News06 Aug 2015


Three more star-studded fields announced for Zurich – IAAF Diamond League

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Eunice Sum, winner of the 800m at the 2013 IAAF Diamond League meeting in Zurich (© Jiro Mochizuki)

With just four weeks to go until the 2015 edition of the Weltklasse Zürich, the first of this year's IAAF Diamond League finals, the meeting organisers were able to announce sparkling entry lists for another three events on Thursday (6).

In all three disciplines – men’s 3000m steeplechase, men’s high jump, women’s 800m – the current top-five athletes of this season will compete at Letzigrund Stadium on 3 September.

In the men’s 3000m steeplechase, USA’s Evan Jager has set his eyes on the eight-minute barrier.

He was the tragic hero of IAAF Diamond League meeting in Paris last month. When clearly in the lead and on his way to a historic run under eight minutes, Jager fell after the last hurdle.

However, with his impressive outing in Paris, Jager has become a serious challenger for Kenya’s legendary steeplechasers, whose team for the IAAF World Championships in Beijing will include three-time world champion and 2012 Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi.  

At Weltklasse Zürich, the ‘Jager v Kenya’ theme will continue and the American will race against the current seven fastest Kenyans this season, including Kemboi, 2014 Diamond Race winner Jairus Birech and 2013 world championships silver medallist Conseslus Kipruto.

The men’s high jump will see three of the best high jumpers ever in an exciting battle: Qatar’s 2014 world indoor champion and 2015 world leader Mutaz Essa Barshim, Ukraine’s 2013 world champion Bohdan Bondarenko, who won in Zurich after his Moscow success that year, and Russia’s London 2012 Olympic Games champion Ivan Ukhov.

In addition, China’s winner at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Oslo, Zhang Guowei, Canada’s 2.40m jumper Derek Drouin as well as USA’s 2012 Olympic silver medallist Erik Kynard and recently-minted Italian record holder Gianmarco Tamberi should help provide a spectacular competition.

The field in Zurich includes the six most successful athletes of the current season.

The women’s 800m has local star Selina Büchel being on the entry list. She holds the national record, and ranks fourth on the current world’s list.

Alongside her will be Kenya’s 2013 world champion and 2013 Zurich winner Eunice Sum, Cuba’s Rose Mary Almanza, USA’s Ajee Wilson and Germany’s Fabienne Kohlmann, the current top five of the 2015 list.

Organisers for the IAAF

2015 IAAF Diamond League calendar
Doha, QAT – 15 May
Shanghai, CHN – 17 May
Eugene, USA – 30 May
Rome, ITA – 4 June
Birmingham, GBR – 7 June
Oslo, NOR – 11 June
New York, USA – 13 June
Paris, FRA – 4 July
Lausanne, SUI – 9 July
Monaco, MON – 17 July
London, GBR – 24-25 July
Stockholm, SWE – 30 July
Zurich, SUI – 3 September
Brussels, BEL – 11 September

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