23rd August 2017
Brits out in force at Zurich Diamond League
The IAAF Diamond League final in Zurich this week will be a historic occasion as it will host the final ever track race of Sir Mo Farah’s illustrious career, as he goes in the 5000m. He joins a number of Britons competing in the first part of the season finale in the Swiss capital on Thursday evening.
Farah won his final track race in the UK at the Muller Grand Prix Birmingham on Sunday, so he will be in confident mood heading into his swansong over 5000m. He will face a rematch with Ethiopia’s Muktar Edris who beat him to gold at the IAAF World Championships earlier this month as they go for the IAAF Diamond League title at the Weltklasse. The top six in that World Championship final in London will be among the contenders with bronze medallist Paul Chelimo (USA) one of the best of the rest.
World silver medallists Asha Philip (Steve Fudge), Desiree Henry (Rana Reider), Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie) and Daryl Neita (Jonas Dodoo) will reunite as they contest for the Zurich trophy in the women’s 4x100m relay. They will line up against world medallist teams from USA and Jamaica with Germany, who just missed out on a world medal in London, also making this a highly competitive affair. Bianca Williams (Lloyd Cowan) and Philip will also contest the non-Diamond League 100m races earlier in the programme.
World 4x100m relay champions CJ Ujah (Stuart McMillan) and Adam Gemili (Rana Reider) will contest the 100m with world champion Justin Gatlin (USA) leading the entries, whilst Eilidh Doyle (Brian Doyle) and Jack Green (self-coached) race over the women’s and men’s 400m hurdles.
After adding his name to the list of winners of the prestigious Emsley Carr mile on Sunday, Jake Wightman (Geoff Wightman) will face a loaded 1500m field in Switzerland. All three 2017 World medallists Elijah Monotei Manangoi (KEN), Timothy Cheruiyot (KEN) and Filipe Ingebritsen (NOR) are involved, as well as three-time world champion Asbel Kiprop (KEN) who will be seeking improvement after missing out on the medals in London.
It has been a breakthrough year for Tom Gale (Denis Doyle) in the high jump with a 2.30m clearance to his name from a meeting in July, followed by third place at the Diamond League in Birmingham last weekend, one of his best ever results. The European Junior bronze medallist will line-up alongside world finalist and compatriot Robbie Grabarz (Fuzz Caan). The event will be one of the highlights of the evening after Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim leaped a magnificent 2.40m in Birmingham on Sunday, much to the delight of the fans and his fellow competitors. He will be looking to replicate his efforts at Alexander Stadium to secure the Diamond trophy once again.
World Para Athletics bronze medallist Richard Chiassaro (Jenni Banks) takes part in a unique mixed 3000m pursuit race alongside world medallists Marcel Hug, Brent Lakatos and Angela Ballard.
Further information of the IAAF Diamond League in Zurich can be found here:
Live coverage of the event can be found on Eurosport 2 on Thursday 24 August between 19:00-21:00. Highlights can also be found on BBC One on Saturday 26 August at 13:15.