Monaco: 5 Things To Look Out For
1. Head to head in the hurdles
Omar McLeod makes his first Diamond Race appearance since Shanghai in Monaco, and he will be looking to restore the convincing lead he held in early season. Since McLeod took two wins in the opening two meetings of the men’s 110m hurdles Diamond Race, Orlando Ortega has drawn level on points with him with strong performances in June. Deadlocked on 20 points in the standings, the two go head to head at Herculis.
2. Silva still on Stefanidi’s tail
Fresh from being crowned European champion in Amsterdam, Greek pole vaulter Katerina Stefanidi will be looking to extend an already convincing 11 point lead in the Diamond Race. In Monaco, she comes up against third placed Yarisley Silva, and Herculis provides the Cuban with a fine opportunity to make up some ground on leader Stefanidi. A win could see her move within as little as two points of the Greek.
#EuropeanChampion, #DiamondRace leader…not a bad season so far for @ivault_kat Congratulations!
3. Schippers to surge to the summit?
Dafne Schippers currently leads the women’s 200m Diamond Race, and Monaco provides her with a fantastic chance to jump to the top of the rankings in the 100m as well. Schippers is yet to notch up a Diamond Race win in the 100m, but has kept up the pace with Elaine Thompson and English Gardner with a handful of podium finishes. With both Thompson and Gardner absent in Monaco, a first victory for Schippers would see her leapfrog both to top the table in the 100m.
4. Can Kiprop cut himself loose?
Elijah Monotei Managoi has done brilliantly to keep the heat on Asbel Kiprop in the men’s 1500m Diamond Race this season. Despite Diamond Trophy holder Kiprop winning three out of four meetings so far, Managoi’s consistent podium finishes mean he is still only eight points behind his compatriot. Monaco is another chance to narrow the gap, though both men face a tough field which includes the likes of Mo Farah.
Asbel #Kiprop leads the men’s 1500m #DiamondRace
5. Three horse race in the shot put
Valerie Adams and Tia Brooks have shared the spoils in the women’s shot put Diamond Race so far, with both women taking two victories from the first four rounds. Adams holds a slender four-point lead, and both her and Brooks are pursued by consistent podium finisher Anita Marton, who is just a single point behind Brooks in third. With five points separating the three, the prospect of them all competing in Monaco is an exciting one for this Diamond Race.
Managoi Kiprop (Farah)
Adams Marton Brooks