Glasgow welcomes the ninth leg of the 2014 IAAF Diamond League on Friday and Saturday, as the Sainsbury’s Glasgow Grand Prix greets the world’s finest track and field exponents in Scotland at the only two-day meeting on the Diamond League circuit.
Traditionally the London Grand Prix, the event takes place in the same Hampden Park stadium which will host the XX Commonwealth Games just a fortnight later and this weekend will represent the first time since 1968 when Glasgow has enjoyed a Grand Prix athletics occasion.
Below is an event-by-event guide in order of action, detailing which athletes to watch out for in the 16-discipline competition.
FRIDAY –
Men’s Shot Put –
Joe Kovacs is the only man in the field who has thrown in excess of 22-meters this season, courtesy of his 22.03m lifetime best last month, and the 25-year-old American’s big improvement this summer also brought him victory in the Oslo IAAF Diamond League.
Keen to halt his dominant form, however will be Germany’s two-time world indoor and outdoor champion, David Storl who unleashed a 21.90m personal best and claimed the European Team Championships title in Braunschweig in June.
2007 world champion, Reese Hoffa took the honours in the Eugene IAAF Diamond League despite his 36 years and will be one to watch, as will fellow American and Ryan Whiting – the world indoor champion.
New Zealand’s world indoor bronze medallist, Tom Walsh and Poland’s two-time Olympic champion, Tomasz Majewski – are also in action.
Men’s Pole Vault (non-Diamond League event) –
Poland’s Piotr Lisek has improved by an impressive 20cm to 5.82m this campaign and the 21-year-old goes up against his compatriot, 2011 world champion, Pawel Wojciechowski.
Tobias Scherbarth of Germany – having set a 5.73m lifetime best in May – also contests.
Women’s Discus Throw –
Arguably one of the most prevailing performers of the circuit, Sandra Perkovic will be looking to add to her wins in the Shanghai, Eugene, Oslo and Paris IAAF Diamond League meetings.
The 24-year-old Croatian threw a 70.52m personal best in Shanghai, and the Olympic and world champion subsequently holds an advantage of over two and half meters over the rest of the field.
Her nearest challenger is likely to arrive in the form of Australia’s Dani Samuels, the 2009 world champ.
Having registered a 67.99m lifetime best in May, Samuels placed second behind Perkovic in Shanghai and Paris, whilst Cuba’s 2010 world junior champion, Yaime Perez is also entered.
Men’s 110m Hurdles (non-Diamond League event) –
Hansle Parchment stormed to a 12.94 world-lead and lifetime best in Paris, and the 24-year-old Jamaican looks tough to beat here.
The Olympic bronze medallist will be challenged by world runner-up, Ryan Wilson of the USA and his compatriot, Jason Richardson – the 2011 world champion and 2012 Olympic silver medallist.
Russia’s world bronze medallist, Sergey Shubenkov also competes, as does Britain’s Will Sharman and Lawrence Clarke.
World fifth placer, Sharman clocked a 13.21 personal best in second place behind Shubenkov in Braunschweig and Clarke – the Olympic fourth placer – is nearing his best following a spell out through injury.
Men’s 400m Hurdles –
Following his fine victories in the New York and Lausanne IAAF Diamond Leagues, Puerto Rico’s Javier Culson will start as the favourite.
The 29-year-old Olympic bronze medallist is set to go head-to-head with the man who beat him in Paris, the USA’s Olympic and world runner-up, Michael Tinsley.
British duo Niall Flannery and Rhys Williams – the European champion – will be keen to get in the mix, with Flannery having enjoyed a breakthrough summer topped off by a 48.80 personal best.
Decathlon Olympic and world champion, Ashton Eaton has been focusing on this event in 2014 and the American has surprised some win a 48.94 clocking and win in Oslo.
The Dominican Republic’s two-time Olympic champion, Felix Sanchez should not be discounted either.
Women’s 400m Hurdles (non-Diamond League event) –
Scotland’s Eilidh Child will be hoping to claim a Commonwealth medal later this month and the 27-year-old world fifth placer is in good form following third place finishes in Doha, Rome and Oslo – in addition to second position in Braunschweig.
One place behind Child in Rome and Oslo was the USA’s Tiffany Williams who also competes, as does South Africa’s Wenda Theron-Nel.
Men’s High Jump (non-Diamond League event) –
2010 world indoor bronze medallist, Dusty Jonas leapt 2.35m in April – placing the American as the pre-event favourite here.
He faces Poland’s 2011 World University Games runner-up, Wojciech Theiner – who jumped a 2.32m lifetime best last week – and Naoto Tobe of Japan, who has cleared 2.31m this summer.
