A Fan's Guide To The 2012 Samsung Diamond League Rome Track & Field Meet

By LetsRun.com
May 30, 2012

The Samsung Diamond League's third stop will take place on Thursday in Rome before stop #4 happens in Eugene on Friday/Saturday.

For a casual sports fan, the meet is all about the matchup of Asafa Powell and Usain Bolt at 100 meters. But for the LetsRun.com fan, the meet features a fantastic women's 800 which looks to be an Olympic preview for all practical purposes, a great women's 1,500 where 2011 world #1 Morgan Uceny will try to stay close to sensation Genzebe Dibaba, a men's steeple with the Olympic gold and silver medallists battling the 2012 world leader, and a women's 5,000 with all three of last year's medallists. Plus 5 of the top 10 fastest for 2012 in the men's 800 and more.

We break down the mid-d and distance action first (in the order that they occur) before getting to the men's 100 and then the rest of the events (in the order they occur).

You can see the start times of the actual events below:

2012 Rome Diamond League Schedule
(All Times ET)

12:15
Shot Put Women Entry list Standings
12:15
Javelin Throw Women Entry list Standings
12:30
Triple Jump Women Entry list Standings
1:15 100m Paralympic Women Entry list
1:35 100m - Pre Programme (R1) Men Entry list
1:40
Pole Vault Men Entry list Standings
1:45 100m - Pre Programme (R2) Men Entry list
1:45
Discus Throw Men Entry list Standings
2:03
400m Hs Women Entry list Standings
2:13
400m Hs Men Entry list Standings
2:30
800m Women Entry list Standings
2:30
High Jump Men Entry list Standings
2:40
3000m SC Men Entry list Standings
2:40
Long Jump Men Entry list Standings
2:56
1500m Women Entry list Standings
3:08
100m Women Entry list Standings
3:15
5000m Women Entry list
3:38
100m Men Entry list Standings
3:51
100m Hs Women Entry list Standings
4:02 800m Men Entry list
4:13 4x400m Men Entry list
4:23 4x100m Men Entry list

Note: We've already changed the schedule to show the times for you in Eastern time in case you want to get up and watch the meet. 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: WATCH HERE on CBCSports.ca beginning at 2 pm ET.

Second Note: After each event, you'll see all of the competitors and their marks as listed on the IAAF's official start lists. Many of those SBs and some of the PRs are incorrect. We've done our best to correct them (even erased some of them that were really bad) but there probably are still a few errors.

Women's 800: Olympic Preview Headlined By Pamela Jelimo

This meet is an Olympic preview. It has the three medallists from last years' World Championships in Mariya Savinova (outdoor debut), Caster Semenya (world #11 with 1:59.58 SB) and Janeth Jepkosgei (world #2 in 2012 with 1:57.79 SB), plus the world #1 from this year in defending Olympic champ Pamela Jelimo (1:56.94 SB). If that isn't enough, you can add in the 2012 world #4 in Fantu Magiso (1:57.90) and #5 in Yuneysi Santiusti (1:58.53).

LRC's Take: It will be interesting to see how Savinova looks in her 2012 opener and how she stacks up against Jelimo. For comparison's sake, last year, she opened up outdoors in 1:58.9 before running 1:58.44 in a loss in Europe. Expect her to lose here to Jelimo, but that doesn't mean she should be discounted in the Olympics.

Athlete DATE OF BIRTH Nation PR SB
25.12.1987
MAR
1:59.01
1:59.01i
24.07.1981
ITA
1:58.63
2:03.04
07.06.1988
GBR
1:59.37
1:59.37
05.12.1989
KEN
1:54.01
1:56.94
13.12.1983
KEN
1:56.04
1:57.79
20.11.1983
SVK
1:58.51
2:03.33
31.12.1986
RUS
1:56.67
2:01.52
09.06.1992
ETH
1:57.90
1:57.90
09.03.1987
ITA
2:01.50
2:07.25
24.12.1984
CUB
1:58.53
1:58.52
13.08.1985
RUS
1:55.87

NM

07.01.1991
RSA
1:55.45
1:59.58

Men's Steeple: Paul Kipsiele Koech Tries To Hold Off Ezekiel Kemboi And Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad

2004 Olympic and 2009 and 2011 world champion Ezekiel Kemboi of Kenya makes his 2012 debut here, as does 2011 bronze medallist Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad of France, who also won silver in 2008.

They will challenge Paul Kipsiele Koech, who was brilliant in Doha when he ran the fastest steeple in history for May with his 7:55.76 clocking.

LRC Analysis: It's a shame Koech runs terribly at altitude, as he needs to be on the Kenyan Olympic team - either that or we guess we could say it's a shame that Kenya doesn't hold its steeple trials at sea level like it's doing this year for the 10,000.

We expect Koech to win but will paying attention to how Kemboi and Mekhissi-Bernabbad look as Mekhissi-Bernabbad is probably the leading contender to break up Kenya's 7 straight Olympic golds in the steeple. Kemboi is hoping to be the first two-time steeple Olympic champ since 1936 when Finland's Volmari Iso-Hollo won.

It will be interesting to see how American Billy Nelson does here. The 2011 US champ opened up outdoors with a 3:41 1,500 pb but was only 10th in his lone steeple in 8:34 at Occidental.

Athlete DATE OF BIRTH Nation PR SB
11.02.1992
UGA
8:15.72
8:31.15
14.12.1992
KEN
8:06.72
8:06.72
25.12.1981
ITA
8:28.64
8:31.90
25.05.1982
KEN
7:55.76

NM

04.03.1989
UGA
8:03.81
8:22.94
10.11.1981
KEN
7:56.37
7:56.58
15.03.1985
FRA
8:02.09

 

02.10.1988
KEN
8:11.40
8:31.4h
11.09.1984
USA
8:17.27
8:34.10
01.01.1985
KEN
8:05.88
8:11.00
04.05.1985
POL
8:15.47
8:15.47
17.07.1978
RSA
8:11.50
8:24.28
02.04.1992
KEN
8:07.71
8:07.71
12.10.1980
FRA
8:14.74
8:48.28

Women's 1,500: World #1 Morgan Uceny Tries To Hold Her Own Against Genzebe Dibaba

American Morgan Uceny justifiably was rewarded for her great 2012 with a #1 ranking from Track and Field News. My, how times change very quickly.

She enters this race as a huge underdog. Over the winter, 21-year-old Ethiopian Genzebe Dibaba emerged as an Olympic contender when she captured the 2012 world indoor title. Then in her outdoor opener on May 19th in Shanghai, Ginzaba made herself the overwhelming Olympic favorite when she ran 3:57.77 for the win. In the day and age of legitimate out-of-competition doping tests, women don't run 3:57 any more, as shown by the following stats:

The 6 Women In The Last 10 Years Who Have Run Faster Than 3:57.77
3:55.33 Süreyya Ayhan-Kop - TUR - 2003 - banned for doping (lifetime)
3:55.68 Yuliya Fomenko - RUS - 2006 - banned for doping (2 years)
3:56.18 Maryam Yusuf Jamal - BRN - 2006 - not banned for doping
3:56.43 Yelena Soboleva - RUS - 2006 - banned for doping (2 years)
3:56.91 Tatyana Tomashova - RUS - 2006 - banned for doping (2 years)
3:57.65 Anna Alminova - RUS - 2010- Banned for doping (3-month ban)

If Dibaba wasn't virtually impossible to beat, Uceny would still have plenty of competition in this race, as it also includes the world's #2, #3 and #4 from this year in 21-year-old Ethiopian Abeba Aregawi (3:59.23), Morocco's Ibtissam Lakhouad (4:01.69 SB, 4th at world indoors this year) and Kenya's Helen Obiri (4:03.15 SB, world indoor champ this year). If that wasn't enough, the field also includes two-time world champ Maryam Yusuf Jamal making her outdoor debut.

