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What to Watch Saturday at the London Diamond League

Published by
DyeStatPRO.com   Jul 24th 2015, 3:49am
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Centrowitz Eyes the American Mile Record in London

By Scott Bush

The Sainsbury's Anniversary Games, also known as the London Diamond League meeting, is a two-day afair, hosting many of the top track and field athletes in the world. While Friday sees such global stars as Usain Bolt, Dawn Harper-Nelson, Mutaz Essa Barshim and Mo Farah compete, Saturday's fields are equally as intriguing. Here's what to watch. 

McGrone Quickly Becoming One to Watch Over 200m

American Candyce McGrone has quickly become a medal favorite with the IAAF World Outdoor Championships getting underway in one month. McGrone has lowered her personal best in the 200m event by nearly three-quarters of a second this year, while finishing second at the USA Outdoor Championships.

The 26 year old lowered her personal best to 22.08 in Monaco last week, picking up a big win among a top field and running the second fastest time in the world this season. She looks to take another step forward Saturday, where she’ll once again face a strong field, as she starts to look ahead to Beijing. 

McGrone’s chief competition should come from fellow American Tori Bowie. Bowie, who’s back and running as strong as ever, looks to lower her seasons best of 22.23. Her PR is 22.18, and while she’s better known as a 100m runner, she could very well bring home a new best from London.

Sanya Richards-Ross moves down to the half lap from her 400m specialty. The veteran seeks to improve her speed as the back half of the track and field season continues on.

Centrowitz Has Shot to Take Down American Mile Record

3:46.91. That’s the current American mile record, held by Alan Webb since 2007. On Saturday, Matthew Centrowitz has a shot to take that mark down. The reigning U.S. champion and two-time World Championship medalist ran a new personal best over 1,500m in Monaco last week, becoming the third fastest American in history with a 3:30.40 clocking.

The thing about Webb’s mile best is that 3:46.91 converts out to 3:30.16 for 1,500m, which puts Centrowitz right on the cusp of being able to make a serious run. He’ll have two men in particular who own faster times who he can hang with for much of the race in Asbel Kiprop (KEN) and Ayanleh Souleiman (DJI). Kiprop in particular could be eyeing an incredibly fast time in London, coming off a 3:26.69 winning 1,500m effort in Monaco.

Throw in Americans Leo Manzano and Ben Blankenship and this race has the makings of a very, very memorable mile showcase.

United States vs South Africa in the 400m Hurdles

The American trio of Johnny Dutch, Michael Tinsley and Michael Stigler take on the South African duo of Cornel Fredericks and LJ Van Zyl in a very good men’s 400m hurdle event. Dutch enters as the pre-race favorite considering he’s got the fastest seasonal best among his competition and took home top prize at the USA Outdoor Championships.

While Dutch seeks to lower his 48.13 personal best, he’ll have Tinsley and Stigler on his shoulder. Tinsley continues to work on his rhythm, as the reigning World Champion builds on a slower start to his season than in 2014. For Stigler, it’s about gaining valuable international experience, as the former Kansas national champion continues on from the long NCAA season.

For Fredericks, it’s about regaining both his fitness and confidence as the World Championships approach. Fredericks showed he can be the best in the world when he’s fully healthy. In 2014, he beat Tinsley and Javier Culson (PUR) in the late stages of the season, but only has a seasons best of 49.50 in 2015, well off his PR of 48.25.

Fredericks is joined by countryman Van Zyl, who’s been a consistent performer each time out this season. While he seeks to move into the world top ten list in London, he’ll need to work on his late stage rhythm, which is something that’s slowed him in recent races.

Sum, Ludlow Lead Deep 800m Field

While not every serious medal contender is entered in the women’s 800m contest in London, there is enough talent to see this could be one of the top two lap races in the world this season. Eunice Sum (KEN) leads the charge, with a world-leading best of 1:56.99. Sum continues to prove she’s the best 800m runner in the world week in and week out, and while she does occasionally (rarely) lose, her top end speed is nearly impossible to beat.

Sum is trailed by Selina Buchel (SUI). The Swiss 23 year old finished a surprise third in Paris earlier this month, running a two second PR and breaking the two-minute barrier for the first time. Since Paris, Buchel has cracked sub-2 two more times and has positioned herself as a legit medal contender as Beijing nears.

Following along, the American trio of Molly Ludlow, Brenda Martinez and Chanelle Price should each contend for top three. Ludlow comes off a fine 1:58.68 performance at the Paris Diamond League meeting earlier this month, while Martinez and Price each look to crack the 1:59 barrier Saturday.

Rounding out the field, Great Britain’s Lynsey Sharp hopes to break two minutes again, while 1,500m star Sifan Hassan (NED) moves down in distance to test her speed against the world’s best 800m specialists.

This race is going to be fast.

World Champs Preview: Suhr vs Kyriakopoulou

The women’s pole vault continues to be very entertaining this season. The event has some of the best depth it’s ever seen, while having plenty of star power up front. The matchup to watch in London happens to be between two athletes with the best seasonal bests, as Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou (GRE) and Jenn Suhr (USA) square off seeking to gain some momentum heading into Beijing.

Kyriakopoulou owns three of the top ten performances in the world this season, including a first place finish in Paris earlier in the month, where she vaulted 4.83m, tops in the world. For Suhr, she owns the second and third best vaults in the world, including her 4.82m mark set at the USA Outdoor Championships.

Behind Suhr, Anzhelika Sidrova (RUS) and collegian Demi Payne (USA) should battle. Sidrova enters the weekend coming off a huge 4.76m performance in Heusden late last week. For Payne, she seeks to challenge her personal best of 4.71m. After taking some down time after the USA Outdoor Championships, she’s ready to get back after it as the World Championships near. It must be noted Suhr and Payne are coming off third and fourth place performances at the Pan Am Games Thursday.

Huddle Returns to the Track

The women’s 5,000m contest may not have as many global superstars going after  world record times, as has happened a few times this season, but the American contingent gets a chance to push the 15-minute barrier, while medal contender Molly Huddle seeks to lower her seasonal best.

Mercy Cherono (KEN) leads the way, coming off her tremendous 14:34.10 showing in Paris, where she finished third and proved she’ll easily contend for a top three finish at the World Championships next month.

Where American track and field fans should have their attention focused though is on Huddle. The Providence-based American 5k record holder most likely won’t challenge her 14:42.64 best, but a push to sub-14:50 seems completely reasonable. It’ll be interesting to see how fast the field goes out, but if it’s a hot pace early on, expect Huddle to be right up front.

Huddle is joined by fellow Americans Nicole Tully, Marielle Hall and Gabriele Grunewald, as well as training partner Emily Sisson. Tully and Hall own personal bests of 15:05.44 and 15:06.45 and one has to think each has sub-15 on the mind.

For Grunewald it’s a great chance to prove her range as she moves up from 1,500m, while the NCAA 10k champion Sisson comes down and looks to regroup after a 15:25 showing in Belgium last week.



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