Noah Lyles, Mondo Duplantis, Tobi Amusan and others will continue their journey towards the Wanda Diamond League Final at the Meeting de Paris this Sunday.
Here are five things to look out for at the Stade Charléty:
Duplantis on the rebound
Mondo Duplantis returns to action in Paris after what has been a rollercoaster month for the Swedish star. The pole vault world record holder began the month with a rare defeat on home soil in Stockholm, finishing second behind Australia’s Kurtis Marschall and ending a Diamond League winning streak of 20 competitions. He was absent in Oslo a week later as the meet clashed with his wedding day, meaning Paris is his first chance to bounce back. Few would bet against the 27-year-old on Sunday, but after an unusually eventful month, he may be feeling the pressure a little more than usual this weekend.
New era for Broeders-Bol
Femke Broeders-Bol will make her first ever Diamond League appearance in the women’s 800m this Sunday in a hotly anticipated clash with series champion and world leader Audrey Werro. After five successive titles and 30 successive victories in the Diamond League in the 400m hurdles, the switch to the 800m was a bold move from Broeders-Bol, and Paris will be her first test in the glare of the Diamond League limelight. She finished a respectable second behind Werro in Ostrava earlier this month before claiming her first outdoor 800m victory in Hengelo last weekend. Werro, though, is in the form of her life after running the third-fastest time in history at the Diamond League meeting in Stockholm.
Lyles’ winning streak
After opening his season with victory in Rome earlier this month, US sprint star Noah Lyles continues his quest for a record seventh Diamond League title in the men’s 100m in Paris. The Olympic champion endured a tough season in the 100m last year, as he was outshone by Jamaica’s Oblique Seville amid early-season injury troubles. He has attacked the event with renewed purpose this season, however, and has now won each of his last three appearances in the 100m. After smashing the 150m world best in Ostrava the week before last, he will be confident he can maintain his winning streak in Paris.
Amusan on fire
After the world record fell in the men’s 110m hurdles this month, many will feel it is only a matter of time before the same happens in the women’s 100m hurdles. Paris promises another world-class clash with world record holder Tobi Amusan, world champion Ditaji Kambundji, US star Grace Stark and returning Olympic silver-medallist Cyrena Samba-Mayela all on the startlists. Amusan in particular appears to be in formidable form after her meeting record of 12.28 in Rabat. With the likes of Masai Russell now stalking her world record of 12.12, the Nigerian star may have picked the perfect moment to return to her best form.
Gressier on home soil
Paris always gets behind its local stars, so expect the roof to be raised when Diamond League champion Jimmy Gressier lines up in the men’s 5000m in Sunday’s headline event. The Frenchman’s victory in the series final last year made him only the third European after Mo Farah and Jakob Ingebrigtsen to win the 3/5000m title, and he followed that up with 10,000m gold and 5000m bronze at the World Championships in Tokyo a few weeks later. He faces a tough test on home soil in Paris, going up against the likes of Grant Fisher, Andreas Almgren, Birhanu Balew and Addisu Yihune.
