Can Grant Fisher or Alicia Monson win the 2022 Diamond League 5000 final on Wednesday?

Even if they do the prize money is so little they still need their parents to pay for their expenses. Decades ago the former IAAF Golden League paid $1,000,000 to the season winner or split if more than one winner. Now that money goes to pay the $300/nite H+ Hotel rooms for hundreds of dignitaries and in-turn for reciprocal favoritism to other visiting meet directors.

Can? Yes. Will? Unlikely. I have Fisher on 3 and Monson on 5. Can't wait to watch both!

Grant in 5th and Monson 3rd ☺️😊

That outdoor track doesn't have an inside rail. Good news for Grant.

That's taken into account when they project the line of running. A track with a rail is 400m on a line 30cm outside the rail, but a railless track is 400m on a line only 20cm outside it. They know people run closer to the paint than they do the rail.

Cheering for both Monson and Fisher.

Their best years are yet to come and what a great 2022 they have had.

If this “street” race is anything like last time runners won’t have any idea about pacing. So it will be a slow affair with kicks coming late.

$30,000 to the winner, I think that'll cover a bit more than expenses.

On the races: Monson has no chance with Tsegay and Hassan in the race. They'll both out-kick her no matter what pace she sets.

Fisher can win. With the Big 3 of Jakob, Cheptegei, and Kiplimo absent, the race is a toss-up. He has as much chance as Krop, Barega, Aregawi, and Lobalu. I wouldn't but any money on any of them, there's no favourite in this race

Looking like it'll be coolish and with a chance of light showers this evening here in this part of Switzerland (north of the Alp). Very little wind.

Letzigrund has a rail.

It’s not being run there. It’s on some sort of a gimmicky “street course.”

Oh thats right. Our sport is being destroyed from top down.

This. If they want spectacular why not build a track with a great view over the alps. If they want a street race why not go all in and set up a great race in some city. Its unreal that they lack confidence in the product - the best runners in the world battling it out on a 400m track. Not some hybrid bs.

If I want Grant Fisher to win, it's for a sole reason:

As a punition for some Elite African runners not being consistent.

Very strange post.

This is very much about you and is arrogant.

”If” or do you?

Why do you feel the need to punish people who race? Racing is not a consistent venture given multiple racers battling for one outcome - that is to win.

I bet your career has been super consistent. You still running PBs every season or nah?

Most on this board are rooting for Fisher simply because he’s American. You can argue that nationalism has no place in athletics, but most of us grew up and were conditioned to root for the “home team.” I’m rooting for him for this reason, but also because he seems like such a super likable person. Again, who cares about this? Can’t help myself, it matters to me. I rooted for Lagat for all the same reasons, but when he was running for Kenya, not so much. Now it’s not only about being a “homer.” I suspect many who root for Fisher also root for Kipchoge. That’s all about rooting for unmatched greatness that transcends national boundaries and familiarity. Guys like Krop or Barega are not at that level yet. Bekele was of course, and maybe Jakob will soon be.

And the ladies are off. I was trying to stay positive about the pre-fab urban track but I just don't get it. Looks more like a road race. They do that here in late Autumn city events for the elites, make them basically run around the block so the hype can build. It's usually pretty fun to watch, unless the range of talent is too big in the elites and somebody gets lapped. But this is the freaking Diamond League Athletics Final! Athletics is run in a stadium on a track!

Monson hanging in there, just took the lead at 11:30. Think I heard 3KM passed in 8:34, so they're flying.