Star-Studded Men’s High Jump One to Watch

By Scott Bush

Only five days after the Nike Prefontaine Classic concluded, the Diamond League shifts it’s focus to Rome, as the world’s best track and field athletes continue their season at the Golden Gala in Stadio Olimpico on Thursday.

Here are four events to watch:

Men’s High Jump

No event can match the excitement, talent and top-end depth of the men’s high jump right now. There are five athletes in the field who’ve soared over 2.37m (7-9.25) or higher this season. With the world record of 2.45m (8-0.25) in sight and every athlete fully capable of pulling off the win, this is the must-see event.

Ivan Ukhov (RUS) and Bohdan Bondarenko (UKR) lead the way. Ukhov has a seasonal best of 2.41m, the top performance in the world, while owning wins at Diamond League Doha and Beijing. His only defeat of the season came at the hands (or should we say feet) of Bondarenko, who bested the Russian with a mark of 2.40m (7-10.5) in Tokyo.

The other 2.40m leaper in the field is Derek Drouin (CAN), who won the Drake Relays high jump event, while finishing second to Ukhov in Doha. He’s stated the world record is in his sights. He’ll receive plenty of competition from rival Erik Kynard (USA), who soared over 2.37m to tie Drouin in Doha, while placing second to Drouin at Drake. Kynard not only has his eyes set on the 2.40m barrier, but breaking Charles Austin’s American record of similar height, set in 1991 (the same year Kynard was born).

Mutaz Essa Barshim (QAT) rounds out the field, entering with a 2.37m season best, which placed him fourth in Doha. With so much competition hovering around 2.40m, we’re bound to see something special happen Thursday in Rome.

Women’s 100m Hurdles

After losing a tight battle at the Drake Relays back in April, first year pro Brianne Rollins (USA) is back to dominating her specialty. Rollins owns three of the top five best times in the world in 2014, along with victories in Beijing and Tokyo. The former Clemson standout is the heavy favorite entering Thursday’s competition.

Despite her dominance, Rollins can’t relax, as her competitors look to upset the 2013 World Champion. Her strongest competition should come from 2012 Olympic gold medalist and 2013 World Championship runner-up Sally Pearson (AUS). Pearson has a 12.59 seasonal best to her credit, along with another solid performance of 12.72, both set in Australia. The consistent performer can never be overlooked.

The American trio of Nia Ali, Queen Harrison and Dawn Harper-Nelson all have their eyes set on Rollins too, hoping to knock her off “the best in America” pedestal. All three have tremendous experience, while Ali comes off her gold medal performance at the IAAF World Indoor Track and Field Championships earlier this year.

Experienced veterans Tiffany Porter (GBR) and Cindy Billaud (FRA) round out the top competitors, as the field is the strongest to date this season. Expect the majority of field to run 12.75 if conditions are clear and if the wind is blowing just right, we could very well see multiple athletes under 12.60.

One side note…while it’s probably too early in the season for a world record attempt, Rollins’ American record best of 12.26 is right on the world record of 12.21, set by Yordanka Dunkova (BUL) in 1988. A lot of fans would love to see that record fall sooner rather than later.

Women’s Shot Put

Can Valerie Adams (NZL) continue her Diamond League winning streak? The shot put champion owns a Diamond League record of 47 straight wins, which is simply incredible. While she enters with the top throw in the world this year of 20.46m, and four of the best six, she’ll have very close competition from Christian Schwanitz (GER), who has thrown 20.22m twice in the past three weeks. Expect this to be one of those more memorable battles in the event’s history.

There is depth in the event too, with Lijao Gong (CHN) and Yevgeniya Kolodko (RUS) entered. Gong is the third best thrower on the season thus far, with her seasonal best of 19.61m, while Kolodko is fourth in the world in 19.33m. Americans Tia Brooks and Michelle Carter both have their eyes set on the 19 meter barrier and top three finishes.

Men’s 1,500m

The Bowerman Mile at Pre last weekend was ridiculous and can easily lay claim to “the deepest mile in history” title. With eight of the top eleven finishers at Pre competing in the men’s 1,500m in Rome, including the top four fastest 1,500m runners on the year, the race promises to provide plenty of theatrics.

Pre winner Ayanleh Souleiman (DJI) is ranked third in the world over 1,500m after his third place finish in Doha in 3:30.16. He ran to a half second victory at Pre in 3:47.32 and looks to carry that momentum into Rome. He’ll be closely followed by Silas Kiplagat (KEN), who finished second at Pre in 3:47.88 and second in Doha at 3:29.70.

The winner in Doha, Asbel Kiprop (KEN), looks to rebound after a disappointing seventh place finish at Pre. His Doha victory of 3:29.18 leads the world list. He seemed to lack the finishing pop he’s shown time and again in Eugene, so bet he has redemption on the mind.

Pre Classic third place Aman Wote (ETH) and fourth place Abdelaati Iguider (MAR) finishers enter with goals of dipping under the 3:30 barrier, while Collins Cheboi (KEN), Johan Cronje (RSA) and Taoufik Makhloufi (ALG) round out the list of top competitors with the talent to pull off the victory. This field is loaded!

Best of the Rest

LaShawn Merritt (USA) lost once all season before Saturday’s incredibly contested men’s 400m at the Pre Classic, where Merritt was edged by rival Kirani James (GRN), as both finished in 43.97. Merritt’s only loss came early last month at the Jamaica International Invitational, finishing second to Luguelin Santos (DOM) 44.82-44.86. You can bet Merritt wants revenge on that loss and going sub-44 so early on in the season has to be a good confidence boost heading into Thursday’s battle.

The women’s 5,000m is loaded and is the seasonal debut for nearly every athlete in the field. With ten athletes entering with PRs under 15 minutes, with eight of those having bests of 14:50 or faster, the race is going to be hot. Americans Molly Huddle and Kim Conley are entered. Huddle is on a roll in 2014 and could very well be eyeing her 14:44.76 American record set back in 2010, while Conley will undoubtedly be shooting for sub-15 (her PR is 15:09).

There should be team scoring in the men’s triple jump. Three Americans, three Italians, two Russians and two Cubans make this a country v. country contest. While it’s still early in the season, the majority of the field enters with personal bests of 17.20m or better. Don’t be surprised if we see numerous athletes leap well past that mark. Christian Taylor, Will Claye and Omar Craddock lead the American charge.

Coming off the announcement of a Justin Gatlin v. Tyson Gay matchup on July 3 in Lausanne, Switzerland, which will be Gay’s first competition since he received his one-year doping ban, one has to wonder if Gatlin will ever lose in 2014. While Yohan Blake and Usain Bolt have either yet to open their seasons or have avoided testing themselves against Gatlin, the American continues to pick up big wins. His victory at Pre was impressive and with only one other athlete entered with a seasonal best of 10 seconds in Rome, he should roll to another victory.