Hurdle Fields Set to Shine in Switzerland

By Scott Bush

Just when you think you need a break from track and field after such an amazing week and a half of competition at the Olympic Games, the IAAF Diamond League resumes on Thursday, as action hits Stade de la Pontaise in Lausanne, Switzerland.

As expected, the fields are loaded with top tier talent from top to bottom, but there are a few events that stand out just a bit more compared to the rest.

Men’s 1000m

It’d be easy to suggest that the men’s 1000m field may go after the world record on Thursday, but that’s expecting perhaps too much coming off the mental and physical toll athletes undertake at the Olympic Games.

Matthew Centrowitz (USA) is entered and ready to race coming off his gold medal performance in the 1500m in Rio. Centrowitz has plenty of competition from 1500m rivals Asbel Kiprop (KEN) and Ayanleh Souleman (DJI), both of whom seek redemption for their non-medal performances at the Olympics. Add in 800m star Marcin Lewandowski (POL), who finished sixth in Rio, and this field has a nice mix of favorites.

Noah Ngeny’s world record of 2:11.96, set in 1999, seems a bit out of reach, but after Taoufik Makhloufi (ALG) ran 2:13.08 last year, this field seems plenty strong to at least take a crack at it. Better news for Centrowitz, the American record is Rick Wohlhuter’s 2:13.9 best set in 1974.

Regardless of how fast this race is, the depth and top-end talent certainly means it’s going to be a great race.

Women’s Shot Put

There aren’t too many events you’ll see the rest of the year that have the first, second and third place finishers from Rio, but the women’s shot put in Lausanne has just that. Michelle Carter (USA) looks to build on her tremendous gold medal performance with another big win. She threw 20.63m in Rio, which set the American record, and fans should not be surprised if she betters that mark on Thursday.

Silver medalist, and two-time champion in her own right, Valerie Adams (NZL) will look to get back on top, while Hungary’s Anita Marton came up big in Rio to earn bronze and similar to Carter looks to build off the success.

Not to be overlooked, Germany’s Christina Schwanitz, who many fans predicted would win gold in the shot put in Rio, wants to get back to the level she reached last year, when she was clearly the best shot putter in the world. Add American Olympian Felisha Johnson to the field and there are some great storylines shaping up.

Men’s Pole Vault

While surprise gold medalist Thiago Braz da Silva (BRA) is probably still celebrating his incredible win, silver medalist Renaud Lavillenie (FRA) and bronze medalist Sam Kendricks (USA) are all entered, as well as reigning world champion Shawn Barber (CAN) and Rio fourth-place finisher Piotr Lisek (POL).

Watch Lavillenie, as he’ll clearly want to re-establish his dominance in the pole vault world, while Kendricks could very well soar over six meters riding his own wave of joy and celebration from Rio. Barber has much to prove after finishing tenth in the Olympic final, while Lisek is a proven veteran and fully capable of upsetting the field.

Women’s 400m Hurdles

If you had to predict who would win gold in the women’s 400m hurdles before the season started, many would have said Shamier Little (USA) is the heavy favorite. After winning silver at the World Championships in Beijing, Little seemed poised to continue her rise and challenge for the win in Rio.

However, Little failed to qualify for the Olympics and on Thursday has hopes to climb back to being an international contender in the event. Gold medallist Dalilah Muhammad (USA) is the heavy favorite, having simply destroyed her competition all season long, but she’ll be joined by fellow silver and bronze medalists Sara Peterson (DEN) and Ashley Spencer (USA).

Add in Olympic finalist Eilidh Doyle (GBR) and veteran Cassandra Tate (USA), and this one has all the ingredients for a very, very fast contest.

Men’s 110m Hurdles

Did any of you wonder how well David Oliver (USA) would have done in the Olympic 110m hurdle final? The long-time dominant hurdle star enters Thursday’s competition having missed making the U.S. squad for Rio, but still ranked as the fourth fastest hurdler in the time this season.

Oliver won’t be the favorite though, with that title going to Olympic champion Omar McLeod (JAM). McLeod has been an utter force this season, ranking as the only man to crack the 13 second barrier this season (12.98 to win in May at the Shanghai Diamond League meet), owning six of the eight fastest times in the world this year and of course his big victory in Rio.

McLeod will find himself lined next to the next three finishers in the Olympic final in silver medalist Orlando Ortega (ESP), bronze medalist Dimitri Bascou (FRA) and veteran Pascal Martinot-Lagarde. This is going to be a good one and if the wind is just right, perhaps a few of these talents will challenge a low 13 second clocking.