A Fan's Guide To The 2012 Samsung Diamond League Paris Track & Field Meet
David Rudisha Goes For The WR & A Stellar Men's 5,000 Should Tell Us A Lot About The Kenenisa Bekele Prospects For London
By LetsRun.com
July 5, 2012
The Samsung Diamond League reaches its halfway point as the 7th of 14 meetings will take place on Friday evening in Paris (Friday afternoon in the US).
The meet features some great action across the board. Mid-d and distance-wise, there aren't a whole lot of Americans competing but this is definitely a meet that American fans need to be paying very close attention to.
The meet has a crackling men's 5,000 which should give US fans a really good look at how the top Kenyans and Ethiopians stack up against each other, as the meet features the five best from Ethiopia, including Kenenisa Bekele in his first 5,000 in almost a month, and the four best from Kenya. Do Bernard Lagat and Galen Rupp have a chance at a medal in London? Watch this race to find out. The women's 1,500 is also a must-watch for US fans as two-time world champ Maryam Jamal will race the 1,500 for the first time this year in matchup with world leader Abeba Aregawi.
The men's and women's steeples also feature the best from Africa and then there is the men's 800 which is being hyped as a world record attempt by David Rudisha. We hype it as that and also as the Diamond League debut for Elijah Greer.
For a casual sports fan, the meet is all about the matchup of Asafa Powell, Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay at 100 meters.
Below we preview all of the middle distance and distance action for you first (in the order that they occur) before getting to the rest of the running events (in the order that they occur) and then we take a look at the field events (in the order that they occur). We do it like that as this "Fan's Guide" is made with the intent of helping you watch the meet live or follow it online live and field events normally aren't shown on TV in their entirety.
You can see the start times of the actual events below:
2012 Paris Diamond League Schedule
(All Times ET)
| Time (US ET) | Discipline | Men / Women | Status | POINTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:25 | LIFA Relay | Women | Entry list | ||
| 12:30 |
|
Triple Jump | Men | Entry list | Standings |
| 12:33 |
|
Discus Throw | Women | Entry list | Standings |
| 12:35 | LIFA Relay | Men | Entry list | ||
| 12:45 |
|
Shot Put | Men | Entry list | Standings |
| 12:45 | LIFA 800m | Women | Entry list | ||
| 12:55 | LIFA 1500m | Men | Entry list | ||
| 1:05 | National 200m | Men | Entry list | ||
| 1:15 | National 400m | Men | Entry list | ||
| 1:25 |
|
3000m Steeplechase | Women | Entry list | Standings |
| 1:30 |
|
Pole Vault | Men | Entry list | Standings |
| 2:03 |
|
400m Hurdles | Men | Entry list | Standings |
| 2:05 |
|
High Jump | Women | Entry list | Standings |
| 2:10 |
|
Long Jump | Women | Entry list | Standings |
| 2:13 |
|
400m | Women | Entry list | Standings |
| 2:23 |
|
3000m Steeplechase | Men | Entry list | Standings |
| 2:38 |
|
Javelin Throw | Men | Entry list | Standings |
| 2:38 |
|
1500m | Women | Entry list | Standings |
| 2:48 |
|
200m | Women | Entry list | Standings |
| 2:58 |
|
5000m | Men | Entry list | Standings |
| 3:22 |
|
100m Hurdles | Women | Entry list | Standings |
| 3:36 |
|
800m | Men | Entry list | Standings |
| 3:46 |
|
100m | Men | Entry list | Standings |
Note: We've already changed the schedule to show the times for you in Eastern time in case you ware watching the meet live. US visitors, the meet will be broadcast live on Universalsports.com starting at 2 pm (free if you get the television channel on directv, payment required otherwise). In Canada, we think you may be able to WATCH HERE on CBCSports.ca.
