Diamond League Final Entries Posted

Interesting that Georgia Bell is in both the 800m and 1500m albeit on different days.

Several people were on the verge of tears in last year's DL finals because:

1. They changed the 5000 to a 3000
2. They had the events on different days to facilitate doubling
3. They gave a certain unqualified athlete a wildcard to compete

They have an Algerian pacer for the M800, and it’s a smaller field where Arop/Wanyonyi/Sedjati shouldn’t have too much traffic.

Fulton/Werner pacing Chebet in the 5,000 feels like she’ll do most of the work if she wants the WR.

Nelly Jepkosgei (1:57 recently) could potentially set Kipyegon up for a WR.

Bit surprised to see Sha’Carri, Bell and Kerley doubling, but I guess why not. Tebogo and Alfred are not.

I thought Laros would get a wild card but i guess not. Was it worth skipping U20’s for him to not make the DL final? He probably should’ve done Lausanne 1500m.

Jakob is the favorite but Nuguse or Hocker can possibly steal if Jakob is not on his A game like last race.

We will not be seeing a 1500m WR. Akbache and Kiprugut are pacing it looks like and they will only get to 900-1000m at 3:27 pace.

I was going through the fields and really just counting who isn't going to be there. No Lyles, Warholm, Hodgkinson, Kerr, Benjamin, Kerr, Kessler, Muir, Laros, Hoppel. Every event is watered down. Hoppel is a little weird. Skipping the DL final to run a road mile doesn't make much sense unless he was well paid.

And I'm surprised they couldn't cobble together stronger fields for the SML exhibition races. It shouldn't be hard given how easy Brussels is to get to for European-based athletes.

He didn't make the cut for the DL Final, nor did Laros. He offered that up at 5th Avenue saying he just didn't make the cut. Kramer had some sort of tiebreak on him though they were tied in the standings. If you want to "blame" anyone, you can get on the meet organizers (see below) or Pattison who's going to be running it after 3 weeks off or so. He earned his spot, but expectations can't be high for him to do particularly well. But again, can't really fault him for taking a lane he earned even if he'll likely be a nonfactor.

The Belgian organizers have discretionary spots and strong runners in Vermuelen and Crestan in the 1500 and 800, respectively. Hoppel and Laros didn't get medals, so I can see why they went with their local guys and it's not totally egregious. Both have run well in recent weeks and could finish pretty well here.

Honestly that isn't too watered down, it's about one big name per event and mostly the people we already knew were done.

Did Gourlay not get a spot either? I’m not what the criteria is?

I see George Mills has shut down his season. Explains he had Covid after London DL which affected training (but also said didn’t want to make excuses).

Ah, I just assumed Hoppel was in there after his recent performances. Laros should be in though, shouldn't he? I checked, and he was equal 12th with Kerr dropping out.

Grant Holloway has tweeted that he is not taking part in the DL final due to his management & the organisers not being able to agree terms on his appearance in the final.

I suppose its to be expected in a post Olympic period, but its a bit disappointing on the track side of the event that so many of the medalists are not competing or not present in the event they medaled in.

Gold - 10 out of 18 are MIA

Silver - 8 out of 18

Bronze - 5 out of 18

Some of the events look quite weak as a result of this.

The field's generated for the SML "specials" aren't exactly exciting - I'm guessing this is all about her setting a time.
Can't help but wonder if Grant Holloway's gripe about money is that he was offered less than SML after he has competed regularly in the league.

I don’t understand why Fulton/Werner are pacing Chebet, when they wanted something like an 8:25 3k last week to stay on pace (and Georgia Griffith tried her best to stick to that pace). Has Werner ever broken 15? Doesn’t seem like it’ll be remotely enough if she’s going for the WR again.

Gourley was 4 points short (raced 5th Ave) and Laros 3 points short. Unlike several events, all the top 10 in the DL standings took their place and Vermuelen got the national wildcard. Laros ran a 1:46/7th place 800 recently, might be the last race of his season, but his season ended up a positive one - 3:29 for 6th at the Olympics at 19 after an interrupted buildup is extremely impressive and his future could likely be even brighter

I really wish SML had some competitors who would push her. Maybe that won't matter, since she's run ahead of a field before.

How can there 3 German women in 3000sc but not in any runners event??

Grant Holloway has tweeted that he is not taking part in the DL final due to his management & the organisers not being able to agree terms on his appearance in the final.

Grant is greedy, the mens hurdles are not popular. Should take what he can get. Long season, took a loss...end it

I thought it was a ridiculous decision. Laros had a thin season, including a couple of falls. He bailed it out better than could be expected in Paris. His parents attended and were thrilled.

From that point Laros should have understood only an u20 medal or two was a meaningful addition. He would have been facing East Africans there, as well as Myers. It's valuable experience to learn how to perform as heavy favorite, especially against unfamiliar opposition.

Hoare is running the 1500. McSweyn the 5000. I'm curious to see if they can end their season on a high note.