Paris Diamond League Areva 2013

Paris DL Preview: Leo and Lopez chase the "A" standard, 110H Field Stacked

Paris DL Preview: Leo and Lopez chase the "A" standard, 110H Field Stacked

Jul 6, 2013 by Christopher Chavez
Paris DL Preview: Leo and Lopez chase the "A" standard, 110H Field Stacked

Meet Information
Location: Stade De France (Paris, France)
Time: Diamond League Events start at 2 p.m. ET
TV: Live on Universal Sports from 2 to 4 p.m.m ET
Start Lists can be found here

PARIS – Over 50,000 people will pack the Stade de France to watch Saturday night’s Meeting Areva, Paris’ Diamond League meet. Usain Bolt’s face is plastered on posters all throughout the city, so many will turn out to see the world record holder run the 200-meter dash. 

1,500-Meter Run
The men’s 1,500-meter field is stacked. Americans Leo Manzano and Lopez Lomong look to run the IAAF “A” standard to secure their national roster spots to Moscow. United States champion Matt Centrowitz will head to Moscow, but looks to drop a fast time before resuming altitude training with the Oregon Project.m

Bernard Lagat and training partner Lawi Lalang drop down from their usual 5,000-meter distance for some speed work in the 1,500-meter run. This will be Lagat’s first 1,500-meter race of the season. Lalang has already run 3:38.53 on the season.

Ethiopia’s Mekonnen Gebremedhin has the fastest time on the year for the field with his 3:32.43 from Shanghai, which remains the fourth best in the world. It’s been a busy year for bronze medalist Abdelaati Iguider, who is also in the race with his 3:33.29 from Shanghai. He ran 3:36.23 in Birmingham, but finished 14th at Prefontaine in the Bowerman Mile.

100-Meter Hurdles
World leader David Oliver, Aires Merritt, Ryan Wilson, Jason Richardson and a helathy Ryan Braithwaite comprise the field. Oliver’s time at the top of the world list could be short lived as the field could go under 13 seconds. Wilson hopes to accomplish the feat for the first time.

400-Meter Dash
Kirani James and LaShawn Merritt will face off again since Merritt got the best of him at the Prefontaine Classic.

3,000-meter Steeplechase
The world’s second, fourth and fifth fastest steeplechasers in the world will battle in Paris. Kenya’s Paul Koech has the best time with his 8:02.63 from Shanghai. Compatriot Conseslus Kipruto prepares for the Kenyan Trials without racing.

Expect a loud reception for Frenchman Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad who ran 8:06 at the Prefontaine Classic. The European record is in sights for him.

Ezekiel Kemboi’s only win on the season comes from the Gala dei Castelli, where he edged out Elijah Chelimo by a second. Close races haven’t treated him well before that with the disqualification in Eugene for pushing Kipruto. His season’s best of 8:03.57 is a second place finish in Oslo.

A race under 8 minutes is not out of the question with this field.

United States champion Evan Jager is not in the field as Jerry Schumacher’s crew will prepare for the World Championships with some altitude training at St. Moritz. Alberto Salazar of the Oregon Project will also have his crew out there. 

200-Meter Dash

Bolt is the headliner, but Olympic bronze medalist Warren Weir is coming off a personal best of 19.79 at the Jamaican National Championship. This will be Bolt's second 200-meter dash of the year after his 19.79 victory in Oslo. 

Having a little trouble uploading videos from the hotel. I will be at the Stade de France for tonight's action bringing you tweets, quotes and interviews from the athletes. 

Chris Chavez is the 2013 Europe correspondent for Flotrack and a journalism major at Marquette University. He once beat Joey Fatone of NSYNC in a half-marathon. Feel free to to reach him with any questions, comments, or feedback on Twitter or by email.