Men’s 200m (non-Diamond League event) –
Jamaica’s Warren Weir sped to a 19.82 season’s best in New York and the 24-year-old world silver and Olympic bronze medallist leads a strong field which also includes Alonso Edward of Panama.
The 2009 world silver medallist clocked 19.84 en route to victory in Lausanne, and the recent Paris winner’s participation will ensure a tight battle between the pair.
US duo Curtis Mitchell – the world bronze medallist – and two-time world bronze medallist, Wallace Spearman also start, as does British pair, Adam Gemili and Danny Talbot.
20-year-old Gemili – the world fifth placer – finished a fine third over 100m in Rome and Oslo, whilst European bronze medallist, Talbot registered a 20.36 personal best in Prague last month.
Women’s Long Jump –
As the only woman to have cleared the 7-meter mark this season, Tianna Bartoletta enters the competition as the one to watch.
The 28-year-old 2005 world champion leapt 7.02m to win in Oslo, aided by the impressive speed which also took her to the world indoor 60m silver medal in the winter.
Britain’s world heptathlon fifth placer, Katarina Johnson-Thompson will be honing her skills as the 21-year-old world indoor runner-up hopes to consolidate her recent 6.81m lifetime best.
Other names to look out for include the USA’s Funmi Jimoh, who placed third in Oslo and Britain’s 2012 world indoor bronze medallist, Shara Proctor – who finished second in Oslo and fourth in Paris.
Women’s 1500m –
Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands caused a stir in Paris by speeding to a 3:57.00 personal best and world lead.
The 21-year-old – who was fifth over 3,000m in the world indoor final – will be looking to prove her victory was not a one-off by conquering her fierce rivals, Hellen Obiri and Abeba Aregawi.
Kenya’s Obiri – the world indoor 3,000m champion and world bronze medallist in the metric mile – lead the way in Eugene with a 3:57.05 lifetime best and placed third in Paris, whilst Aregawi of Sweden finished way back in tenth.
The world indoor and outdoor champion desperately needs to re-find her early season 3:57.57 and Shanghai, New York and Braunschweig-winning form.
Additional key names are 2009 world bronze medallist, Shannon Rowbury of the USA who clocked a 3:59.49 personal best for fifth in Paris and Britain’s Laura Weightman, who finished eighth in a big 4:00.17 lifetime best.
Men’s 100m B (non-Diamond League event) –
Jamaica’s Kemarley Brown ran 9.93 in May and he goes up against his compatriot, Kemar Bailey-Cole – the Olympic and world 4x100m relay champion who finished fifth in Paris.
Their team-mate and world indoor 60m finalist, Kimmari Roach also contests, as does Britain’s James Ellington, Sean Safo-Antwi and Deji Tobais – the European under 23 silver medallist.
Men’s 5,000m –
With the men’s two-mile event having been scrapped from the programme following the withdrawal of 5,000m and 10,000m Olympic and world champion, Mo Farah through illness, this event features a host of prominent long-distance names.
Kenya’s Edwin Soi is the only man in the field to have run under 13-minutes this season with a 12:59.82 world-lead in Paris, but the 28-year-old 2012 world indoor 3,000m bronze medallist will do battle with Ethiopia’s Yenew Alamirew.
The winner in Shanghai and Oslo, Alamirew was the runner-up in Paris, and Olympic bronze medallist, Thomas Longosiwa of Kenya should also feature prominently.
Others to watch out for include Ethiopia’s world silver medallist, Hagos Gebrhiwet and Olympic silver medallist, Dejen Gebremeskel.
2011 world 10,000m champion, Ibrahim Jeilan is also in the field and Olympic 10,000m bronze medallist, Tariku Bekele will start in his first race since March.
Women’s 4x100m Relay (non-Diamond League event) –
Start lists unavailable at the time of writing.
Women’s 400m –
Francena McCorory is the only woman in the field to have gone under the 50-second barrier this season, and the 25-year-old American should be victorious here.
Boasting a 49.48 season’s best, the world indoor champion and New York winner will be chased by Jamaica’s Novlene Williams-Mills.
The three-time Olympic 4x400m champion is in fine form following wins in Shanghai and Eugene, whilst Botswana’s 2011 world champion, Amantle Montsho also contests.
Jamaica’s world fourth placer, Stephenie-Ann McPherson – who placed second in Eugene and Paris – and the USA’s Natasha Hastings are in the line-up also.
Meanwhile, Britain’s world champion, Christine Ohuruogu will return to competition for the first time since her lacklustre 53.14 in New York in May.
