The iconic Olympic Stadium once again hosts the Golden Gala, as athletes in 12 disciplines take their second opportunity of the year to secure Diamond Race points on the road to Zurich and Brussels.
And athletes in four events, the men’s shot put, pole vault and 400m hurdles and the women’s long jump, return to action just five days after competing in Eugene, having traveled nearly 9500km to get to the Eternal City.
Retrospective…
Two outright IAAF Diamond League records have been set in Rome over the past 5 years, with the great Valerie Adams throwing 21.03m to take the shot put in 2013 and Abeba Aregawi securing victory with a sublime 3:56.54 over 1500m in 2012.
Arguably the most impressive performance in the IAAF Diamond League era, however, was Usain Bolt’s 9.76 100m from 2012. The Jamaican had only managed a modest (by his standards) 10.04 the previous week in Ostrava and questions were being asked about his ability to retain his Olympic titles later in the summer.
Nobody should have worried, as the Jamaican pulled well clear of his compatriot Asafa Powell after a blistering start to mark a return to form that would not only see him secure Olympic glory in London, but also take his only ever Diamond Trophy following another victory in Brussels that September.
Diamond Race Leaders
The 2015 Golden Gala promises yet more spectacular competition and the opportunity forathletes in 12 of the events to secure Diamond Race points for only the second time this season.
There are also 13 current Diamond Race leaders in action, all eying an opportunity to add to their current early leads in the race for Diamond Trophy.
David Storl (shot put) and Renaud Lavillenie (pole vault) arguably have the toughest task, as both competed in Eugene less than a week ago. Storl was defeated in the USA by Joe Kovacs, but his second place and two points there were enough to retain top spot in the standings, while Lavillenie produced an IAAF Diamond League record in his first Diamond League meeting of the year to join Konstantinos Filippidis as pole vault leader. Both will look to notch more points, although the Frenchman is a clear favourite to do so.
While Justin Gatlin (100m), Hagos Gebrhiwet (5000m), Pedro Pablo Pichardo (triple jump), Tero Pitkamaki (javelin), Francena McCorory (400m), Dawit Seyaum (1500m), surprise steeplechase winner in Doha Virginia Nyambura, Jasmin Stowers (100m hurdles) and Sandra Perkovic all compete, the Diamond Race leaders in the men’s 800m and 400m hurdles and the women’s 200m and long jump don’t start, meaning there could be changes to the standings come Thursday evening.
In the absence of Ayenleh Souleiman, Ferguson Cheruiyot has an opportunity to take the overall lead in the 800m following his two points in Doha, although Mohammed Aman and Nijel Amos also start, while without Bershawn Jackson, who has six points from the two 400m hurdles races so far, Eugene winner Johnny Dutch can take advantage.
Shara Proctor is the only athlete in the only athlete in the long jump with any Diamond Race points so far this year, but even four points for a win would not be sufficient to see her pass Tianna Bartoletta, who is unbeaten in the IAAF Diamond League in 2015.
Doha winner Allyson Felix is also missing following victory over 400m in a non-Diamond Race event in Eugene, meaning that 2013 Diamond Race champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce can potentially claw back some points, although only Anthonique Strachan, who took a point in Doha, can take the overall lead outright with victory.
Dean Hardman for the IAAF Diamond League
