sometimes if others don't  4:03.44  3:59.98  USA 
12. Elisa Cusma Piccione 0.0%  0.2%  Mostly an 800 runner, has been 6th in both indoor and outdoor WCs in the 800  4:08.53  4:04.98  ITA 
13. Hind Dehiba 0.0%  0.7%  She ran 4:03 last year but struggling this year  4:17.83  4:00.49  FRA 
14. Fanjanteino Felix 0.0%  0.0%    4:07.10  4:07.10  FRA 
15. Viola Kibiwot 0.0%  2.4%  Finalist in 2007 Worlds  4:03.39  4:02.10  KEN 
16. Ingvill Makestad 0.0%  0.2%    4:06.08  4:06.08  NOR 
17. Shannon Rowbury 0.0%  13.5%  Bronze medalist from 2009 WCs just got a PR at 800  4:04.00  4:00.33  USA 
18. Tamara Tverdostup 0.0%  0.0%    4:11.27  4:07.43  UKR 
19. Stephanie Twell 0.0%  1.2%  Former world junior champ, hasn't made a global final yet at the senior level  4:06.10  4:03.48  GBR 
Women's 5,000m: Strong field. Will American Huddle finally go sub-15:00?
Athlete % of 1st place Votes Top 3 % Comments 2010 Best Personal Best Country
1. Sentayehu Ejigu 30.9%  73.0%  World leader got the bronze medal in the 3,000 at World Indoors, ran 14:30 WL over Melkamu in Shanghai  14:30.96  14:30.96  ETH 
2. Meselech Melkamu 25.1%  75.1%  Better known as a cross-country runner (bronze medals at last 2 World XCs) and a 10k specialist (silver at 2009 WC), but always a threat in the 5,000 at the world level, 14:31 was only good for 3rd in Shanghai  14:31.91  14:31.91  ETH 
3. Sylviah Chibiwott Kibet 20.8%  71.9%  Silver medal at last year's Worlds, also has four 4th-place finishes at global championships  14:31.91  14:31.91  KEN 
4. Vivian Cheruiyot 15.7%  30.1%  World champion last year, silver medal in 2007, only time this year came at altitude 15:31.39  14:22.51  KEN 
5. Elvan Abeylegesse 4.8%  17.5%  2008 Olympic silvers in both the 5 and 10, high on the all-time lists in both events 15:09.31  14:24.68  TUR 
6. Lisa Koll 0.8%  2.0%  NCAA champ was a late addition, can she get close to 15:00? 15:17.76  15:17.76  USA 
7. Florence Jebet Kiplagat 0.8%  4.5%  2009 World XC champion  15:14.38  14:40.14  KEN 
8. Adrienne Herzog 0.5%  0.7%    15:34.37  15:34.37  NED 
9. Margaret Wangari 0.5%  18.6%  6th in World XC this year  14:48.94  14:48.94  KEN 
10. Other 0.5%  1.0%         
11. Jessica Augusto 0.0%  0.7%  21st at World XC, ran 31:47 10k PR 2 months ago  14:56.39  POR 
12. Iness Chenonge 0.0%  0.2%  SB came with a close 2nd to Vivian Cheruiyot in Nairobi this year 15:32.73  14:41.62  KEN 
13. Molly Huddle 0.0%  3.2%  USA runner-up has also PRed in 1,500 (4:09) this year  15:05.71  15:05.71  USA 
14. René Kalmer 0.0%  0.2%    15:35.00  RSA 
15. Zakia Mricho 0.0%  0.5%  PR is from 2005, hasn't run faster than 14:58 since 15:16.86  14:43.87  TAN 
16. Mercy Njoroge 0.0%  0.0%    15:25.68  KEN 
17. Belaynesh Olijira 0.0%  0.2%    15:18.61  ETH 
18. Joanne Pavey 0.0%  0.2%  Has placed as high as 4th in the 10,000 and 5th in both the 3,000 and 5,000 at the world level, making a comeback following maternity  15:17.87  14:39.96  GBR 
Women's High Jump: Vlasic and Howard have put on a show all year.
