In the quickest of turnarounds, the IAAF packed up the Diamond League in Eugene, OR and shipped everything, including some of the runners, off to Rome just five days later.

 

The Golden Gala - Pietro Mennea is the Diamond League’s fourth stop and if I’ve learned anything about the Diamond League over the years, it’s that every meeting brings it’s most fantastic flair.

 

Also, if I’ve learned anything about Italy this year, it’s to not make facetious jokes about the country.

 

So here’s what you should know about Rome: Nero, the Emperor of Rome, did not “fiddle while Rome burned.” That's a common misconception. He actually personally organized a relief effort for the city. I mean, he persecuted Christians and did some other stuff, but the guy did win 1,808 Olympic medals.

 

Your move, Usain Bolt.

 

High Jump Men

ATHLETE	DATE OF BIRTH	NATION	PB	SB
BARSHIM Mutaz Essa	24.06.1991	QAT	2.40	2.37
BONDARENKO Bohdan	30.08.1989	UKR	2.41	2.40
DMITRIK Aleksey	12.04.1984	RUS	2.36	2.25
DROUIN Derek	06.03.1990	CAN	2.40	2.40
FASSINOTTI Marco	29.04.1989	ITA	2.28	2.24
KYNARD Erik	03.02.1991	USA	2.37	2.37
PROTSENKO Andriy	20.05.1988	UKR	2.32	2.27
SILNOV Andrey	09.09.1984	RUS	2.38	2.25
THOMAS Donald	01.07.1984	BAH	2.35	2.24
TSYPLAKOV Daniil	10.04.1992	RUS	2.31	2.25
UKHOV Ivan	29.03.1986	RUS	2.41	2.41

Finally, finally, the best event in the world returns to the center stage. I don’t know how we survived for nearly a month, but we’ve weathered the storm, and are all awarded with what could be an all-time great contest.

 

The men’s high jump, which has the top five best jumpers in the world right now, also has four of the top 12 best high jumpers of all-time in Bohdan Bondarenko (2.41m), Ivan Ukhov (2.41m), Mutaz Essa Barshim (2.40m), and Derek Drouin (2.40m).

That's a pretty elite field.

 

Ukhov, the reigning Olympic champion, assumed the world lead with his 2.41m win at the Doha Diamond League. It should be noted that Ukhov took a stab at 2.43m, which would have put him number two all-time behind the legendary Javier Sotomayor, but failed. We're still considering adding a Beer High Jump at this year's Beer Mile World Championship, though. We'll keep you posted.

 

Although he has the highest jump in the world, Ukhov was beaten by the reigning World Champion Bogdan Bondarenko just two days after Doha DL in Tokyo. It should be noted that Bondarenko took a stab at 2.46m, which would have made him the new high jump legend, but he also failed.

 

What else do you people want? Are you not amused?

 

Add in American Erik Kynard, who has cleared 2.37m this season, and we’re in for a show.

 

1,500-meters Men

ATHLETE	DATE OF BIRTH	NATION	PB	SB
BARUSEI Geofrey	01.01.1994	KEN	3:33.39
CARVALHO Florian	09.03.1989	FRA	3:33.47
CHEBOI Collins	25.09.1987	KEN	3:31.53	3:32.30
CRONJE Johan	13.04.1982	RSA	3:31.93	3:33.31
DRIOUCH Hamza	16.11.1994	QAT	3:33.69	3:47.48
EL KAAM Fouad	27.05.1988	MAR	3:33.71	3:37.74
IGUIDER Abdelaati	25.03.1987	MAR	3:31.47
KIPLAGAT Silas	20.08.1989	KEN	3:29.27	3:29.70
KIPROP Asbel	30.06.1989	KEN	3:27.72	3:29.18
MAIYO Hillary Kipkorir	02.10.1993	KEN	3:35.43	3:36.98
MAKHLOUFI Taoufik	29.04.1988	ALG	3:30.40	3:30.40
MAZOUZI Zakaria	15.06.1985	MAR	3:31.94
ROTICH Andrew Kiptoo	24.12.1987	KEN	3:43.43
SOULEIMAN Ayanleh	03.12.1992	DJI	3:30.16	3:30.16
TESFAYE Homiyu	23.06.1993	GER	3:33.33	3:33.33
WOTE Aman	18.04.1984	ETH	3:30.86	3:30.86

 

No Americans made the trip to Rome for the metric mile, but it’s still close enough to both the Prefontaine and Doha Diamond League 1,500-meters that we’re calling this a pseudo-replay.

