After ten days of the excitement and thrills of the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in the Brazilian city of Rio, many of the world’s best, have set their sights on the Athletissima Diamond League Meeting in the Swiss city of Lausanne.
The 41st staging of the event, will feature a number of Olympic winners and medalists, as well as rematches from Rio and some names who were missed at the big show, but should be ready for top marks. As part of the pre-competition exercises, some of the major stars trained with young kids.
Caribbean presence for the most part is limited to Jamaicans, with only Kittitian veteran, Kim Collins, as a departure, going with Jamaica’s Asafa Powell, who will be attacking his 97th legal sub-10 in the 100m.
Rio golden boy, Omar McLeod, amidst thoughts that he will have a go at the flat event sometime later in the season, will have the company of the full French connection of Pascall Martinot-Lagarde, Dimitri Bascou and Wilhem Bellocian. New Olympic silver medallist, Spain’s Orlando Ortega and USA’s David Oliver, who got injured at their trials will also be in the quality field.
The recently crowned double sprint champion, Elaine Thompson will go to the blocks in the shorter distance along with teammates, Veronica Campbell-Brown and Christania Williams, a Rio finalist. Ivorian, Marie-Josee Talou, who just missed the bronze in Rio, with Shellyann Fraser-Pryce nipping her at the line, will add to the class field.
Kimberly Wiliams is the region’s sole entrant in the triple jump for women and so is Megan Simmonds in the 100mh. Interestingly, top USA girls, not in Rio, will also race in the new world record holder. Kendra Harrison, Sharika Nelvis, Jasmine Stowers and the veteran, Dawn Harper-Nelson.
Julian Forte who did not participate in Rio, gets an outing in the men’s 200m.