Athlete % of 1st place Votes Top 3 % Comments 2010 Best Personal Best Country
1. Blanka Vlasic 61.9%  97.0%  She and Howard have competed 5 times this year, 4 times they've jumped the same height, Vlasic is leading 3-2 and all of her wins are DL wins  2.03  2.08  CRO 
2. Chaunte Howard 36.0%  98.6%  New American record holder is looking for her first Diamond League win, has beaten Vlasic twice this year 2.05  2.05  USA 
3. Nadejda Dusanova 0.8%  1.8%    1.94  1.98  UZB 
4. Other 0.5%  1.0%         
5. Emma Green 0.3%  3.0%    1.94  1.97  SWE 
6. Melanie Melfort 0.3%  0.5%    1.87  1.96  FRA 
7. Vita Styopina 0.3%  7.2%    1.94  2.02  UKR 
8. Irina Gordeyeva 0.0%  51.3%  She'll have to get back over 2 meters to compete with Vlasic or Howard  1.97  2.02  RUS 
9. Svetlana Shkolina 0.0%  39.7%    1.98  1.98  RUS 
Men's 100m: Usain Bolt vs Asafa Powell - Need We Say More?
Athlete % of 1st place Votes Top 3 % Comments 2010 Best Personal Best Country
1. Usain Bolt 98.4%  99.7%  World's best is looking to extend unbeaten streak at 100 to 15 straight, Powell could challenge him if Powell does not choke 9.82  9.58  JAM 
2. Asafa Powell 1.3%  99.2%  World leader runs fast when it doesn't count, has run under 9.90 every time this year except for last race and that was into a big wind ... can he beat Bolt? 9.82  9.72  JAM 
3. Other 0.5%  1.0%         
4. Martial Mbandjock 0.3%  0.3%  Frenchman, like everyone in field without a sub-10 PR, has no chance 10.09  10.06  FRA 
5. Daniel Bailey 0.0%  11.5%  Looking for first sub-10 of 2010 10.00  9.91  ANT 
6. Yohan Blake 0.0%  47.1%  Is battling it out with Lemaitre for honors of best 20-year-old sprinter in world 9.96  9.93  JAM 
7. Trell Kimmons 0.0%  1.3%  No chance 10.09  10.09  USA 
8. Christophe Lemaitre 0.0%  36.7%  Frenchman comes into meet in good form and as first white man under 10.00 9.98  9.98  FRA 
9. Churandy Martina 0.0%  3.9%  Hasn't broken 10-flat this year 10.03  9.93  AHO 
10. Ronald Pognon 0.0%  0.0%  9.99 man has only run 10.22 this year 10.22  9.99  FRA 
Men's 400m: Can someone beat Jeremy Wariner?
Athlete % of 1st place Votes Top 3 % Comments 2010 Best Personal Best Country
1. Jeremy Wariner 91.6%  99.2%  Not winning by much this year but still winning. The best in the world until someone beats him  44.57  43.45  USA 
2. Greg Nixon 6.0%  69.4%  Surprise winner of USAs was only 8th in Lausanne last week  44.61  44.61  USA 
3. David Neville 1.0%  30.1%  Only man not busted for drugs to have beaten Wariner (except DNFs) in years  45.39  44.61  USA 
4. Jermaine Gonzales 0.5%  51.0%  3rd in Lausanne in new PR of 44.72  44.72  44.72  JAM 
5. Other 0.5%  1.0%         
6. Michael Bingham 0.3%  5.7%  Former NCAA indoor champ for Wake Forest  45.08  44.74  GBR 
7. Jonathan Borlée 0.3%  30.8%  PR came for Florida State in 2009 when he won NCAAs  44.94  44.78  BEL 
8. Leslie Djhone 0.3%  1.8%  French national record holder has run 45.25 this year  45.25  44.46  FRA 
9. Renny Quow 0.0%  11.7%  Bronze medalist at Worlds last year  45.34  44.53  TRI 
Men's 800m: Kaki and Olympic champ Mulaudzi, but American eyes may be focused on Symmonds and Wheating's European debut.