Women's Steeple: 4 Of World's Top 5 Will Battle
In the women's steeple, five women have run under 9:15 (and 9:20 - no one is between 9:15 and 9:20) this year, and four of them will be in Paris on Friday. Everyone will be here except 2011 world champ and 2008 Olympic silver medalist Yuliya Zaripova.
| Top 5 2012 Times | Time | Athelte | Nation | Date |
| 1 | 09:07.14 | Milcah Chemos | KEN | 7-Jun |
| 2 | 09:09.00 | Sofia Assefa | ETH | 7-Jun |
| 3 | 09:09.61 | Hiwot Ayalew | ETH | 7-Jun |
| 4 | 09:09.99 | Yuliya Zaripova | RUS | 3-Jul |
| 5 | 09:13.53 | Gülcan Mingir | TUR | 9-Jun |
This race is many ways is a re-run of the Shanghai, Eugene and Oslo Diamond League meets of the year, as in all of those races 2012 world #1 Milcah Chemos and 2012 world #2 Sofia Assefa went 1-2 and world #3 Hiwot Ayalew was third in Eugene and Oslo. The only difference is we get to see how recently-crowned European champ and Turkish record holder Gülcan Mingir fares when added to the mix.
Quick Take #1: The steeple is playing out this year exactly like last year. Last year, Chemos raced often and won everything prior to the World Champs and Zaripova raced sparingly and won just the Russian Champs and then World Champs and then one post-Worlds race in Brussels. Zaripova's 9:09 opener is scary good (last year she opened in 9:23).
QT #2: The order of finish between Chemos, Assefa, and Ayalew has been set all year. We don't expect it to change here.
| Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
27.12.1984
|
ETH
|
9:17.85
|
|
|
|
14.11.1987
|
ETH
|
9:09.00
|
9:09.00
|
|
|
06.03.1990
|
ETH
|
9:09.61
|
9:09.61
|
|
|
08.04.1989
|
KEN
|
9:35.31
|
9:35.31
|
|
|
26.02.1986
|
KEN
|
9:07.14
|
9:07.14
|
|
|
23.08.1984
|
KEN
|
9:22.66
|
9:22.66
|
|
|
10.05.1991
|
ETH
|
9:21.54
|
9:21.54
|
|
|
31.07.1981
|
FRA
|
9:25.62
|
9:46.60
|
|
|
09.06.1977
|
POL
|
9:17.15
|
|
|
|
09.04.1984
|
TUN
|
9:11.97
|
9:11.97
|
|
|
13.08.1991
|
KEN
|
9:35.61
|
9:35.61
|
|
|
21.05.1989
|
TUR
|
9:13.53
|
9:13.53
|
|
|
06.10.1987
|
FRA
|
9:44.11
|
9:44.11
|
|
|
22.05.1976
|
FRA
|
9:33.12
|
9:54.69
|
|
|
08.11.1982
|
GBR
|
9:24.24
|
9:24.24
|
|
|
08.08.1988
|
KEN
|
9:18.03
|
9:31.09
|
Men's Steeple: A Mini-Preview Of The Olympics
The men's steeple features most of the top African talent in the world. Six of the seven fastest performers in the world will be competing, as will the four of the top 5 from the Kenyan Trials, as shown by the following table (people in bold are competing in Paris).
|
2012 Kenyan Olympic Trials Results |
2012 Top 5 Fastest Performers |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
The lone person from the top five at the Kenyan trials that is missing is three-time world or Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi, who was arrested shortly after the Trials after allegedly stabbing a woman. Given the charges Kemboi is facing, it seems he likely will be off the Olympic team. The question is: Which Kenyan replaces him?
Kemboi's loss may be 2012 world #1 Paul Kipsiele Koech's gain. Koech is without a doubt one of the best steeplers in the world year in and year out but he never performs well at altitude. He always seems to mess up the Kenyan Trials as a result, and thus normally misses the opportunity to compete on the world's biggest stage.
