Diamond Race: Pre Monaco Update

Every single field in the principality features a Diamond Race leader, some of whom can secure the Diamond Trophy with victory. Others will be aware that four points will make them virtually uncatachable, while still more face tough battles to retain their places at the top of the standings.

Valerie Adams is unbeaten in the Diamond Race this season and she knows that a win in meeting number five will secure her another Diamond Race title, regardless of results in the final two meetings.

Jairus Birech finds himself in a similar position in the 3000m steeplechase, although if he is to tie up the Diamond Race at the Stade Louis II, he needs Ezekiel Kemboi and Brimin Kipruto, who set the second fastest time of all time in Monaco three years ago, to finish outside of the points.

In the triple jump, four points for Caterine Ibarguen and none for Jamaica’s Kimberly Williams and Yekaterina Koneva, the world indoor champion, would give her an unsurpassable lead, while a win for World Champion Eunice Sum in the 800m would guarantee her overall victory.

Elsewhere, however, it’s much closer at the top of the Diamond Race tables.

The 1500m, in particular, provides a tantalizing battle between the leader, Silas Kiplagat, his Kenyan teammate the great Asbel Kiprop and Ayanah Souleiman of Djibouti. Just two points separate Kiplagat in first from Souleiman in third and Monaco will go some way to determining who ends the season on top.

It’s similarly close in the javelin and the pole vault. In both cases, the leader is top by virtue of a superior win count, so Barbora Spotakova, who is level on points with Martina Ratej, and Fabiana Murer, who is tied with Yarisley Silva, need victories to move clear.

Just one point separates Alonso Edward and Nickel Ashmeade in the 200m and they go head to head knowing that even victory for Christophe Lemaitre, the next highest points scorer in the race, would not be enough for him to surpass their totals.

In the high jump, Bohdan Bondarenko is top by four points, so he knows that failure could see his lead completely overhauled by Mutaz Barshim, but Ivan Ukhov, Erik Kynard and Andriy Protsenko have all scored points in this year’s Diamond Race and are capable of adding to their tallies.

In the hurdles events both Kaliese Spencer, the three-time Diamond Race winner, and Pascal Martinot-Lagarde, the in-form Frenchman, have commanding leads, but neither are unbeaten and face their closest rivals in Kemi Adekoya and David Oliver, respectively.

With no Kirani James, Lashawn Merritt is favourite to extend his lead in the 400m, while the same can be said of Piotr Malachowski in the discus in the absence of Robert Harting.

Two other unbeaten athletes compete on Friday, although with contrasting recent form. Tori Bowie took the IAAF Diamond League by storm with wins in Eugene, Rome and New York earlier this season, but injury has limited her appearances since and she knows that both Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Michelle-Lee Ahye can draw level with her if she doesn’t score points in Monaco.

Jeff Henderson, on the other hand, is also unbeaten following victories in New York and Laussane and seeks to extend his lead over the absent Louis Tsatoumas.

Finally, Kenya’s Mercy Cherono tops the standings following 3000m wins in New York and Lausanne, but goes in a 5000m race against closest rival Genzebe Diaba knowing that a win for the Ethiopian could draw her level at the top.


Dean Hardman for the IAAF Diamond League