Faith Kipyegon among stars set for day one action in Diamond League final

After 13 meetings from May to September, the final fields are now set as the Wanda Diamond League prepares to crown its 2023 champions at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon on 16-17 with the world’s best athletes, including Faith Kipyegon set to compete.

Diamond trophies and top prizes of approximately 30,000 US dollars (roughly 3.3 million Kenyan Shillings) are up for grabs in the 32 finals taking place across the two days of action.

Faith Kipyegon among newly crowned

The first 15 finals, including 12 newly crowned world champions, will be contested on Saturday (16), with the remaining 17 on Sunday (17).

Undefeated Kipyegon aims to extend her winning streak in Eugene, facing strong competitors including Diribe Welteji, Laura Muir, and Ethiopian talents. The race will start at 12:51 p.m.

World champion Haruka Kitaguchi of Japan, who recently threw a world-leading national record of 67.38m in Brussels, is targeting 68 meters as her next goal. She faces strong competition from Australia’s Mackenzie Little, Austria’s Victoria Hudson, and USA’s Maggie Malone.

Burkina Faso’s world champion Hugues Fabrice Zango goes up against defending Diamond League champion Andy Diaz of Italy. Diaz has been in top form recently, winning in Xiamen with 17.43m.

With the absence of world champion Gianmarco Tamberi and Olympic champion Mutaz Barshim, USA’s world silver medallist JuVaughn Harrison is the favorite. Keep an eye on world indoor champion Woo Sanghyeok and New Zealand’s Hamish Kerr.

World and Olympic champion Karsten Warholm faces his recent rival, world silver medallist Kyron McMaster, and USA’s Olympic silver medallist Rai Benjamin in a highly competitive field.

World silver and bronze medallists Matthew Hudson-Smith and Quincy Hall compete against defending Diamond League champion Kirani James, with potential upsets from USA’s Vernon Norwood and Jamaica’s Rusheen McDonald.

World and Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra seeks to defend his Diamond League title and break the 90-meter barrier. Keep an eye on Jakub Vadlejch and Anderson Peters.

USA’s Katie Moon and Australia’s Nina Kennedy, who shared the gold medal in Budapest, continue their rivalry. Olympic bronze medallist Wilma Murto, Slovenia’s Tina Sutej, and USA’s Sandi Morris are contenders.

Faith Kipyegon compatriots

The women’s steeplechase in Eugene reunites the top seven finishers from Budapest, including world record-holder Beatrice Chepkoech and Kenyan competitors Faith Cherotich and Jackline Chepkoech.

World champion Yulimar Rojas, who won dramatically in Zurich, faces stiff competition from Leyanis Perez Hernandez, Shanieka Ricketts, and Thea LaFond.

Noah Lyles returns to the 100m race after his success in Budapest, competing against strong contenders such as Letsile Tebogo, Christian Coleman, Ferdinand Omanyala, and Jamaican duo Kishane Thompson and Ackeem Blake.

Chase Ealey, a two-time world champion, aims to perform well in Eugene. She faces competition from Canada’s Sarah Mitton, Auriol Dongmo, Maggie Ewen, and Danniel Thomas-Dodd.

World champion Soufiane El Bakalli and world record-holder Lamecha Girma are absent, giving other top steeplechasers a chance to shine.

World champion Sha’Carri Richardson faces world 200m champion Shericka Jackson in their final 100m clash of the year.

Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen aims to win his third consecutive

Saturday, September 16:

11:00 AM (East African Time) – Women’s Javelin

11:06 AM – Men’s Triple Jump

11:08 AM – Men’s High Jump

12:04 PM – Men’s 400m Hurdles

12:16 PM – Men’s 400m

12:20 PM – Men’s Javelin

12:26 PM – Women’s Pole Vault

12:29 PM – Women’s 3000m Steeplechase

12:49 PM – Women’s Triple Jump

12:51 PM – Women’s 1500m

Sunday, September 17: (Timings in East African Time)

01:07 AM – Men’s 100m

01:11 AM – Women’s Shot Put

01:19 AM – Men’s 3000m Steeplechase

01:40 AM – Women’s 100m

01:50 AM – Men’s Mile