Many, including us, are assuming that if Kemboi doesn't go to London that Kipsiele Koech will go even though he was just 7th at the Kenyan Trials. But newcomer Jairus Birech may have something to say about that. The 19-year-old Birech was 4th in the Kenyan Trials (and 4th in Doha, 3rd in Rome). If he somehow could beat Kipsiele Koech here or go sub-8, then there likely would be pressure to name him to the team. Also, Richard Mateelong, who has run 7:56 this year, wasn't top three at the Trials but is here trying to make a case for himself.
Quick Take #1: This race is a mini-preview of the Olympics as it has basically all of the top Kenyan talent plus the #1 guys from Ethiopia (Roba Gari) and Morocco (Brahim Taleb). The biggest name missing is 2008 Olympic runner-up Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad of France. But he has some of his own problems right now as he shoved the mascot after winning the European title over the weekend. Will he be suspended? We imagine so but doubt they'll keep him out of the Olympics.
QT #2: 2012 US champ Evan Jager, who isn't in this race, talked about wanting to make the final at the Olympics while in Eugene. We think he should dream higher than that. At 8:17.40, he's #19 in the world, but if you take out all but 3 Kenyans, he vaults up to #10.
| Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
04.07.1981
|
FRA
|
8:17.37
|
8:31.06
|
|
|
14.12.1992
|
KEN
|
8:06.72
|
8:06.72
|
|
|
12.04.1982
|
ETH
|
8:06.16
|
8:06.16
|
|
|
05.09.1991
|
ETH
|
8:17.36
|
8:18.74
|
|
|
31.07.1985
|
KEN
|
7:53.64
|
8:11.73
|
|
|
10.11.1981
|
KEN
|
7:54.31
|
7:54.31
|
|
|
15.08.1983
|
KEN
|
8:15.80
|
8:25.18
|
|
|
14.10.1983
|
KEN
|
7:56.81
|
7:56.81
|
|
|
02.10.1988
|
KEN
|
8:01.67
|
8:01.67
|
|
|
18.09.1991
|
KEN
|
8:07.75
|
8:20.96
|
|
|
01.01.1985
|
KEN
|
8:05.88
|
8:10.59
|
|
|
05.07.1983
|
POL
|
8:18.23
|
8:36.20
|
|
|
16.02.1985
|
MAR
|
8:07.02
|
8:10.20
|
|
|
02.04.1992
|
KEN
|
8:07.71
|
8:11.83
|
|
|
12.10.1980
|
FRA
|
8:14.74
|
8:32.75
|
Women's 1,500: How Does Maryam Jamal Fare Against The New World Leader Abeba Aregawi?
The women's 1,500 is certainly an event worth paying attention to - particularly if you are a fan of US women's distance running - as the 1,500 is the one women's mid-d or distance event where every American entrant in London is a legitimate medal threat.
This race features a clash between the sensations of the 2012 season - 22-year-old world leader Abeba Aregawi (Happy Birthday Abeba, as July 5th is her BDay) of Ethiopia - and 2007 and 2009 world champ Maryam Jamal of Bahrain. While Aregawi has been tearing it up all season, Jamal has been laying low since finishing 9th in the 3,000 in Shanghai way back on May 11th in 8:54.51. This is Jamal's first 1,500 of the year and how she does is what everyone should be looking for in this race.
Predicting what Jamal is going to do is next to impossible as she's been totally inconsistent the last few years. Last year, she started the year great with Diamond League wins in Rome and Oslo before fading to 12th at the World Champs. In 2010, her season was the mirror opposite. She was horrible in May, June and July (she never broke 4:06) before running 3:58 in August.
There are a bunch of other potential medal contenders in the field as well. The 4th placer from Worlds last year, Btissam Lakhouad of Morocco, is running, although her form hasn't been great so far outdoors this year (6th in Rome, 5th in Oslo).
The top two from the Kenyan Trials are also in this race in Helen Obiri and Eunice Sum. Obiri, the world indoor 3,000 champ, ran 3:59.68 in Rome earlier this year.
