However, to ensure an exciting post-world championship showdown between new medallists and their toughest opponents, Co-Meeting Director Andreas Hediger will leave some spots open until the finals in Beijing are completed.
Weltklasse Zürich will provide regular previews with regard to the competitors and highlights of its events over the course of the next weeks. Here is a first look at the 110m h, the women’s 100m, and the pole vaulters’ airshow at Zurich Main Station:
110m Hurdles: Orlando Ortega’s "championships"
With an SB of 12.94, Cuban Orlando Ortega is the fastest high hurdler on earth this year. However, due to a dispute with his national federation, he is ruled out of the world championships in Beijing. Therefore, the race at IAAF Diamond League final event in Zurich will, in a way, represent his alternative to the championship final. The line-up at Letzigrund Stadium will no doubt be a sophisticated scenario, as the world’s hurdling elite, including world record holder and Olympic champion Aries Merritt (USA), world champion and Zurich crowd favourite David Oliver (USA), as well as the two European hopefuls for Beijing Pascal Martinot-Lagarde (FRA) und Sergei Shubenkov (RUS), will all challenge the current leader.
100m women: Fastest four confirmed to run
Once again, the measure of all things in women’s sprint is Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM), Olympic and world champion and the season’s leader. Some of her toughest opponents will line up against her at Weltklasse Zürich: English Gardner (USA), Blessing Okagbare (NIG) und Murielle Ahouré (CIV), ranked 2 to 4 on the world’s 100m top list, have already confirmed their participation in the race. It cannot be ruled out that one of them manages to change the odds and wears a brand new gold medal around her neck when arriving in Zurich. 2014 Weltklasse Zürich winner Veronica Campell-Brown (JAM), too, has signed up for the high-carat race. And local star Mujinga Kambundji (SUI) will try to prevail on home soil again, as well.
Pole Vault men: The champions’ airshow at Zurich Main Station
All seats for Weltklasse Zürich at Zurich Main Station (Wednesday, 2 September) have long been sold out. However, visitors and passers-by still have the opportunity to watch the show from a standing area (free admission). The all-star cast includes reigning outdoor world champion Raphael Holzdeppe (GER), indoor world champion Konstadinos Filippidis (GRE), as well as the two up-and-comers Thiago Braz Da Silva (BRA/PB 5.92) and Shawnacy Barber (CAN/PB 5.91). 22-year-old US champion Sam Kendricks has confirmed to compete at Zurich’s largest train station, as well.