LRC Analysis: We are very interested in seeing how Uceny looks here. We expect her to lose (she didn't win a 1,500 until USAs last year), but watching her get walked down at Occidental in the middle of the month was a bit surprising. In some ways, we think Dibaba's rise may have been good for Uceny, as now the pressure is totally off. Any medal of any color will be a welcome development for Uceny in London.

Athlete DATE OF BIRTH Nation PR SB
05.07.1990
ETH
3:59.23
3:59.23
09.06.1988
BRN
4:00.25
4:03.13
08.02.1991
ETH
3:57.77
3:57.77
19.01.1991
GER
4:05.86
4:05.86
16.09.1984
BRN
3:56.18
4:00.33
07.12.1980
MAR
3:59.35
4:01.69
26.02.1987
ITA
4:12.54
4:16.64
07.08.1981
NOR
4:02.20
4:03.79
13.12.1989
KEN
4:02.42
4:03.15
05.02.1985
POL
4:03.50
4:08.26
29.10.1987
UKR
4:07.24
17.08.1989
GBR
4:02.54
10.03.1985
USA
4:00.06
4:06.52

Women's 5,000: Vivian Cheruiyot Looks To Remain Undefeated

This race features many of the top names in women's running, as it includes all three medallists from last year's World Champs in Vivian Cheruiyot (gold), Sylvia Kibet (silver) and Meseret Defar (bronze).

LRC Analysis: We have a good idea how this is going to turn out for two reasons.

1) Cheruiyot hasn't lost on the track since August of 2010.
2) Many of these ladies raced against each other in the 3,000 in Doha on May 11th. If Cheruiyot wasn't going to lose in a 3,000 to Defar, which is Defar's speciality, why would it happen here?

2012 Doha Top 4 Results
1 Vivian Cheruiyot KEN - 8:46.44 - WL
2 Meseret Defar ETH - 8:46.49
3 Sylvia Kibet KEN - 8:47.49
4 Gelete Burka ETH - 8:48.92

Athlete DATE OF BIRTH Nation PR
23.01.1986
ETH
14:31.20
07.05.1991
KEN
14:35.13
11.09.1983
KEN
14:20.87
19.11.1983
ETH
14:12.88
15.01.1995
ETH
15:49.90
05.05.1992
ETH
14:58.34
28.03.1984
KEN
14:31.91
22.12.1983
KEN
14:34.86
16.01.1992
ETH
15:11.50
29.10.1989
KEN
15:05.38
20.09.1973
GBR
14:39.96
05.10.1982
ITA
15:13.19
12.08.1994
KEN
16:13.08
13.07.1979
ITA
15:02.65
31.12.1992
ETH
15:03.52

Men's 800: 5 Of World's 10 Fastest Will Battle

The 800 isn't technically a Diamond League event at this meet, but 5 of the 10 fastest guys on the year are entered in Leonard Kosencha (#3 - 1:43.60), Timothy Kitum (#6 - 1:44.00), Marcin Lewandowski (#7 - 1:44.34), Andrew Osagie (#9 - 1:44.64) and Antonio Manuel Reina (#10 - 1:44.65). The 17-year-old Kosencha seems to be a real medal threat.

Athlete DATE OF BIRTH Nation PR
22.05.1989
ITA
1:46.32
13.07.1987
DEN
1:44.99
20.02.1988
CZE
1:45.12
20.11.1994
KEN
1:44.00
11.08.1989
KEN
1:43.72
21.08.1994
KEN
1:44.08
13.06.1987
POL
1:43.84
19.02.1988
GBR
1:44.64
13.06.1981
ESP
1:43.83
03.02.1986
GBR
1:43.89
02.02.1989
ITA
1:47.20
20.02.1980
NED
1:43.45

Men's 100: Usain Bolt Versus Asafa Powell

Current world record holder Usain Bolt will try to remove memories of his 10.04 run in Ostrava last week when he takes on former world record holder Asafa Powell, who will try to prove that he can run well under pressure. The great white hope (Christophe Lemaitre) is also entered as is 2005 and 2011 bronze medallist and 2003 world champ Kim Collins.