Brit Lisa Dobriskey, who was recently named to the GBR team for 2012, is also running. Dobriskey is a huge talent as she was 4th in Beijing and then won silver the next year at the 2009 World Champs. But she's had a lot of setbacks of late. Surgery in September, a femoral stress fracture in February and then a pulmonary embolism in May. It's hard to not root for someone like that, although we don't think she'll be a contender here, for at the British Trials she was just second - some 3.08 seconds out of first.
QT# 1: We'll be paying close attention to this race to see how the leading ladies do as the women's 1,500 is full of medal contenders.
| Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
08.04.1984
|
MAR
|
4:00.77
|
4:00.77
|
|
|
05.07.1990
|
ETH
|
3:56.54
|
3:56.54
|
|
|
20.08.1985
|
TUR
|
4:02.17
|
4:05.31
|
|
|
17.03.1979
|
FRA
|
3:59.76
|
4:12.79
|
|
|
23.12.1983
|
GBR
|
3:59.50
|
4:12.86
|
|
|
02.05.1986
|
MAR
|
4:01.33
|
4:15.01
|
|
|
16.09.1984
|
BRN
|
3:56.18
|
**** |
|
|
22.12.1983
|
KEN
|
4:02.10
|
4:08.43
|
|
|
07.12.1980
|
MAR
|
3:59.35
|
4:01.69
|
|
|
13.01.1986
|
RUS
|
4:09.69
|
4:09.69
|
|
|
11.08.1984
|
ESP
|
4:06.50
|
4:09.12
|
|
|
07.08.1981
|
NOR
|
4:02.20
|
4:06.09
|
|
|
25.08.1983
|
UKR
|
4:01.73
|
4:03.33
|
|
|
13.12.1989
|
KEN
|
3:59.68
|
3:59.68
|
|
|
10.04.1988
|
KEN
|
4:05.90
|
4:05.90
|
Men's 5,000: Kenenisa Bekele's Return Continues As The Top 5 Ethiopians Battle The 1 Through 4 From The Kenyan Trials
This race is a must-watch for anyone who is fan of Bernard Lagat, Mo Farah or Galen Rupp, as their chief Kenyan and Ethiopian rivals will all be in this race.
The top 5 from the Oslo 5,000 (all Ethiopians), which served as an unofficial Ethiopian Trials of sorts, are competing here, as are the top 4 from the actual Kenyan Trials.
|
Top 5 Finishers In Oslo
|
Top 4 From Kenyan Trials
|
The big guys to watch in our minds are obviously Ethiopia's best Dejen Gebremeskel, who won bronze last year at Worlds, and Kenya's best Isiah Koech, who is supposedly just 18 but beat Rupp at Prefontaine and was 4th at Worlds last year, and of course Kenenisa Bekele, who has gotten progressively better as his comeback has gone on.
Bekele last raced a 5,000 on June 7th so he's had nearly a month to put in some real training. His progression from 13:13 and 5th in Shanghai to 13:00 and 5th in Oslo took place over the span of 19 days and three races total. Since then, he ran a 27:02.59 10,000 but it's been 28 days since his last 5,000.
The IAAF preview of the meet says the pacemakers have been told to run 12:50 pace as Bekele needs to run fast if he's going to be named to the Ethiopian Olympic team. When asked about the hot expected pace, Bekele said, "I can do that," he said. "I'm feeling confident."
QT #1: This race should tell us a lot about Kenenisa Bekele. The time for excuses for Bekele are over. If he's much better and contending for the win in this race, watch out at the Olympics. If he's so-so, the other guys stand a chance.
