800m women: Switzerland’s Selina Büchel to face tough competition
With local star Selina Büchel being on the entry list, the women’s 800m will be a true highlight for the Zurich crowd. She currently holds the national record, ranks fourth on the world’s top list, and is all set to tackle the IAAF Diamond League final event. Alongside her, world champion Eunice Jepkoech Sum (KEN), Rose Mary Almanza (CUB), Ajee Wilson (USA), and Fabienne Kohlmann (GER) – all of them ranked in the top five of the 2015 list - will line up for the race. And with 2007 world champion Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei (KEN), another 800m star has already confirmed that she would like to have a say in the matter.
High jump men to feature the top six jumpers of the season, including Barshim, Bondarenko, and Zhang
Three of the best high jumpers of all times will meet in an exciting post-world championship battle: world indoor champion and world leader Mutaz Essa Barshim (QAT), world champion Bohdan Bondarenko (UKR), and Olympic champion Ivan Ukhov (RUS). In addition, newly discovered talent and winner in Oslo Guowei Zhang (China), 2.40m jumpers Derek Drouin (CAN) and Erik Kynard (USA), and Gianmarco Tamberi (ITA), will all give their best to treat fans and viewers to a spectacular competition. The field in Zurich thus includes the six most successful athletes of the current season.
3000m SC men: Evan Jager has set his eyes on the eight-minute barrier
He was the tragic hero of this year’s IAAF Diamond League meeting in Paris. Clearly in the lead and on his way to a sub eight-minute result, US steepler Evan Jager fell after the last hurdle. However, with his impressive run in Paris, Jager has become a serious challenge for Kenya’s legendary steeplechasers. The country’s team for the world championships in Beijing will include three-time world champion and Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi (KEN).
At Weltklasse Zürich, the "Jager vs. Kenya" theme will continue: The US athlete will then then race against the seven fastest Kenyan athletes of this season, facing even stronger competition than at the world championships, where only four Kenyan steeplers will be in the field. All in all, the line-up in Zurich will feature the eight fastest runners of this year, including Ezekiel Kemboi, Jairus Kipchoge Birech, leader and winner in Paris, and world championship silver medallist Conseslus Kipruto. In other words, an outline for an electrifying race, and a fair chance for Evan Jager to break the eight-minute barrier after all.