8th June 2022

MUIR AND ASHER-SMITH AMONG THOSE SET FOR ROME DIAMOND LEAGUE

A host of Britons head to Rome for the Golden Gala on the next stop of the Wanda Diamond League on Thursday 9 June.

Olympic silver medallist Laura Muir (Andy Young, Dundee Hawkhill) is back in action in a competitive 1500m [19:21 BST] line-up. On PBs alone, Muir is the quickest in the field, but Ethiopia’s Hirut Meshesha stands third on the world list for 2022 after a 3:57.30 clocking to win at the Rabat Diamond League on Sunday. Axumawit Embaye (ETH), who was third in Morocco, will be another athlete to keep an eye on over the three- and three-quarter laps.

Reigning world champion, Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie, Blackheath and Bromley), and Beth Dobbin (Leon Baptiste, Edinburgh) will line-up in the women’s 200m [20:08] alongside reigning Olympic champion, Elaine Thompson-Herah (JAM), two-time Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH), multiple global medallist, Allyson Felix (USA), and in-form Shericka Jackson (JAM) in one of the most highly-anticipated races of the evening.

With a similar line-up to the one in Morocco a few days ago, Holly Bradshaw (Scott Simpson, Blackburn) will be looking to improve on her fourth place as she takes on in-form Sandi Morris (USA) and Olympic champion, Katie Nageotte (USA) in the women’s pole vault [18:35].

After a superb time of 1:58.44 at a meeting in Chorzow, Poland last week, Olympic fourth placer Jemma Reekie (Andy Young, Kilbarchan) is in strong form as she takes on the women’s 800m [19:42] in Rome. The Scottish athlete will face Olympic champion Athing Mu (USA) in what is expected to be one of the highlights of the meet.

Lawrence Okoye (John Hillier, Croydon) will go in the men’s discus [17:30] after finishing seventh in Rabat last Sunday with a best of 63.42m. He’ll take on in-form Kristjan Ceh (SLO) who won in Birmingham and Rabat, and Olympic champion Daniel Stahl (SWE).

The women’s 400m hurdles [19:03] will see British representation from Lina Nielsen. The Shaftesbury Barnet athlete moved to eighth on the UK all-time list with her PB of 54.76 back in April. She will face a field including Femke Bol (NED), who set a world best in the 300m hurdles in Ostrava last week.

Jazmin Sawyers (Lance Braunman, City of Stoke) continues her 2022 campaign in the women’s long jump [19:38]. The stacked field includes Olympic champion and winner in Birmingham, Malaika Mihambo (GER), and Khaddi Sagnia (SWE), winner in Eugene.

Meanwhile, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake (Newham and Essex Beagles) will feature in the non-Diamond League men’s 200m [19:33] which includes Kenneth Bednarek (USA) and Filippo Tortu (ITA).

Live coverage will be on BBC Three between 19:00-21:00 on Thursday 9 June.

Schedule and entry lists