QT #2: Looking at how good this field is, we are reminded out hard it's going to be for Galen Rupp to medal in the Olympics in the 5,000. Assuming he loses to his training partner Farah, if Rupp doesn't beat Lagat again, then he has to beat all of the Kenyans and Ethiopians. If he beats Lagat again, then he can lose to exactly one Kenyan or Ethiopian.
| Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
27.05.1990
|
ETH
|
13:00.46
|
13:06.84
|
|
|
28.02.1987
|
ETH
|
12:52.45
|
13:00.41
|
|
|
13.06.1982
|
ETH
|
12:37.35
|
13:00.54
|
|
|
05.07.1988
|
KEN
|
12:51.45
|
12:59.28
|
|
|
14.05.1985
|
FRA
|
13:17.90
|
13:17.90
|
|
|
14.01.1994
|
ETH
|
13:06.92
|
13:06.92
|
|
|
09.03.1980
|
KEN
|
|
|
|
|
24.11.1989
|
ETH
|
12:53.56
|
12:58.92
|
|
|
11.05.1994
|
ETH
|
12:58.99
|
12:58.99
|
|
|
16.01.1980
|
FRA
|
13:25.42
|
14:03.22
|
|
|
05.11.1984
|
KEN
|
12:46.53
|
13:10.86
|
|
|
29.12.1991
|
KEN
|
13:06.71
|
13:06.71
|
|
|
21.06.1976
|
KEN
|
12:53.46
|
13:22.38
|
|
|
19.12.1993
|
KEN
|
12:54.18
|
12:57.63
|
|
|
14.01.1988
|
KEN
|
12:51.95
|
13:03.88
|
|
|
01.06.1986
|
KEN
|
12:50.55
|
13:13.03
|
|
|
15.10.1988
|
ETH
|
12:53.58
|
12:59.77
|
|
|
03.02.1988
|
KEN
|
|
|
|
|
03.03.1986
|
KEN
|
12:52.40
|
13:11.11
|
|
|
20.01.1993
|
ETH
|
13:08.13
|
13:08.13
|
Men's 800: Elijah Greer Steps Up To The Big Time As David Rudisha Goes For The World Record
This race is being hyped as a world record attempt by Kenya's David Rudisha. Given how good Rudisha looked at the adidas meet in New York, when he ran 1:41.74, and at the Kenyan Trials, where he ran 1:42.12 at altitude on day 1 before winning by 1.80 in the final, it's certainly a possibility.
The concern we have is: Who is going to help him get there? If they are serious about him getting the world record, they should hire a top 10 world talent - someone near Nick Symmonds' ability - to try to take him through 600. His standard rabbit in Sammy Tangui really doesn't do a whole lot as he rarely makes it past 450.
We're certainly pumped by the fact that the seeming future of the 800 at the collegiate level in NCAA third placer Elijah Greer is in the field. Greer, who was 6th at USAs as well, is in our minds the favorite for the 2013 NCAA title. This is the first Diamond League action of his career. Will he get the first 1:44 of his career? We think so.
QT #1: We are very excited to see Rudisha run and think he's got a shot at eclipsing his own world record. But here's a question for you: Is it a good idea for him to get it? We guess he's so dominant it probably won't matter, but it will only make the pressure on him to come through in the Olympics all the greater.
QT #2: Going to Oregon certainly has its advantages. Does anyone think there is any chance USA 4th placer Ryan Martin or 5th placer Tyler Mulder would have received a lane in this race?
QT#3: In thinking about Greer running this race, we were wondering what he could do for 600 and whether he could get Rudisha through on world record pace. That got us to thinking - what are the fastest 600s ever run in US history. Here they are according to alltime-athletics.com.
