27th May 2022
13 BRITISH ATHLETES IN EUGENE FOR THE THIRD STOP ON DIAMOND LEAGUE
13 British athletes will take to the track and field at the third stop of the Wanda Diamond League in Eugene, Oregon, the host of this year’s World Athletics Championships. The main programme is on Saturday 28 May, but there is also one Briton in action on Friday 27 May.
Dina Asher-Smith, Keely Hodgkinson, Matthew Hudson-Smith and Laura Muir – all winners at the Muller Birmingham Diamond League last weekend – will be back in action in America.
Asher-Smith (coach: John Blackie, club: Blackheath and Bromley) pipped Shericka Jackson to the victory at the Alexander Stadium last weekend and will line up against her once again. Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah (JAM), and Tokyo finalists Marie-Josee Ta-Lou (CIV) and Mujinga Kambundji (SUI) are also on the start lists.
Olympic silver medallist Hodgkinson (Trevor Painter, Leigh) is joined by fellow Briton Jemma Reekie (Andy Young, Kilbarchan), and Tokyo bronze medallist Raevyn Rogers (USA). Current world lead Allie Wilson (USA) [1:58.18] also lines up in a stacked field.
In another packed middle-distance field, Laura Muir (Andy Young, Dundee Hawkhill) will face Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon (KEN) and also Jessica Hull (AUS) who pushed her all the way in Birmingham last weekend.
Meanwhile, Hudson-Smith (Lance Brauman, Birchfield) takes on three-time Olympic medallist and 2012 champion, Kirani James (GRN), and current world number two, Michael Cherry (USA).
Elsewhere, Emily Borthwick (Wigan & District) will kick off proceedings on Saturday in the women’s high jump, while world indoor bronze medallist Lorraine Ugen (Dwight Philips, Thames Valley) also stars in the field in the women’s long jump. In the throws, Jade Lally (Zane Duquemin, Shaftesbury Barnet) goes in the women’s discus.
Neil Gourley (Ben Thomas, Giffnock North) and Marc Scott (Jerry Schumacher, Richmond & Zetland) go in the non-Diamond League 1500m contest, while Olympic finalist Jake Heyward (Mark Rowland, Cardiff) is involved in the Bowerman Mile. In the women’s 100m hurdles, Cindy Sember (Jeff Porter, Woodford Green Essex Ladies) takes on current world lead, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PUR) [12.39].
On Friday night, Sam Atkin (Mike Collins) gets the action underway in the men’s 5000m. Two weeks on from his victory at the UK 10,000m championships at the Night of 10,000m, the Lincoln Wellington athlete will be chasing a quick time in Oregon.
Live coverage of the Eugene Diamond League will be on 28 May, 21:00-23:00 on BBC Three.