 

The thing about replays, or mulligans as some would call it, is that it’s a fresh slate for everyone. If you screwed up in Eugene, hey, here’s your redo.

 

Based on form, the obvious choice here is the Djibouti superstar Ayanleh Souleiman. The 21-year-old is coming off having run the fastest mile ever record on American soil (3:47.32) and taking a few scalps in the process.

 

With his superb finishing speed and tenacious racing tactics, it’s hard to bet against the red-hot Souleiman.

 

But, if you’re inclined to revert back the other guy that everyone was calling “unstoppable,” then Asbel Kiprop is your choice. It might not have been his day in Eugene, but he told Flotrack that “sometimes mistakes are lessons” and hopes to rebound in Rome.

 

If you have a minute, take the time to watch the reigning World Champion’s humble post-race interview, which is linked above.

 

Kiprop has had his fair share of historic and forgettable races. He’s won gold at the 2011 and 2013 World Championships, plus he became the fourth fastest metric miler of all-time last year in Monaco (3:27.72), but was 12th at the Olympic Games and most recently, was 7th at the Prefontaine Classic.

 

Still, he finds ways to bounce back. Like, for example, in 2011 when he was 7th in the Zurich Diamond League 1,500-meters (3:34.89), but came back two days later to run his then personal best of 3:30.46 in his win at the Rieti 1,500-meters.

Edit: Never mind.

Edit #2: It looks like Kiprop is going to run anyway.

But that’s not all. Don’t sleep on Silas Kiplagat, who was 2nd in both Doha and Prefontaine, or Aman Wote, who was 6th in Doha and 3rd at Prefontaine. For Wote, both races were Ethiopian National Records of 3:30.86 and 3:48.60, respectively.

Again, let the fact that the Ethiopian National Record holder was that far back in those races waggle around your mind hole for the third time this outdoor season.

 

Throw in Kenya’s Collins Cheboi, who was 6th at Prefontaine and is inching closer to his 3:31.53 1,500-meter personal best, the always dangerous Abdelaati Iguider, who made his outdoor debut with a 4th place finish at Prefontaine (3:49.09), and the Olympic champion Taoufik Makhloufi, and we should be captivated for over/under three and a half minutes.

 

5000m Women

ATHLETE	DATE OF BIRTH	NATION	PB	SB
AYALEW Hiwot	06.03.1990	ETH	14:57.02
AYANA Almaz	21.11.1991	ETH	14:25.84
BELETE Almensh	26.07.1989	BEL	15:03.63
BLEASDALE Julia	09.09.1981	GBR	15:02.00
CHECA Dolores	27.12.1982	ESP	14:46.30
CHERONO Mercy	07.05.1991	KEN	14:35.13	15:04.07
CONLEY Kim	14.03.1986	USA	15:09.57
DIBABA Genzebe	08.02.1991	ETH	14:37.56
GEBRESLASE Gotytom	15.01.1995	ETH	15:11.12
HAROYE Alemitu	09.05.1995	ETH	15:05.08
HUDDLE Molly	31.08.1984	USA	14:44.76
JELAGAT Irene	10.12.1988	KEN	16:08.2h
KIBIWOT Viola Jelagat	22.12.1983	KEN	14:33.48
KISA Janet	05.03.1992	KEN	14:57.68
NOUJANI Nadia	03.09.1981	MAR	15:16.50
PAVEY Joanne	20.09.1973	GBR	14:39.96	15:11.52
TIROP Agnes Jebet	23.10.1995	KEN	14:50.36
VARGA Judit	16.04.1976	ITA

This one has a little bit of redemption and a little bit of intrigue.

 

Since this will be the first official international Women’s 5,000-meters of the year, someone should finally knock off Sifan Hassan’s world leading mark of 14:59.23.

 

A total of 10 of the 18 women in the field have dipped below the 15:00 barrier, but who’ll emerge at the top of the world list after Rome?

 

The safe bet would be Kenya’s Mercy Cherono. The 2013 World Championship 5,000-meter silver medalist was second in that thrilling Doha Diamond League 3,000-meters (8:21.14) and is coming off having won the Prefontaine Classic 2-Mile in 9:13.27.

 

She’s also run 14:35.13 for 5K, which is from 2011.

 

Right behind Cherono in Eugene was her compatriot Viola Kibiwot. The 30-year-old, who just missed out on a medal last year in Moscow with her fourth place finish, was 2nd at Prefontaine in 9:13.48. She was also 4th in Doha (8:24.41) and ran her personal best of 14:33.48 just last year.

 

Though she faltered in Doha, Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana also looks to snap Cherono’s win streak. The 2013 World Championship 5,000-meter bronze medalist was 5th in Doha (8:24.58), but did run her personal best of 14:25.84 around this time last year in Paris.

 

But if you want a little intrigue, keep an eye on Genzebe Dibaba. After setting three indoor world records and taking home gold in the 3,000-meters at the 2014 World Indoor Championships, it looked as if nothing was going to stop the 23-year-old starlet.

 

However, when the pace began to accelerate during the last lap in that Doha 3,000-meters, Dibaba did not look like her regular, demigoddess self. Instead, she looked rather human as she faded to a 6th place finish in 8:26.21. That time is nothing to cry home about, but for someone who changed the face of women’s middle-distance running this winter, it’s certainly a stunning result.

 

Dibaba is also more privy to the 1,500-meters, which could make this step back up in distance fascinating for everyone watching. Dibaba has only broken 15:00 a handful of times, but has run 14:37 twice in Oslo in 2011 and 2013.

Will she return to form or will it be more of the same for the Ethiopian?

 

How about another pressing question: what about the Americans?

 

Molly Huddle was in incredible 10,000-meter form at the Payton Jordan Invitational, where she became the second fastest American at the distance with her 30:47.59 second place finish.

 

Could her American Record of 14:44.76 be in jeopardy?

 

Possibly, or, if you’re a believer of conversion calculators, yes. Using the Mercier Score Calculator, Huddle’s time from Stanford, CA roughly equates to 14:36 for 5K.

 

Normally, we would say to take this information with a grain, or perhaps, an entire mine of salt. But after watching Huddle build some amazing strength this winter, another American distance record could be broken in consecutive Diamond  League Meetings.

 

While Huddle will focus on the 5,000-meters at the U.S. Championships, it will probably be the only 5K for Kim Conley between then and now. The 2013 World 5,000-meter finalist accomplished her goal of breaking 32:00 at Payton Jordan with her 8th place 31:48.71 finish.

 

While Huddle has been focusing on longer distances, Conley has mainly stayed on the shorter end of things, setting multiple personal bests at nearly every distance from 800-meters to 3,000-meters this indoor season.

 

Her personal best of 15:09.57 is from last year’s Prefontaine Classic.

 

Now, what about the British athletes?

 

Julia Bleasdale opened her spring well with a 15:06 win at the Carlsbad 5000. Most recently, she was 5th at the Payton Jordan 10K in 31:42.02.

 

Also to note is 40-year-old Jo Pavey, who set a World Masters Record for 40+ with her 15:11.52 win at the BMC Grand Prix 5K.

 

Late Edit: Hopefully Irene Jelagat, who was 7th in that Doha 3K in 8:28.51, can drop her 5K personal best of 16:08.2h.

800m Men

ATHLETE	DATE OF BIRTH	NATION	PB	SB
AMAN Mohammed	10.01.1994	ETH	1:42.37	1:43.99
AMOS Nijel	15.03.1994	BOT	1:41.73	1:43.63
BALLA Musaeb Abdulrahman	19.03.1989	QAT	1:43.93	1:45.37
BELHANBEL Nader	01.07.1994	MAR	1:45.69
BENEDETTI Giordano	22.05.1989	ITA	1:44.67	1:46.10
KAKI Abubaker	21.06.1989	SUD	1:42.23	1:44.09
KINYOR Job	08.05.1990	KEN	1:43.76	1:44.6h
LEWANDOWSKI Marcin	13.06.1987	POL	1:43.79	1:44.79
LÓPEZ Kevin	12.06.1990	ESP	1:43.74
SOLOMON Duane	28.12.1984	USA	1:42.82	1:43.88
SOM Bram	20.02.1980	NED	1:43.45
SOWINSKI Erik	21.12.1989	USA	1:44.58	1:44.58

 

While David Rudisha slowly makes his return to the competitive scene, we’re treated to yet another scintillating match-up between Nijel Amos and Mohammed Aman in the Men’s 800-meters.

 

The two have had some incredible finishes this spring, with Aman getting the best of Amos in Doha (1:44.49 to 1:44.54, respectively) and Amos turning the table in Eugene (1:43.63 to 1:43.99, respectively).

 

Expect both 20-year-olds to be watching each other the whole way in Rome.

 

Watch out for Abubaker Kaki, too. The 24-year-old Sudanese star made his outdoor debut at Prefontaine, where he finished behind his two younger rivals in 3rd (1:44.09).

 

Again, what about the Americans?

 

Duane Solomon looks to bounce back from a disappointing 10th place finish at Prefontaine, where he shut it down late in the race and finished in 1:47.40. His chase for an American Record isn't over just yet.

 

Erik Sowinski, who was 3rd in Friday night’s USATF Men’s 800-meters, is coming off a 1:45.64 performance.

 

Edit: Sowinski apparently ran in Switzerland yesterday, but we couldn’t find any results last night.

Edit 2: People are awesome.

800m Women

ATHLETE	DATE OF BIRTH	NATION	PB	SB
AKKAOUI Malika	25.12.1987	MAR	1:57.64	2:02.72
ALMANZA Rose Mary	13.07.1992	CUB	1:59.4h	1:59.76
ARZAMASOVA Marina	17.12.1987	BLR	1:59.30
CICHOCKA Angelika	15.03.1988	POL	2:00.20	2:00.90
DIAGO MESA Sahily	26.08.1995	CUB	1:57.74	1:57.74
JEPKOSGEI Janeth	13.12.1983	KEN	1:56.04	2:00.49
JERUTO Agatha	02.04.1994	KEN	2:03.22	2:05.4h
MAGISO Fantu	09.06.1992	ETH	1:57.48
MARTINEZ Brenda	08.09.1987	USA	1:57.91	1:59.91
MILANI Marta	09.03.1987	ITA	2:01.35	2:03.83
MUKASHEVA  Margarita	01.04.1986	KAZ	1:58.96
SEMENYA Caster	07.01.1991	RSA	1:55.45	2:03.05
SUM Eunice Jepkoech	10.04.1988	KEN	1:57.38	1:59.33
WILSON Ajee	08.05.1994	USA	1:58.21	2:03.81

 

There’ll be 14 women in the 800-meters, and while I’m not sure how they’ll divide this one up, I am sure that there’ll be some fireworks.

 

Kenya’s Eunice Sum has turned in some big performances this season, taking the win over Chanelle Price at the Doha DL 800-meters in 1:59.33. Stepping up in distance a few days ago, Sum ran a new personal best in the 1,500-meters, finishing 6th in 4:01.54.

 

The reigning World champion has a big target on her back with quite a few deserving challengers waiting lying in the tall grass, waiting to bounce.

Edit: Never mind, again.

At just 18-years-old, we are witnessing yet another teen middle-distance phenom arriving on the world stage. Nearly a month ago back in La Habana, Cuba’s Sahily Diago ran the world lead and AJR (area junior record?) of 1:57.74.

 

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think that knocks off Ajee Wilson’s previous junior record record of 1:58.21.

 

Diago, who ran on Cuba’s 2012 Olympic 4 x 400-meters, is a huge talent that no one, including us, has really talked about yet.

 

For a teenager to run 1:57.xx and go unnoticed is unreal. The times we live in, man.

 

Speaking of which, Wilson is slated to run against her younger rival. Earlier this season, the recently turned 20-year-old ran an inspired 1:59.1 third leg on Team USA’s 4 x 800-meter relay in the Bahamas. This will be her first big, open international 800-meter of the season.

 

Brenda Martinez, who anchored that relay in 1:58.7, is also on the start list. While we thought that Martinez would finally dip under the four minute barrier at Prefontaine, she unfortunately finished back in 7th place in 4:02.52. She now drops back down in distance to her bread and butter event.

 

Don’t forget about Caster Semenya, though. The South African, who denied rumors of “an impending engagement to follow athlete Violet Raseboya,” has been almost silent for the last two years. With the exception of a 1:58.92 win last September in Rieti, Semenya is far removed from her 2009 World Champion or 2012 Olympic silver medalist form.

 

Still, Semenya boasts, a season’s best of 2:03.05, which was run nearly two months ago at altitude. Don't count her out just yet.