1 1:12.81 Johnny Gray USA 19.06.60 1 Santa Monica 24.05.1986
2 1:13.80 Earl Jones USA 17.07.64 2 Santa Monica 24.05.1986
3 1:14.15 David Mack USA 30.05.61 3 Santa Monica 24.05.1986
4 1:14.16 Johnny Gray USA 19.06.60 1 Sacramento 21.07.1984
5 1:14.3A Lee Evans USA 25.02.47 1 Echo Summit 31.08.1968
6 1:14.41 Matt Scherer USA 21.11.83 1 Eugene 15.06.2008
7 1:14.47 Nick Symmonds USA 30.12.83 2 Eugene 15.06.2008
8 1:14.48 Trinity Gray USA 03.04.78 2 Rovereto 30.08.2000
9 1:14.6A Larry James USA 06.11.47 2 Echo Summit 31.08.1968
10 1:14.8A Mark Winzenried USA 13.10.49 3 Echo Summit 31.08.1968
| Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11.05.1992
|
FRA
|
1:44.97
|
1:44.97
|
|
|
24.10.1990
|
USA
|
1:45.06
|
1:45.40
|
|
|
03.05.1984
|
KEN
|
1:44.77
|
1:45.79
|
|
|
08.07.1983
|
NED
|
1:44.61
|
1:44.61
|
|
|
13.06.1981
|
ESP
|
1:43.83
|
1:44.65
|
|
|
02.04.1987
|
AUS
|
1:45.66
|
1:45.80
|
|
|
17.12.1988
|
KEN
|
1:41.01
|
1:41.74
|
|
|
16.09.1984
|
KEN
|
1:49.39
|
|
|
|
28.11.1986
|
KEN
|
1:42.67
|
1:44.49
|
Other Running Events
Men's 400 Hurdles
World champ Dai Greene needs to get his act in gear as he's only run 48.96 this year. Here he'll race the top 2 on the 2012 world list in Puerto Rico's Javier Culson and Bershawn Jackson, who heartbreakingly finished 4th at the US Trials and won't be in London.
QT #1: It's crazy to think that if Greene were American he likely wouldn't be an Olympian. It's also crazy to think how good the US would be at the 400H if Puerto Rico was the 51st state.
| Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
19.11.1989
|
CUB
|
47.99
|
48.90
|
|
|
25.05.1988
|
FRA
|
49.70
|
49.70
|
|
|
25.07.1984
|
PUR
|
47.72
|
47.92
|
|
|
15.12.1991
|
TRI
|
48.26
|
48.78
|
|
|
11.04.1986
|
GBR
|
47.88
|
48.96
|
|
|
08.05.1983
|
USA
|
47.30
|
48.20
|
|
|
31.08.1980
|
FRA
|
49.34
|
49.91
|
|
|
30.08.1977
|
DOM
|
47.25
|
48.93
|
Women's 400
World champion Amantle Montsho is in good form as she enters after running a 49.54 PR at the African champs on June 28th. She'll face Jamaica's champ Novlene Williams-Mills.
QT #1: Did you know that 4 women ran 50.00 or better at the recently-completed Russian Champs?
| Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
18.12.1989
|
FRA
|
51.60
|
51.60
|
|
|
25.03.1979
|
FRA
|
51.41
|
52.11
|
|
|
20.10.1988
|
USA
|
50.06
|
50.06
|
|
|
04.07.1983
|
BOT
|
49.54
|
49.54
|
|
|
17.05.1984
|
GBR
|
49.61
|
50.69
|
|
|
08.12.1982
|
USA
|
49.64
|
50.02
|
|
|
08.09.1986
|
JAM
|
49.84
|
50.62
|
|
|
26.04.1982
|
JAM
|
49.63
|
49.78
|
Women's 200
The US's Bianca Knight, who was 7th at the US Trials, is the #2 seed here behind world indoor silver medallist at 60m Murielle Ahoure.
| Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
23.08.1987
|
CIV
|
22.42
|
22.42
|
|
|
25.11.1980
|
JAM
|
22.33
|
22.84
|
|
|
02.01.1989
|
USA
|
22.35
|
22.46
|
|
|
29.10.1986
|
FRA
|
22.32
|
22.74
|
|
|
03.02.1988
|
UKR
|
22.79
|
22.93
|
|
|
27.03.1987
|
USA
|
22.55
|
22.73
|
Women's 100 Hurdles
World champion Sally Pearson is undefeated on the year. Her biggest challenger based on 2012 times will be the US's Kristi Castlin, who was 4th in her semi as USAs and didn't make the final.
