Gudaf Tsegay on her way to breaking the world 5000m record in Eugene (© Matthew Quine)
The 2024 Wanda Diamond League is set to get off to a flying start in Xiamen on Saturday (20) as a host of world record-holders, Olympic gold medallists and world champions get their outdoor campaigns under way.
Gudaf Tsegay hopes to pick up where she left off last season. The Ethiopian was the stand-out performer at the Wanda Diamond League Final in Eugene last year, smashing the world 5000m record.
The versatile distance runner, who won the world 10,000m title last year, will compete at the lower end of her range in Xiamen by lining up for the 1500m – the distance at which she holds the world indoor record. Her motivation will be high, too, as she suffered a rare defeat in her last outing, placing second over 3000m at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow.
The toughest opposition in Xiamen is expected to come from her compatriots, three of whom are also global gold medallists: world road mile champion Diribe Welteji, world indoor champion Freweyni Hailu, and world U20 champion Birke Haylom.
Like Tsegay, Devynne Charlton is also looking to maintain her winning momentum against three global champions.
The Bahamian sprint hurdler was the star of the indoor season, twice breaking the world indoor 60m hurdles record, culminating with her victory at the World Indoor Championships.
Saturday’s race will be her first outdoor competition of 2024, and she’ll be up against world record-holder Tobi Amusan of Nigeria, two-time world champion Danielle Williams of Jamaica, and Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico.
Mondo Duplantis, who also set a world record to win at the Diamond League Final last year, is another athlete who’ll be making his outdoor season debut. The Swedish pole vaulter enjoyed an undefeated indoor campaign, but his victory at the World Indoor Championships did not come easily.
USA’s two-time world champion Sam Kendricks, who led for much of the world indoor final, will be in attendance in Xiamen, so too will Chris Nilsen, the Olympic silver medallist.
Richardson goes long
World 100m champion Sha’Carri Richardson gets her 2024 campaign going this weekend. The US sprinter will line up for the 200m, the event at which she claimed bronze at the World Championships last year, clocking a PB of 21.92.
Compatriot Tamara Clark, who has an identical PB and has already ran 22.21 this season, is also in the field, alongside fellow sub-22-second performer Anavia Battle and European champion Mujinga Kambundji.
World champion Marileidy Paulino will be reunited with the two women with whom she shared the 400m podium at last year’s World Championships. The sprinter from the Dominican Republic will take on Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek and Sada Williams of Barbados, the world silver and bronze medallists respectively, as well as USA’s Britton Wilson.
Jamaica’s Hansle Parchment will be looking for a promising season opener in the 110m hurdles as he prepares to defend his Olympic title later this season. US duo Cordell Tinch and Daniel Roberts could provide his toughest challenge.
World indoor champion Christian Coleman and 2022 world champion Fred Kerley will clash in a men’s 100m contest that also includes world indoor bronze medallist Ackeem Blake.
Quality distance contests
World 800m champion Marco Arop had a short but sweet indoor campaign, setting a Canadian indoor record of 1:45.50 in his specialist distance and a North American indoor 1000m record of 2:14.74.
This weekend’s competition will be his first outdoor race over two laps of the track this season, and he’ll be taking on a field that includes 2018 Commonwealth champion Wyclife Kinyamal, African Games silver medallist Alex Kipngetich and world indoor silver medallist Andreas Kramer.
In a high-quality women’s steeplechase, world record-holder Beatrice Chepkoech lines up alongside Commonwealth champion Jackline Chepkoech and world bronze medallist Faith Cherotich, both of whom are part of the sub-nine-minute club. Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai of Uganda adds further strength to the field.
World indoor 3000m record-holder Lamecha Girma will be hoping it’ll be third time lucky as he lines up for the 5000m, having failed to finish in his only two previous outings over the distance.
The steeplechase specialist from Ethiopia faces a field that includes world road 5km bronze medallist Nicholas Kipkorir, African Games 10,000m champion Nibret Melak, two-time world 5000m champion Muktar Edris and 2022 world bronze medallist Oscar Chelimo.
Global champions clash on the field
Yaime Perez caught the attention of the throwing world last weekend when she launched her discus out to a North American record of 73.09m, the longest throw in the world since 1989.
All eyes will be on the Cuban on Saturday as she takes on a field that includes four women who have won global titles: world champion Laulaga Tausaga, 2022 world champion Feng Bin of China, Olympic champion Valarie Allman and multiple world and Olympic champion Sandra Elkasevic (nee Perkovic).
There’s another high quality throws clash as the three reigning global champions in the women’s shot put go head to head. Olympic champion Gong Lijiao of China will clash with world champion Chase Jackson of the USA and world indoor champion Sarah Mitton of Canada. Four other women in the field with PBs beyond 20 metres – Maggie Ewen, Yemisi Ogunleye, Jessica Schilder and Song Jiayuan – will also be in contention.
In the men’s triple jump, world champion Hugues Fabrice Zango takes on arch rival Pedro Pichardo, the Olympic champion. China’s Zhu Yaming and Spain’s Jordan Alejandro Diaz Fortun could also be in the mix.
And last but not least, Olympic champion Mutaz Barshim faces world indoor champion Hamish Kerr in the men’s high jump.
Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics
