Title contenders: Jakob Ingebrigtsen
Norwegian distance prodigy Jakob Ingebrigtsen was one of the breakout stars of 2021, claiming Olympic gold in the 1500m and cruising to a total of four victories on the Wanda Diamond League circuit.
The 21-year-old returned to action with a bang this week as he launches his 2022 indoor season with a 1500m world record at the World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting in Lievin, France.
Ingebrigtsen will be hoping to build on that success as he sets his sights on a first ever Diamond Trophy this summer.
Watch: Best of Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the Wanda Diamond League
The Norwegian will be among the favourites for the Wanda Diamond League title in both the men’s 1500m and the men’s 5000m this year, after narrowly missing out on both last season.
Ingebrigtsen cruised to two victories, including a European record in Florence, on his Road to the Final in the 5000m, before stepping back to focus on the 1500m in Zurich.
He was beaten to the trophy by four-time champion Timothy Cheruiyot, however, in a thrilling final showdown at the Letzigrund Stadium.
Kenyan legend Cheruiyot and Ingebrigtsen will resume their rivalry in 2022, with chances to face each other early in the season at Doha and Birmingham.
Ingebrigtsen could also be eyeing glory in the 5000m, a title which was taken by Ethiopian 20-year-old Berihu Aregawi last year.
2015 champion Yomif Kejelcha will also be hoping to pick up his second Diamond Trophy in 2022, having smashed the Diamond League record with a barnstorming run on Ingebrigtsen’s home turf in Oslo last season.
Uganda’s world record holder and Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei will also be among the favourites.
Cheptegei joined an elite group of athletes who have broken a world record on the Diamond League circuit with his historic performance in Monaco in 2020, and will be out to reclaim the title he last won in 2019.