LRC Analysis: As we said in our weekly recap, we don't think Bolt should be worried much at all by his 10.04 from last week as the weather was poor.

In our minds, the odds of Powell not starting this race or being DQed for a false start are greater than him actually beating Bolt. That being said, we'll be glued to our TVs.

Athlete DATE OF BIRTH Nation PR SB
21.08.1986
JAM
9.58
9.82
07.07.1981
JAM
9.99
9.99
05.04.1976
SKN
9.98
10.11
04.05.1989
JAM
10.09
10.10
11.06.1990
FRA
9.92
10.05w
14.05.1986
RSA
10.06
10.06
23.11.1982
JAM
9.72
9.88
21.09.1990
JAM
10.13
10.20
17.09.1981
JAM
10.11
10.28

Women's Shot Put

The gold (Adams) and silver (Ostapchuk) winners from last year's Worlds square off. They also are #1 and #2 in the world this year.

Both also medalled in Beijing.

Athlete DATE OF BIRTH Nation PR SB
06.10.1984
NZL
21.24
20.67
12.10.1985
USA
19.86
19.22
24.01.1989
CHN
20.35
19.84
20.10.1975
GER
20.20
19.67
06.06.1988
CHN
18.74
18.41
28.10.1980
BLR
21.09
20.53
28.01.1983
ITA
19.15
17.43
17.02.1986
GER
18.59
18.59

Women's Javelin

The three medallists from the last Olympics (Špotáková, Abakumova, Obergföll) and last World Champs (Abakumova, Špotáková, Viljoen) are all entered.

Athlete DATE OF BIRTH Nation PR SB
15.01.1986
RUS
71.99
66.86
31.12.1979
ITA
62.75
59.43
22.08.1981
GER
70.20
64.59
10.04.1986
USA
66.67
60.36
02.11.1981
SLO
67.16
65.24
16.07.1982
GBR
65.75
63.04
30.06.1981
CZE
72.28
66.17
06.10.1983
RSA
68.38
61.15

Women's Triple Jump

The three medallists from last year's Worlds (Saladuha, Rypakova, Ibargüen) will square off.

Athlete DATE OF BIRTH Nation PR SB
14.08.1972
GBR
15.29
14.50
06.02.1983
BRA
14.57
14.31
12.02.1984
COL
14.99
14.95
14.04.1983
ITA
14.69
14.43
21.07.1976
RUS
15.34
13.84
30.11.1984
KAZ
15.25
14.33
04.06.1983
UKR
14.98
14.98
03.11.1988
JAM
14.33
14.33

Men's Pole Vault

Olympic champ Steve Hooker's comeback resulted in a no-height in Shanghai. Here he'll face the world leader and the #2 on the year - i.e., Renaud Lavillenie and Björn Otto. Last year's world champ Pawel Wojciechowski is also in the field.

Athlete DATE OF BIRTH Nation PR SB
05.01.1979
ITA
5.90
5.60
04.08.1983
BRA
5.77
5.70
16.07.1982
AUS
6.00
5.10
18.09.1986
FRA
6.01
5.90
20.05.1986
GBR
5.72
5.72
13.07.1977
FRA
5.95
5.52
27.06.1986
GER
5.90
5.55
16.10.1977
GER
5.90
5.83
23.11.1991
ITA
5.55
5.42
06.06.1989
POL
5.91
5.52

Men's Discus Throw

Last year's 1-2-3 at Worlds in Harter, Kanter and Hadadi will throw. Kanter is the defending Olympic champ.

Athlete DATE OF BIRTH Nation PB SB
13.02.1972
LTU
73.88
66.64
20.01.1985
IRI
69.32
68.20
18.10.1984
GER
70.66
70.66
06.05.1979
EST
73.38
66.32
22.12.1978
ITA
65.01
62.04
10.04.1979
HUN
69.95
68.21
07.06.1983
POL
69.83
68.94
21.12.1976
USA
68.76
62.26

Women's 400 Hurdles

The three medallists from last year's World Champs in Demus, Walker and Antyukh will battle. Demus was awful in her 400H opener Ostrava on May 25th (57.43).

Athlete DATE OF BIRTH Nation PR SB
26.06.1981
RUS
52.92
53.75
24.10.1989
USA
54.74
54.88
10.03.1983
USA
52.47
52.47
07.02.1978
ITA
55.78
56.23
19.12.1986
CZE
53.29
53.29
27.10.1987
NGR
54.59
55.07
21.12.1988
GBR
54.18
55.25
06.05.1987
JAM
52.79
54.99
01.03.1983
JAM
52.42
54.62

Men's 400 Hurdles

The three medallists from last year's worlds in Greene, Culson and van Zyl will race, as will 2004 Olympic champ Sanchez and 2005 world champ Jackson.

Athlete DATE OF BIRTH Nation PR SB
16.05.1992
ITA
49.94
50.18
25.07.1984
PUR
47.72
48.00
03.03.1990
RSA
48.14
48.91
15.12.1991
TRI
48.26
48.89
11.04.1986
GBR
47.88
48.20
08.05.1983
USA
47.30
48.20
30.08.1977
DOM
47.25
48.74
20.07.1985
RSA
47.66
49.42
17.10.1989
GBR
48.71
50.29

Men's High Jump

The silver (Dmitrik) and bronze (Barry) medallists from last year's Worlds are here.

Athlete DATE OF BIRTH Nation PR SB
14.06.1983
BAH
2.32
2.27
24.06.1991
QAT
2.35
2.35
17.07.1988
ITA
2.28
26.01.1988
GRE
2.32
2.32
12.04.1984
RUS
2.36
2.20
29.04.1989
ITA
2.28
03.10.1987
GBR
2.28
2.26
29.03.1986
RUS
2.36
2.34
27.12.1983
USA
2.37
2.30
04.06.1991
CHN
2.31
2.27

Men's Long Jump

None of last year's medallists are here, but 2008 silver medallist Godfrey Mokoena is as is 2012 outdoor world leader Greg Rutherford. Rutherford is tied for the British record with Chris Tomlinson, who also is jumping

Athlete DATE OF BIRTH Nation PR SB
06.04.1980
FIN
8.22
7.92
20.07.1983
GHA
8.43
7.99
07.12.1990
RUS
8.28
8.22
06.03.1985
RSA
8.50
8.29
17.11.1986
GBR
8.35
8.35
26.10.1978
FRA
8.42
7.79
15.09.1981
GBR
8.35
8.35
26.05.1986
SWE
8.19
8.19

Women's 100

Zero medallists from last year's Worlds but the 2008 Oympic champ Fraser-Pryce is running.

Athlete DATE OF BIRTH Nation PR SB
23.08.1987
CIV
11.06
11.14
22.05.1985
NGR
11.03
11.21
04.10.1980
USA
11.02
11.13
27.07.1988
JAM
11.05
11.15
27.12.1986
JAM
10.73
11.00
16.09.1981
ISV
11.13
11.21
18.05.1984
BUL
10.77
11.45
12.08.1984
JAM
10.82
11.22
16.04.1984
JAM
10.75
10.98

Women's 100 Hurdles

This is a mini-US Olympic Trials.

American Danielle Carruthers won silver last year at Worlds and Dawn Harper won bronze last year and gold in 2008. And, oh yeah - Kellie Wells won the US champs. But none of them are as glamorous or a virgin like Lolo Jones, so you may not know who they are.

The #2 in the world this year is Brigitte Foster-Hylton.

Athlete DATE OF BIRTH Nation PR
23.10.1981
ITA
12.85
22.12.1979
USA
12.47
07.11.1974
JAM
12.45
13.05.1984
USA
12.47
05.08.1982
USA
12.43
26.08.1982
CAN
12.49
01.05.1979
USA
12.43
13.11.1987
GBR
12.56
16.07.1982
USA
12.50


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