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Women’s Shot Put, Men's Hurdles Set to Shine in Sweden

Published by
DyeStatPRO.com   Jul 27th 2015, 1:36pm
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What to Watch at the Stockholm Diamond League Thursday

By Scott Bush

The IAAF Diamond League hits its last stop before the IAAF World Outdoor Championships next month. While a number of global track and field stars defer out of Thursday’s Stockholm BAUHAUS Athletics meeting, there’s still plenty of talent competing that makes this a can’t-miss event.

Here’s what to watch.

Loaded Women’s Shot Put Takes Center Stage on Wednesday

While China’s Lijiao Gong, who currently ranks second in the world, won’t be competing Wednesday, the other five of the top six shot putters in the world will be battling in Stockholm. Top-ranked Christina Schwanitz (GER) comes off a successful German Championships title defense and looks to add to her dominating 2015 season. She holds 10 of the top 14 best marks in the world this season, making her the favorite not only in Sweden, but heading into the IAAF World Outdoor Championships.

Following Schwanitz, Michelle Carter (USA) looks to build on her winning performance last week at the London Diamond League meeting. Carter ranks third best in the world this season and is setting herself up very well to challenge for a medal in Beijing. While it remains to be seen if she can knock off the German favorite, she could very well challenge her seasonal best.

Adding to the top-end depth, world fourth ranked Cleopatra Borel (TTO) looks to better her 19.26 best and on a good day could challenge for top two. Throw in the legendary Valerie Adams (NZL), who’s still seeking her nearly unbeatable form as she comes off early season surgery. She finished second to Carter in London, scratching her final four throws.

It’s a shame Gong isn’t competing, as she’s the only athlete to knock off Schwanitz this season. Regardless, the shot put gets plenty of individual attention, as the competition is hosted on its own Wednesday, while the primary meeting takes place Thursday. This is a must-see event.

Oliver Seeks to Continue Building Momentum in 110m Hurdles

It’s not in the record books, but David Oliver (USA) ran two sub-13.20 hurdle races in less than an hour last week at the Pan Am Games. Not hearing the restart beeps and gun fires, Oliver ran the full length of the event in the men’s 110m hurdle finals, crossing the line in an unofficial 13.18. With the race being rerun less than an hour later, Oliver had to regroup, rewarm up and get mentally prepared to race again. Well, it paid off with an incredible Pan Am Games record victory performance of 13.07.

Oliver is on fire as of late, continuing to build fitness as the IAAF World Outdoor Championships approach. He flies over to Sweden to test his fitness against the world’s best Thursday, where he’ll take on a very, very good international field, including the fastest man in the world this season in Orlando Ortega (CUB), Pascal Martinot-Lagarde (FRA) who enters coming off a runner-up performance in London, Sergey Shubenkov (RUS) and fellow American Aries Merritt.

Oliver has kept focused on tactical work in North America since the USA Outdoor Championships, so to see him line up in Europe will be extremely entertaining. Fans will get a taste as to whether or not they should consider him the favorite heading into the World Championships. Obviously the rest of the field cannot be discounted, but no one is racing finer than Oliver at the moment.

Bowie vs Fraser-Pryce Over 100m

It’s a clash of century sprint stars in Stockholm. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM) squares off against Tori Bowie (USA), as the fastest woman in the world this season takes on the fourth-ranked American.

Fraser-Pryce has proved dominant in the 100m distance this season and she enters Thursday’s competition as the heavy favorite, but Bowie enters coming off a fine runner-up performance over 200m in London. Both look to lower their seasonal bests of 10.74 and 10.81. Barbara Pierre (USA) is entered as well, with a best of 10.92, the only other sub-11 second sprinter in the field.

Dendy Goes for Repeat in Men’s Long Jump

Marquis Dendy showed the world he’s a big-time medal threat in Beijing next month, winning the long jump at the London Diamond League meeting last week. In London, Dendy soared to a final leap best of 8.38m, distancing himself from runner-up Zarck Visser (RSA) and home country favorite Greg Rutherford (GBR).

Dendy gets another shot Thursday to show he’s not to be overlooked at the World Championships. He’ll face a rematch battle with Visser and Rutherford, as all three gentlemen eye the 8.40m barrier. While a few notable athletes won’t be competing, including world number one Jeff Henderson, these three men should provide plenty of theatrics for the Scandinavian crowd. 

A New PR Coming for Huddle

Believe it or not, Molly Huddle’s 3,000m personal best is 8:42.99. The American 5,000m record holder is well off the American record in this event, as Mary Slaney owns the best U.S. time of 8:25.83, set n 1985. In fact, Huddle’s mark is three seconds off top ten all-time in U.S. history. Depending on the early pace Thursday, that could all change in a big way.

Huddle showed in the 5,000m in London last week she’s not afraid to go out and push the pace. She may need to do that again this time around with few athletes in the same realm as her, but she should have close competition from Mimi Belete (BRN) and Renata Plis (POL). If Huddle sets a fast pace, don’t be surprised for her to challenge 8:35.

Along with Belete and Plis, Huddle’s fellow American Katie Mackey and Marielle Hall look to contend for top three finishes. Hall is having a great season, qualifying for Team USA and finishing top six in the 5k in London. Mackey’s best event may just be the 3,000m, so don’t be surprised to see both athletes fighting it out up top for the win with a lap to go.



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