 

Poland’s Angelika Cichocka, who’s run 2:00.90 this season, and the three-time World medalist Janath Jepkosgei, who was 4th in Doha in 2:00.49, also feature.

 

3000m SC Men

ATHLETE	DATE OF BIRTH	NATION	PB	SB
BIRECH Jairus Kipchoge	14.12.1992	KEN	7:41.83
BOULAMA Mohammed	31.12.1993	MAR
CHEMLAL Jaouad	11.04.1994	MAR
DEMCZYSZAK Mateusz	18.01.1986	POL	7:48.30
EZZINE Hamid	05.10.1983	MAR	7:54.65
FLORIANI Yuri	25.12.1981	ITA	8:01.53
GARCÍA Víctor	13.03.1985	ESP	8:05.24
KEMBOI Ezekiel	25.05.1982	KEN	7:44.24
KEMBOI Clement Kimutai	01.01.1992	KEN	7:56.28
KIPRUTO Brimin Kiprop	31.07.1985	KEN	7:47.33
KIPSANG Lawrence Kemboi	01.01.1993	KEN
KIRUI Gilbert	22.01.1994	KEN
KOECH Paul Kipsiele	10.11.1981	KEN	7:33.93
LAGAT Haron	15.08.1983	KEN
MUTAI Abel Kiprop	02.10.1988	KEN	8:05.16
PEÑA José Gregorio	12.01.1987	VEN	7:54.42
SAFIULIN Ilgizar	09.12.1992	RUS	7:58.39
ZALEWSKI Krystian	11.04.1989	POL	8:02.05	8:04.31

 

The top four finishers from the Doha DL Men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase Ezekiel Kemboi (8:04.12), Brimin Kipruto (8:04.64), Paul Kipsiele Koech (8:05.47), and Jairus Birech (8:07.37) all return to action in Rome.

 

100mH Women

ATHLETE	DATE OF BIRTH	NATION	PB	SB
ALI Nia	23.10.1988	USA	12.48
BILLAUD Cindy	11.03.1986	FRA	12.59	13.10
BORSI Veronica	13.06.1987	ITA	12.76	13.17
CARAVELLI Marzia	23.10.1981	ITA	12.85	13.07
HARPER-NELSON Dawn	13.05.1984	USA	12.37	12.77
HARRISON Queen	10.09.1988	USA	12.43	12.70
PEARSON Sally	19.09.1986	AUS	12.28	12.59
PORTER Tiffany	13.11.1987	GBR	12.55	12.65
ROLLINS Brianna	18.08.1991	USA	12.26	12.58

 

An amazing even that climaxed at last summer’s World Championship, this year's Women’s 100-meter Hurdles should not disappoint. We've been waiting for this for quite some time as the second and third fastest women in the world Brianna Rollins (12.58) and Sally Pearson (12.59) will go head-to-head for the first time this season.

 

Rollins’ seasonal best is from her second place finish at Drake Relays while Pearson’s mark is from the Perth Track Classic.

 

If you need a quick refresher, the pair finished in the gold and silver positions in the event at the 2013 Moscow World Championships.

 

The two are joined by Americans Dawn Harper-Nelson, Queen Harrison, plus Great Britain’s Tiffany Porter.

 

American Nia Ali opened her season on June 2nd with a 13.76 fifth place finish in Poland. She has a personal best of 12.48.

Men's and Women's Sprints

 

In the short sprints, Justin Gatlin hopes to extend his unbeaten streak in the Men’s 100-meters to six races.

 

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce looks to rebound from a disappointing 8th place finish at the Prefontaine Classic 200-meters, which was won by American Tori Bowie, who is also in the race. Cote d'Ivoire’s Murielle Ahoure, America’s Joanna Atkins, and Jamaica’s Simon Facey all have gone sub-11.10 this season.

 

With no Kirani James in the Men’s 400-meters, LaShawn Merritt is the strong favorite to take the win in the quarter mile.

 

The Rome Diamond League will be live on Universal Sports on Thursday, June 5th starting at 2:00p.m. ET.

Mitch Kastoff is the Senior Site Editor at Flotrack. Contrary to popular belief, he did not invent the high five. If you enjoyed these ramblings or have any comments, questions, or concerns, feel free to reach him on Twitter or by email.