Athlete % of 1st place Votes Top 3 % Comments 2010 Best Personal Best Country
1. Abubaker Kaki 95.0%  98.9%  2nd on world list this year, looks pretty good in any field except one with Rudisha  1:42.23  1:42.23  SUD 
2. Mbulaeni Mulaudzi 3.1%  82.1%  Last year's world champ  1:43.58  1:42.86  RSA 
3. Richard Kiplagat 1.0%  17.3%  7th in Kenyan champs this year  1:44.77  1:44.77  KEN 
4. Other 0.5%  1.0%         
5. Augustine Kiprono Choge 0.3%  18.1% 

He ran 1:44 and 3:29, last year ran 1:50 at Oslo this year which was obviously a bad run 

1:50.03  1:44.86  KEN 
6. Nick Symmonds 0.3%  47.7%  European opener for US champ  1:45.05  1:43.83  USA 
7. Andrew Wheating 0.3%  14.1%  800/1,500 NCAA champ is making European debut  1:45.69  1:45.03  USA 
8. Jackson Kivuna 0.0%  11.9%  22-year-old was 3rd in Kenyan champs earlier this year  1:44.54  1:44.54  KEN 
9. Marcin Lewandowski 0.0%  8.8%  Finalist at Worlds last year, where he was last  1:44.30  1:43.84  POL 
10. Hamid Oualich 0.0%  0.0%  22-year-old won French championships last weekend but only has 1:46.06 PR  1:46.06  1:46.06  FRA 
11. Khadevis Robinson 0.0%  0.3%  Rabbitted Kaki perfectly at Pre Classic with about 1:45-mid 1:45.77  1:43.68  USA 
12. Bram Som 0.0%  0.5%  Reigning European champion was 8th in Lausanne in 1:45.25  1:45.21  1:43.45  NED 
Men's 110 m Hurdles: Ronnie Ash went sub-13 last time out (wind aided). Can he beat Oliver?
Athlete % of 1st place Votes Top 3 % Comments 2010 Best Personal Best Country
1. David Oliver 98.1%  99.4%  World record of 12.87 could be in jeopardy  12.90  12.90  USA 
2. Ronnie Ash 1.3%  93.0%  Look for 3rd-placer at USAs to battle it out with Wilson for runner-up honors, he did run sub 13.00 last week wind-aided so can he challenge Oliver?  13.19  13.19  USA 
3. Other 0.5%  1.0%         
4. Dwight Thomas 0.3%  8.4%  10.00 speed in the 100  13.31  13.16  JAM 
5. Dimitri Bascou 0.0%  1.8%    13.42  13.42  FRA 
6. Artur Noga 0.0%  5.3%  5th in 2008 Olympics  13.29  13.29  POL 
7. Andrew Turner 0.0%  3.9%  English commentators will be talking him up on BBC  13.30  13.27  GBR 
8. Ryan Wilson 0.0%  85.3%  2nd-placer at USAs should battle it out with Ash for 2nd  13.16  13.02  USA 
9. John Yarbrough 0.0%  2.4%    13.36  13.36  USA 
Men's Steeplechase: Will we see a sub-8 clocking?
Athlete % of 1st place Votes Top 3 % Comments 2010 Best Personal Best Country
1. Brimin Kiprop Kipruto 61.0%  86.4%  Olympic champ PRed to win in Lausanne last week and will be looking for first sub-8  8:01.62  8:01.62  KEN 
2. Ezekiel Kemboi 12.8%  62.0%  Two-time steeple world champ is racing in Europe for first time this year  8:06.28  7:58.85  KEN 
3. Benjamin Kiplagat 12.3%  66.2%  21-year-old was runner-up in Lausanne in PR last week and should be a force to reckoned with for years to come  8:03.81  8:03.81  UGA 
4. Paul Kipsiele Koech 11.5%  55.1%  2004 bronze medalist was winner in NY this year but barely ahead of Huling in Lausanne  8:06.69  7:56.37  KEN 
5. Richard Kipkemboi Mateelong 1.0%  11.8%  Has medaled at last 3 global champs and won Kenyan champs this year but was only 5th in Lausanne  8:09.84  8:00.89  KEN 
