{"id":366,"date":"2010-07-21T14:15:00","date_gmt":"2010-07-21T21:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=366"},"modified":"2010-07-21T14:15:00","modified_gmt":"2010-07-21T21:15:00","slug":"preview-monaco-diamond-league","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=366","title":{"rendered":"Preview \u2013 Monaco Diamond League"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"float:left;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/view.picapp.com\/pictures.photo\/entertainment\/iaaf-diamond-league\/image\/9310721?term=bershawn+jackson\" target=\"_blank\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/view1.picapp.com\/pictures.photo\/image\/9310721\/iaaf-diamond-league\/iaaf-diamond-league.jpg?resize=234%2C156\" border=\"0\" width=\"234\" title=\"IAAF Diamond League athletics meeting\" height=\"156\" oncontextmenu=\"return false;\" ondrag=\"return false;\" onmousedown=\"return false;\" alt=\"July 08, 2010 - Lausanne, WAADT VAUD, SWITZERLAND - epa02241572 Bershawn Jackson from the US wins the men's 400 meters hurdles race during the 35th Athletissima, an international IAAF Diamond League athletics meeting, 08 July 2010, at the Stade Olympique in Lausanne, Switzerland.\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear:left;height:0px;overflow: hidden;\"><\/div>\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"http:\/\/view.picapp.com\/\/JavaScripts\/OTIjs.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Since we reached the half way point of the Diamond League things have really kicked into gear. Performances have begun to pick up and we are seeing more and more solid head to head match ups. Tomorrow we head to Monaco for a meet that promises to be hot from start to finish. My picks for hot match ups.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" width=\"651\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"105\">Men\u2019s 200<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"249\">WL: 19.56, Usain Bolt \u2013 JAM<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"295\">Best Entry: 19.72, Walter Dix \u2013 USA <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The big headlines have gone to the 100 meter races this year, but this deuce could be the deepest sprint of the season. Three of history\u2019s fastest take to the track with all three having clocked under 19.80 so far on the season \u2013 Walter Dix (19.72), Tyson Gay (19.76) and Wallace Spearmon (19.77w). And, as good races often do, this one has a bit of revenge factor to it as Dix ran to an upset victory over Gay in Eugene. At least Gay will want to prove it was an upset \u2013 I\u2019m sure Dix would like to paint it as status quo. And Spearmon would like to steal Tomorrow\u2019s headlines. Which is what is going to make this race something special. The key will be the turn. Will Gay or Dix win that battle and will Spearmon be close? Eugene was Gay\u2019s first run since injury, so he\u2019s had time to sharpen since then. Expect him to win the turn war. Dix and Spearmon need to be close \u2013 very close or this will be over by the half. Gay having shown consistency in the past and the ability to run in the 19.5 range is the favorite here. But if Dix\u2019 turn is close to Eugene\u2019s it could be another interesting battle down the straight. And if by some chance Spearmon is near even coming off the turn he could steal the race. I\u2019m saying Gay in 19.50, but the stretch run should be memorable. <\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" width=\"651\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"105\">Women\u2019s 100<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"249\">WL: 10.78, V. Campbell Brown \u2013 JAM <\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"295\">Best Entry: 10.78, V. C-Brown \u2013 JAM <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Another headline stealer in Eugene was Veronica Campbell Brown who stole Carmelita Jeter\u2019s thunder with her PR and world leading 10.78 dash up the track at the Prefontaine Classic. it was an upset from the standpoint that Jeter has become the world\u2019s second fastest ever over the distance and very consistent under 10.90. She was again under 10.90 in Eugene (10.83), but a solid start by Campbell Brown put Brown ahead early. Both women have fierce finishes, but in a race of finishers he (or she) who starts best usually wins. Such was the case in Oregon and such will be the case in Monaco. The first 30 meters should tell the tale of this race. And Campbell Brown has suddenly added a very solid first 30 to her race. We now know that her World Indoor title over 60 meters was no fluke \u2013 this woman can now get out of the blocks. And Campbell Brown may be the one woman on the planet that can withstand Jeter\u2019s blazing finish \u2013 she has won two Olympic titles and run 21.74 for 200 meters! Jeter has yet to nail a start this year. Campbell Brown has with consistency. Edge goes to Campbell Brown in what should be a race in the 10.75 range.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" width=\"651\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"105\">Men\u2019s 110H<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"249\">WL: 12.89, David Oliver \u2013 USA <\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"295\">Best Entry: 12.89, David Oliver \u2013 USA <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Typically I preview what I feel are the best match ups heading into a major meet. Because I prefer to focus on the competitive aspect of the sport \u2013 I want to see us sell match ups. I was hoping for just that here in Monaco, in the hurdles but Robles has once again pulled out due to injury. That said Oliver deserves his due, because he is having a season unlike any other. I\u2019ve compared him to Renaldo Nehemiah on several occasions, because I remember when Nehemiah was rewriting the hurdles between 1979 and 1981. Taking the WR from 13.24 to 13.16 in 1979, 13.00 in 1980, and 12.93 in 1981 \u2013 a season that saw him run 12.93, 13.04, 13.07, and 13.07 along the way \u2013 unheard of at the time. Oliver has shown that kind of consistency and excellence this year as his last three races have been 12.93, 12.90 and 12.89 \u2013 the last two AR\u2019s. He says he runs to win and that the times will come \u2013 and come they have. And while it\u2019s hard to expect him to keep getting better each and every time out, he has yet to put together that perfect race! Which is what now makes every race he runs intriguing. Because when he DOES&nbsp; run that perfect race the results could be devastating. And the question in Monaco, as it will be in every race he runs the rest of this season, is will this be the one?