Men’s 100m –
With a swift 9.82 in Spain last month, Trinidad and Tobago’s Richard Thompson has established himself as the pre-race favourite.
The 29-year-old 2008 Olympic runner-up has notched up wins in Hengelo and Oslo, but he faces stiff opposition from the man who beat him in Paris last weekend, Mike Rodgers.
The American 2010 world indoor 60m silver medallist will be joined by Jamaica’s 2011 world champ Yohan Blake – who was only sixth in Lausanne over 200m – and world fifth placer Nickel Ashmead, who was disqualified for a false start in Paris.
Jamaica’s world bronze medallist and the New York winner, Nesta Carter also starts as does 38-year-old 2003 world champion, Kim Collins from St Kitts and Nevis.
Britain’s European indoor 60m silver medallist, James Dasaolu opened season with a 10.03 win in Lausanne, and his team-mates 2006 world junior champion, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey – who clocked a 10.08 personal best in June – and Richard Kilty, the world indoor 60m champion – are also in the loaded field.
SATURDAY –
Women’s Pole Vault –
Fabiana Muir, the Brazilian 2011 world champion – will be hoping to add to her victory from New York but the 33-year-old will have Jenn Suhr for company.
The American world indoor record holder and Olympic champion placed second in the same competition so will be out for redemption for her home-soil defeat, whilst Cuba’s Yarisley Silva – the world indoor champion – could impress following her win in Rome.
Men’s Long Jump –
Britain’s Greg Rutherford opened his summer campaign with a superb 8.51m lifetime best and national record, and the 27-year-old Olympic champion finished in the runner-up spot in Hengelo, Braunschweig and Lausanne.
The man who beat him in the latter, however, is in the field with the USA’s Jeff Henderson hoping to build on his recent 8.43m personal best.
His team-mate, Tyron Stewart jumped a 8.39m lifetime best in April and should also feature.
Men’s 400m (non-Diamond League event) –
In the biggest surprise of the season so far, Botswana’s Isaac Makwala scorched to a 44.01 African record last weekend in France, which is an improvement of nearly a full second.
The 27-year-old 2012 African champion was fourth in Rome and second in Ostrava, but looks set to grab his first victory on the IAAF Diamond League circuit here if he can repeat his recent form.
The Dominican Republic’s Luguelin Santos placed second in Hengelo and third in New York, and the 20-year-old Olympic silver and world bronze medallist is joined in the race by Chris Brown of the Bahamas.
The 35-year-old world indoor runner-up also goes up against Britain’s 2010 European bronze medallist, Martyn Rooney and Olympic 800m silver medallist, Nijel Amos of Botswana looks to better his 45.56 best from April.
Men’s Javelin Throw –
World champion, Vitezslav Vesely of the Czech Republic won in Eugene and Ostrava, and the 31-year-old has a solid 87.38m season’s best.
The Oslo and Paris runner-up, Finland’s Tero Pitkamaki – the world silver medallist – also contests, as does Germany’s Andreas Hofmann.
The 2009 European junior champion won Braunschweig and has thrown a 86.13m personal best this season.
Women’s 100m (non-Diamond League event) –
Trinidad and Tobago’s Michelle Ahye stormed to 10.85 lifetime best in Spain last month, and the 22-year-old’s breakthrough summer continued with victory in Lausanne.
The world indoor 60m sixth placer will be challenged by Murielle Ahoure of the Ivory Coast – the world 100m and 200m silver medallist having clocked a 10.98 season’s best behind her in the Swiss city.
Other names to watch out for include Jamaica’s 2008 Olympic silver medallist, Kerron Stewart – who was second in Rome – and her team-mates, Samantha Henry-Robinson and Simone Facey.
Germany’s 2010 European champion Verena Sailer and British duo, Bianca Williams and Asha Philip – the world indoor 60m fourth placer – also start.
Women’s High Jump –
Blanka Vlasic cleared two-meters to win in Paris to signal her return from injury, and the 30-year-old Croatian will be hungry for victory once more.
The two-time world indoor and outdoor champion goes head-to-head with Russia’s Olympic champion, Anna Chicherova – the winner won in Eugene but only fourth in Oslo – the USA’s Inika McPherson and Poland’s 1.99m jumper, Justyna Kasprzycka.
Women’s 3,000m Steeplechase –
Eugene and New York winner, Sofia Assefa starts will battle her Ethiopian compatriot, Hiwot Ayalew – the victor in Paris – and the USA’s break-out performer this season, Emma Coborn over the barriers.
The 26-year-old Olympic and world bronze medallist will have a stiff duel on her hands against world cross country silver medallist, Ayalew and the American who was a surprise winner in Shanghai and who recorded a 9:14.12 personal best for the runner-up spot in the French capital.