6. Patrick Langat 0.8%  12.4%  Runner-up in NY was only 6th in Lausanne  8:09.12  8:09.12  KEN 
7. Other 0.5%  1.0%         
8. Elijah Chelimo 0.3%  0.8%  SB came while getting pulled to 6th in Doha  8:14.29  8:10.63  KEN 
9. Michael Kipyego 0.3%  1.6%    8:16.46  8:08.48  KEN 
10. Dan Huling 0.0%  1.8%  American record of 8:08.82 might be within his sights, but he's just competing and not talking about the AR  8:13.29  8:13.29  USA 
11. Haron Lagat 0.0%  0.6%    8:25.04  8:25.04  KEN 
12. Irba Lakhal 0.0%  0.0%    8:38.39  8:20.45  FRA 
13. Mustafa Mohamed 0.0%  0.0%    8:22.99  8:05.75  SWE 
14. Steve Slattery 0.0%  0.0%  Slattery ran 9:18 last week in England and was almost lapped  8:31.56  8:15.69  USA 
15. Nouredine Smail 0.0%  0.0%    8:55.46  FRA 
16. Tomas Szymkowiak 0.0%  0.0%    8:21.12  8:21.12  POL 
17. Brahim Taleb 0.0%  1.1%  SB came in a winning effort at Heusden  8:17.71  8:07.02  MAR 
18. Vincent Zouaoui-Dandrieux 0.0%  0.0%    8:31.56  8:14.87  FRA 
Men's Pole Vault: Renaud Lavillenie wants to win before the French crowd.
Athlete % of 1st place Votes Top 3 % Comments 2010 Best Personal Best Country
1. Steven Hooker 56.2%  94.2%  Olympic and World Champ, highest finish at DL this year was 2nd in Lausanne last week 5.91  6.06  AUS 
2. Renaud Lavillenie 40.4%  92.5%  Undefeated outdoors with 3 DL wins in Oslo, NY and Lausanne, Frenchman will be a fan favorite  5.94  6.01  FRA 
3. Dereck Miles 1.0%  59.2%  Nearly 38, he was 2nd at USATFs  5.80  5.85  USA 
4. Romain Mesnil 0.8%  3.9%    5.70  5.95  FRA 
5. Jérome Clavier 0.5%  2.3%    5.70  5.75  FRA 
6. Damiel Dossevi 0.5%  7.3%    5.75  5.75  FRA 
7. Other 0.5%  1.0%         
8. Guiseppe Gibilisco 0.3%  2.6%  Got bronze at 2004 Olympics  5.70  5.90  ITA 
9. Maksym Mazuryk 0.3%  0.9%    5.65  5.82  UKR 
10. Michal Balner 0.0%  2.3%    5.73  5.73  CZE 
11. Przemyslax Cwerwinski 0.0%  1.0%    5.65  5.80  POL 
12. Giovanni Lanaro 0.0%  0.8%    5.75  5.82  MEX 
13. Lukasz Michalski 0.0%  32.5%  Set PR of 5.80 on July 10th 5.80  5.80  POL 
Men's Triple Jump:
Athlete % of 1st place Votes Top 3 % Comments 2010 Best Personal Best Country
1. Teddy Tamgho 74.8%  88.8%  World indoor champ also won in NY with a huge 17.98 leap, only 2 guys have ever broken 18 meters and no one in 12 years  17.98  17.98  FRA 
2. Phillips Idowu 12.6%  83.4%  World champ won in Gateshead over the weekend  17.48  17.75  GBR 
3. Alexis Copello 7.6%  88.1%  Got bronze last year in Berlin  17.55  17.65  CUB 
4. Fabrizio Donato 1.0%  2.8%    17.08  17.60  ITA 
5. Viktor Kuznetsov 1.0%  5.2%    17.26  17.26  UKR 
6. Leevan Sands 1.0%  1.8%  Bronze in 08 Olympics struggling this year  16.83  17.59  BAH 
7. Yoandri Betanzos 0.8%  8.3%    17.22  17.65  CUB 
8. Randy Lewis 0.5%  8.5%    17.29  17.49  GER 
9. Other 0.5%  1.0%         
10. David Giralt 0.3%  9.9%    17.31  17.62  CUB 
11. Jules Lechanga 0.3%  1.3%    16.84  17.07  FRA 
12. Marian Oprea 0.0%  1.3%    17.02  17.81  ROM 
                      

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