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" width=\"651\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"105\">Men\u2019s 400H<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"249\">WL: 47.32, Bershawn Jackson &#8211; USA<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"295\">Best Entry: 47.32, B. Jackson \u2013 USA <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The 400 hurdles is one of those events where the top combatants get together regularly and compete \u2013 and they tend to give the fans their money\u2019s worth every time out. This season has been no exception as we\u2019ve seen the return to the top of Bershawn Jackson, who has gotten healthy AND back to a 15 step hurdling pattern. We\u2019ve also got to watch the rise of Johnny Dutch, who ran his way to the headlines with an NCAA championship win that was considered an \u201cupset\u201d at the time. Since then, however, we watched him battle Bershawn in Des Moines for the national title. A race that saw \u201cBatman\u201d run the current world leader, and Dutch (the new Robin?) turn in a 47.63 that moved him to #19 all time. In Monaco they will get to go up against two time Olympic champion (\u201800\/\u201908) Angelo Taylor. Taylor is #9 all time (just ahead of Jackson at #10) and is the fastest hurdler ever over the flat distance at 44.05. When Taylor is on, he can be deadly. Setting up what could be a sizzling race. Dutch and Taylor are strong finishers. Jackson at 15 strides does his real damage on the second turn. And it\u2019s that third 100 where things should get interesting and the race could be decided. Taylor has been very fit this year, running the 200 and 400 in addition to the hurdles. His speed is sharp and if he stays close on the turn the fireworks will be awesome up the stretch. Batman is the man until beaten, so I give him the edge, but this should be a barnburner. <\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" width=\"651\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"105\">Women\u2019s 800<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"249\">WL: 1:57.56, Mariya Savinova &#8211; RUS<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"295\">Best Entry: 1:57.85, A. Johnson \u2013 USA <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>This race should be another step in the evolution of US women\u2019s middle distance running. Alysia Johnson steps on the Monaco track fresh off of her new PR 1:57.85 set in Italy. With US middle distance hopes rising, she will need to show consistency if she wants to be among the top three heading into the Trials for Daegu next year. Here to challenge her will be two of last year\u2019s top American risers in Maggie Vessey and Anna Pierce, and this year\u2019s in Phoebe Wright. They will have their hands full with Halima Hachlaf (MAR), surprise winner in Rome, and Kenia Sinclair (JAM) who has been solid and consistent all season. Johnson has fought with consistency throughout her career, and Vessey has since her big PR run last year (1:57.84). Pierce is steady, but has been slowly rounding into form this year. Sinclair is also steady but well off her PR (1:57.88) set back in 2006 and could be on the down side of her career. All of which is why I\u2019m pipping the front running Phoebe Wright to win her first Diamond League race and possibly improve upon her PR (1:58.22).<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" width=\"651\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"105\">Men\u2019s 1500<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"249\">WL: 3:31.52, Nicolas Kemboi &#8211; KEN<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"295\">Best Entry: 3:31.52, N. Kemboi \u2013 KEN <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The 1500 has become a race where competition has taken the place of fast times. We no longer have a Hicham El Guerrouj or Noureddine Mourceli running roughshod over the competition and setting multiple records. The current group of \u201cmilers\u201d is fairly evenly matched \u2013 which gives the US an opportunity to make some in roads here. This field has the world leader in Kemboi (KEN), and the event\u2019s Diamond League leader in Asbel Kiprop (KEN). The US has three entrants who could be our top three heading into Daegu \u2013 Andrew Wheating, Leonel Manzano, and Bernard Lagat. Lagat is the old guard miler \u2013 he goes back to the days of El Guerrouj \u2013 who just keep cranking out solid times and high placings. Manzano and Wheating are two of our top rising middle distance runners. With all three in solid form right now, this race will give us a glimpse at how well they compete among the world\u2019s best. Watch Kemboi, Choge, Kiprop and Lagat closely as they should be the top four here. But also keep and eye on Manzano and Wheating \u2013 how well they race and how well they finish. This should be another win for Kiprop, but let\u2019s see how the American\u2019s respond.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" width=\"651\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"105\">Women\u2019s javelin<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"249\">WL: 226\u2019 0\u201d, Maria Abakumova \u2013 RUS <\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"295\">Best Entry: 225\u2019 3\u201d, B. Spotakova \u2013 CZE<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>This should be a match up between the multiple medalist (Spotakova) vs the young upstart in Kara Patterson (US). Spotakova is the defending Olympic Champion and Berlin silver medalist (not to mention gold in Osaka \u201807). Patterson is the new American Record holder (218\u2019 8\u201d) who has been on a tear of consistency of late over the 200 foot barrier. She\u2019s become one of our strongest competitors in the field winning at Pre (over Spotakova), and taking second at Gateshead (again ahead of Spotakova). Another victory over the Olympic champion would be quite the feather in Patterson\u2019s cap. Given her competitiveness and recent results, I\u2019m looking for three in a row, and win over Sunette Viljoen who defeated both at Gateshead. <\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Hard to leave anything out, because the start list is loaded. Rogowska, Feofanova, and Murer make for a very competitive women\u2019s pole vault. And the men\u2019s long jump is loaded with Saladino, Phillips and Lapierre. Shannon Rowbury will continue to work on her strength with a run in the 3000. And Lolo Jones leads a tough field in the 100 hurdles. Another great line up that you won\u2019t want to miss!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Since we reached the half way point of the Diamond League things have really kicked into gear. Performances have begun to pick up and we are seeing more and more solid head to head match ups. Tomorrow we head to Monaco for a meet that promises to be hot from start to finish. My picks [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-366","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pa3DCY-5U","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/366","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=366"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/366\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=366"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=366"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=366"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}