QT #1: The stats behind this race show you why "plastic Brit" Tiffany Porter is representing GBR instead of the US even though she grew up the US. Castlin's SB of 12.56 is #4 in the world and is the same as Porter's PR, yet Castlin isn't going to the Olympics. Porter is very good (4th in the world last year), but if she were representing the US, she'd be in a dogfight each year to make the team.
| Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
22.12.1979
|
USA
|
12.47
|
12.76
|
|
|
07.07.1988
|
USA
|
12.56
|
12.56
|
|
|
07.09.1983
|
USA
|
12.45
|
12.66
|
|
|
10.04.1985
|
FRA
|
12.88
|
12.88
|
|
|
29.06.1989
|
FRA
|
12.88
|
12.88
|
|
|
29.08.1980
|
CAN
|
12.46
|
12.93
|
|
|
16.03.1985
|
USA
|
12.76
|
12.84
|
|
|
19.09.1986
|
AUS
|
12.28
|
12.49
|
|
|
13.11.1987
|
GBR
|
12.56
|
12.65
|
Men's 100
The top two American sprinters in Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay will take on former world record holder Asafa Powell, who was third in the Jamaican Champs.
QT #1: Using the transitive property with Asafa Powell is likely the only way we'll get to figure out how Gatlin and Gay stack up against the top two Jamaicans in Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake prior tot he Olympics, as Bolt has pulled out of Monaco and Blake has been out of the biggest meets for most of the year.
| Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
07.04.1990
|
JAM
|
9.93
|
9.93
|
|
|
06.10.1982
|
JAM
|
9.88
|
9.94
|
|
|
10.02.1982
|
USA
|
9.80
|
9.80
|
|
|
09.08.1982
|
USA
|
9.69
|
9.86
|
|
|
13.07.1985
|
USA
|
9.95
|
10.02
|
|
|
11.06.1990
|
FRA
|
9.92
|
10.04
|
|
|
20.08.1986
|
USA
|
10.07
|
10.07
|
|
|
24.04.1985
|
USA
|
9.85
|
9.94
|
|
|
07.06.1985
|
TRI
|
9.85
|
9.96
|
FIELD EVENTS
Men's Triple Jump
Not a real high-quality field as the top two at 17.17 are only tied for 15th on the 2012 list, although Copello was 4th at Worlds last year.
| Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
12.08.1985
|
CUB
|
17.68
|
17.17
|
|
|
26.06.1988
|
FRA
|
16.74
|
16.74
|
|
|
02.01.1989
|
UKR
|
17.72
|
17.03
|
|
|
26.08.1984
|
CUB
|
17.62
|
17.17
|
|
|
16.09.1980
|
BRA
|
17.90
|
16.99
|
|
|
01.06.1989
|
POL
|
17.09
|
17.09
|
|
|
16.08.1981
|
BAH
|
17.59
|
17.04
|
|
|
13.08.1976
|
FRA
|
17.45
|
16.69
|
|
|
04.08.1988
|
BLR
|
16.82
|
16.82
|
Women's Triple Jump
2011 World Championships bronze medallist Yarelis Barrios of Cuba, who is #4 on the 2012 world list, headlines.
| Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
12.07.1983
|
CUB
|
68.03
|
68.03
|
|
|
13.01.1990
|
CUB
|
65.60
|
65.60
|
|
|
11.03.1983
|
POL
|
65.34
|
65.34
|
|
|
21.06.1990
|
CRO
|
68.24
|
68.24
|
|
|
18.07.1979
|
FRA
|
65.78
|
63.03
|
|
|
26.05.1988
|
AUS
|
65.84
|
62.34
|
|
|
20.12.1984
|
LTU
|
64.03
|
64.03
|
|
|
14.08.1976
|
USA
|
65.86
|
63.44
|
Men's Shot Put
Worlds silver medallist Dylan Armstrong will battle American Christain Cantwell, who was third at the US Trials.
| Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
15.01.1981
|
CAN
|
22.21
|
21.50
|
|
|
30.09.1980
|
USA
|
22.54
|
21.71
|
|
|
01.04.1984
|
DEN
|
20.06
|
19.73
|
|
|
12.01.1988
|
FRA
|
19.33
|
19.33
|
|
|
26.09.1982
|
POR
|
21.02
|
21.02
|
|
|
28.06.1989
|
USA
|
21.08
|
21.08
|
|
|
04.02.1981
|
CRO
|
20.66
|
20.66
|
|
|
17.05.1990
|
CZE
|
19.90
|
19.90
|
Men's Pole Vault
France's 2011 Worlds bronze medallist Renaud Lavillenie, who leads the 2012 world list, headlines the vault, where he'll face 2012 world #2 Bjorn Otto. This a rematch of the European Champs, where they both got their best marks of the year on July 1st and went 1-2.
| Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
19.06.1986
|
CUB
|
5.90
|
5.60
|
|
|
03.05.1983
|
FRA
|
5.75
|
5.55
|
|
|
28.03.1992
|
FRA
|
5.63
|
5.52
|
|
|
26.11.1986
|
GRE
|
5.75
|
5.72
|
|
|
28.09.1989
|
GER
|
5.80
|
5.77
|
|
|
18.09.1986
|
FRA
|
6.01
|
5.97
|
|
|
20.05.1986
|
GBR
|
5.72
|
5.72
|
|
|
02.04.1983
|
UKR
|
5.82
|
5.72
|
|
|
13.07.1977
|
FRA
|
5.95
|
5.72
|
|
|
27.06.1986
|
GER
|
5.91
|
5.91
|
|
|
16.10.1977
|
GER
|
5.92
|
5.92
|
Women's High Jump
World indoor champ Chaunte Lowe headlines after winning the US champs at 2.01m.
| Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
13.09.1982
|
KAZ
|
1.99
|
1.95
|
|
|
01.04.1979
|
ESP
|
2.02
|
1.97
|
|
|
17.11.1987
|
UZB
|
1.98
|
1.85
|
|
|
09.10.1986
|
RUS
|
2.02
|
1.99
|
|
|
08.12.1984
|
SWE
|
2.01
|
1.92
|
|
|
12.10.1985
|
EST
|
1.96
|
1.91
|
|
|
26.01.1982
|
UKR
|
1.96
|
1.96
|
|
|
12.01.1984
|
USA
|
2.05
|
2.01
|
|
|
08.11.1982
|
FRA
|
1.96
|
1.92
|
Women's Long Jump
The US's Janay Deloach, who won silver at World Iindoors this year and was 3rd at the US Trials, will take on Russia's Yelena Sokolova, who won the Russian Champs on July 4th with a 7.06 PR.
| Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
12.10.1985
|
USA
|
7.03
|
7.03
|
|
|
20.09.1990
|
USA
|
6.97
|
6.97
|
|
|
29.05.1984
|
USA
|
6.96
|
6.82
|
|
|
15.07.1988
|
FRA
|
6.91
|
6.81
|
|
|
16.09.1988
|
GBR
|
6.95
|
6.95
|
|
|
26.10.1982
|
UKR
|
6.95
|
6.95
|
|
|
23.07.1986
|
RUS
|
7.06
|
7.06
|
|
|
22.02.1984
|
BLR
|
6.85
|
6.85
|
Men's Javelin
Vitezslav Veselý is the world leader and recently won the European Champs. The top five here are all ranked 1-5 on the 2012 world list.
| Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
01.01.1989
|
TUR
|
85.60
|
85.60
|
|
|
23.03.1988
|
UKR
|
84.30
|
81.87
|
|
|
03.10.1984
|
AUS
|
89.02
|
82.97
|
|
|
12.05.1982
|
FRA
|
80.37
|
78.35
|
|
|
23.07.1987
|
FIN
|
85.70
|
84.31
|
|
|
14.07.1985
|
UKR
|
86.12
|
86.12
|
|
|
05.01.1982
|
LAT
|
90.73
|
86.50
|
|
|
27.02.1983
|
CZE
|
88.11
|
88.11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|