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What To Watch at the Paris Diamond League Saturday

Published by
DyeStatPRO.com   Jun 30th 2015, 10:43pm
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Coming Assault on Women’s 5,000m World Record

By Scott Bush

The USATF Outdoor Championships are over, which means it’s time to switch gears back to IAAF Diamond League action. The collection of top-tier meetings resumes Saturday, July 4, in Paris at the Meeting Areva. Superstars from around the globe, minus an injured Usain Bolt (who withdrew), are ready to challenge for victory once again. Here’s what to keep an eye on.

Women’s 5,000m World Record Might Go Down

Tirunesh Dibaba’s 5,000m world record of 14:11.15 is in the crosshairs of some of the world’s best distance runners this Saturday. Genzebe Dibaba goes after her sister’s mark, an attempt she’s made twice already this year, both times coming up short. Dibaba took her first attempt at the record at the Pre Classic, where warm weather slowed the Ethiopian star to cross the line in 14:19.76, while she came back in mid-June to run 14:21.29 in Oslo.

While Dibaba is often discussed as the favorite to break the mark, countrywoman Almaz Ayana could beat her to it. The 23-year old shocked the world in Shanghai earlier this season, running a world leading time of 14:14.32. Ayana and Dibaba rank third and fourth all-time respectively and with some pacing help, expect another fast start in the City of Lights.

With eight runners in the field who’ve run sub-14:55 already this year, including seven of the eight fastest runners in 2015, there is plenty of talent to push the two stars of the show. Faith Kipyegon (KEN) enters with a best of 14:31.95, while Gelete Burka (ETH) is equally as poised to push the 14:30 barrier. Throw in stars Senbere Teferi and Betsy Saina and his field could very well produce the best 5,000m of the 2015 season.

Lavillenie Ready to Put on a Show in Home Country

Europeans love their track and field stars and world record pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie is as popular as they get. The Frenchman gets a chance to compete in front of his home country crowd and as always expects to put on a show. The 28-year old owns the best mark in the world this year with his 6.05m clearance at the Pre Classic in late May and is undefeated on the season.

Lavillenie is joined by five other top eight-ranked vaulters in the world, including the second and third best of Raphael Holzdeppe (GER) and Thiago Da Silva (BRA). Both gentlemen have cleared 5.85m twice this season and seek to challenge the six meter barrier this time around.

Reigning U.S. champion Sam Kendricks is entered as well. The former Mississippi star has cleared 5.80m three separate times this season, but continues to eye a best of 5.85m or higher.

NCAA champion Shawn Barber won’t be competing, as he competes at the Canadian Outdoor Championships this weekend, but the field is rounded out with Konstandinos Filippidis (GRE) and Piotr Lisek (POL), each capable of challenging for top three.

American Record Watch in Men’s Steeplechase

8:04.71. That’s Evan Jager’s American record set in 2014. The Bowerman Track Club standout has a chance to break it again Saturday, as he seeks to build off the momentum he earned from winning his fourth U.S. title at the USATF Outdoor Championships last weekend.

Jager has plenty of competition, to say the least, as all ten of the top-ten ranked athletes in the world are entered. Jager placed fourth at the Pre Classic in late May, running a time of 8:50.28. He was edged out by Ezekiel Kemboi, Jairus Birech and Conseslus Kipruto, three athletes who are running extremely well this season.

Kemboi’s 8:01.71 win at Pre ranks him tops in the world, while Birech’s close runner-up finish of 8:01.83 currently ranks him second in the world. Kipruto outkicked Jager in the final strides in Eugene, so the American will look for a little revenge in Paris.

Donn Cabral and Daniel Huling each look to build upon their Team USA clinching performances at the USATF Outdoor Championships. Cabral ran a PR effort over the weekend, while Huling was just off his PR. Both are running strong, confident and should run for top five finishes.

A trio of Kenyans round out the top competition, as Clement Kimutai, Jonathan Ndiku and John Koech all look to dip under the 8:10 barrier. This race is fast.

Pascal Martinot-Lagarde Poised to Fly

Similar to Renaud Lavillenie in the pole vault, the French have a big-time countryman they can cheer on for the win against one of the strongest fields we’ll see this year.

Pascal Martinot-Lagarde has shown over the past year and a half he could very well be the best 110m hurdler in the world. After a somewhat surprising victory at the Pre Classic late in May, his first major competition of the year, Martinot-Lagarde once again seeks to show he’s the man to beat.

While Martinot-Lagarde proved he’s in fine form at the Pre Classic, a trio of Americans seek to upset the French star in front of his home crowd. Reigning U.S. champion David Oliver, world record holder Aries Merritt and rising young pro Aleec Harris each come off emotional performances at the USA Outdoor Championships last weekend, each earning a spot on Team USA. With momentum on their side, each will challenge sub-13.10 and the victory.

Orlando Ortega (CUB) and Sergey Shubenkov (RUS) round out this star-studded field, adding depth and sub-13:15 talent. Both will vie for top three finishes. 



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