Women’s 100m Hurdles –
A trio of American women could prosper, with Queen Harrison likely to lead the way following her dominant displays in Hengelo and New York.
The 25-year-old world fifth placer has a 12.46 season’s best, whilst two-time world indoor 60m hurdles champion, Lolo Jones finished third in both New York and Paris.
Kristi Castlin also competes but Australia’s Olympic champion Sally Pearson and Britain’s world indoor and outdoor bronze medallist, Tiffany Porter will be aiming to upstage their American counterparts.
Men’s Triple Jump –
Olympic silver medallist Will Claye enjoyed impressive wins in Eugene, Rome and Oslo but finished only seventh in Paris and so the 23-year-old world bronze medallist will be determined to return to his winning ways here.
His main challengers are expected to be Cuba’s Ernesto Reve – the world indoor runner-up who placed third in Oslo – and the USA’s Olympic champion, Christian Taylor – who has been in second position in Eugene, Rome, Oslo and Paris this summer.
Men’s 1500m (non-Diamond League event) –
Kenya’s Silas Kiplagat will be keen to register another win on the circuit after victory in Rome and second place finishes in Doha, Eugene and Lausanne.
The 24-year-old 2011 world runner-up has a 3:29.70 season’s best and he will have his countrymen, Bethwel Birgen, Collins Cheboi and Nixon Chepseba – the world fourth placer – for close company.
South Africa’s world bronze medallist, Johan Cronje and Britain’s Charlie Grice – who recently registered a 3:36.31 personal best will hope to break up the East-African stranglehold.
Women’s 200m –
Tori Bowie has broken through this campaign with a swift 22.18 personal best, and the 23-year-old American could be about to add to her wins in Rome and New York here.
Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare – the world 200m bronze medallist – won in Shanghai and Paris, whilst the USA’s Olympic champion, Allyson Felix took the honours in Oslo and Ostrava, before finishing second in France.
World heptathlon bronze medallist, Dafne Schippers set a 22.35 lifetime best earlier this season and the Dutch athlete will be joined by Britain’s European under 23 champion, Jodie Williams – who ran a 22.76 best in April.
Jamaica’s Olympic and world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce continues her return from injury following her fifth place in Paris.
Men’s 4x100m (non-Diamond League event) –
Start lists unavailable at the time of writing.
Women’s 800m (non-Diamond League event) –
In a packed field, the USA’s Ajee Wilson may find herself as the woman to finish on top.
The 20-year-old world sixth placer has run a 1:58.70 season’s best and finished second in Oslo, whilst Cuba’s Rose Mary Almanza – who recorded a breakthrough 1:59.48 lifetime best earlier this summer – is somewhat of an unknown quality.
British pair Lynsey Sharp and Jess Judd will be looking for fine performances – European champion, Sharp having registered a 1:59.67 personal best for fifth in Lausanne and Judd – the 19-year-old world junior runner-up – clocking a 1:59.77 lifetime best for third place in Oslo.
Their countrywomen, 2010 world indoor silver medallist, Jenny Meadows and 2008 world youth silver Alison Leonard – with a 2:01.91 best from May – also start as does Lenka Masna of the Czech Republic.
Britain’s Laura Muir sped to a 4:00.07 lifetime best for sixth position in Paris, and the 21-year-old European under 23 bronze medallist should destroy her 2:03.83 season’s best here.
Men’s 800m –
In one of the most eagerly-anticipated races of the event, Kenya’s David Rudisha goes in the two-lap race determined to reassert his authority as he continues his comeback from long-term injury.
The 25-year-old Olympic champion and world record holder with an outstanding 1:40.91, has a season’s best of 1:44.63 from his victory in New York, and he faces a relatively modest field in comparison.
Kenya’s Job Kinyor – the winner in Eugene – and US pair, Erik Sowinski and world runner-up, Matthew Centrowitz are entered, as is South Africa’s world indoor fourth placer, Andre Oliver and Britain’s two-time world indoor bronze medallist, Andrew Osagie.
Osagie’s countrymen, Michael Rimmer – the 2010 European runner-up – and European indoor bronze medallist, Mukhtar Mohammed are also set to compete.
Paralympic (non-Diamond League) events –
Six-time Paralympic champion, David Weir goes in the T54 1500m, whilst Paralympic silver medallist, Stef Reid tackles the T44 long jump.
Paralympic 100m and 200m champion, Hannah Cockcroft is expected to be in action in the T34 100m, whilst Paralympic runner-up Libby Clegg contests the T11-13 100m and Paralympic champion Jonnie Peacock goes in the T44 100m.
