Diamond League Stockholm DN Galan 2013

Stockholm DL Preview: It's basically the World Championships, but in Sweden

Stockholm DL Preview: It's basically the World Championships, but in Sweden

Aug 21, 2013 by Mitch Kastoff
Stockholm DL Preview: It's basically the World Championships, but in Sweden
The guys aren’t even off the plane from Moscow and there's another Diamond League meeting. We’re not even hungover from the World Championships yet - we’re still partying like it’s 1999. But the track and field show must go on. Thankfully, the DN Galan in Stockholm has the same cast of characters.

If you wanted the world’s best, who just raced three days ago (four, by the time the meet starts), to race again, then you’re in luck.

What: Stockholm Diamond League
When: Thursday, August 22nd
Where: Stockholm Olympic Stadium (Stadium Records)
Time: Meet starts at 10:00am ET, main races from 2:00pm - 4:00pm ET
How to Watch: Universal Sports, starting at 2:00pm ET

Races to Watch

Men’s 1500m
Number of World Championship finalists: 6 out of 12

ATHLETE DATE OF BIRTH NATION PB SB
BIRGEN Bethwell
06.08.1988
KEN
3:30.77
3:30.77
CHEPSEBA Nixon Kiplimo
12.12.1990
KEN
3:29.77
3:33.9h
CHERU Tesfaye
02.03.1993
ETH
3:35.67
3:35.67
CHOGE Augustine Kiprono
21.01.1987
KEN
3:29.47
3:34.7h
GEBREMEDHIN Mekonnen
11.10.1988
ETH
3:31.45
3:32.43
INGEBRIGTSEN Henrik
24.02.1991
NOR
3:35.43
3:36.33
KIPLAGAT Silas
20.08.1989
KEN
3:29.27
3:33.7h
KIPROP Asbel
30.06.1989
KEN
3:27.72
3:27.72
MAGUT James Kiplagat
20.07.1990
KEN
3:33.31
3:35.2h
MANZANO Leonel
12.09.1984
USA
3:32.37
3:33.14
MOUSTAOUI Mohamed
02.04.1985
MAR
3:31.84
3:33.18
NDIKU Caleb Mwangangi
09.10.1992
KEN
3:29.50
3:29.50
ROTICH Andrew Kiptoo
01.01.1987
KEN
3:43.43
 
SOULEIMAN Ayanleh
03.12.1992
DJI
3:30.31
3:32.55

With a second World Championship gold medal and just three middle-distance legends ahead of him on the all-time 1500m list, there isn’t much left for Asbel Kiprop to do this season.

Except maybe win the Diamond League title. Currently, Ayanleh Souleiman sits with the diamond next to his name as he leads the way with 10 points. The 800m bronze medalist took wins in Oslo and Paris, but had to settle for second in London to Kiprop.

Kiprop’s title defense in Moscow, plus his brilliant 3:27.72 run in Monaco that saw the him rise to #4 on the all-time metric miler list, proved that he is truly the world’s best. A handsome cash prize would be a nice cherry on top.

If there is anyone out there that can challenge the towering Kenyan, it’ll probably be one of his compatriots. Silas Kiplagat was frustrated after the final in Moscow and could be out for a little revenge. Nixon Chepseba, who lead early in that championships race but faded in the final 100m, is another strong threat. Don’t expect any Kenyan team tactics in this one.

There’s also Bethwell Birgen, who despite running the fourth fastest time in the world of 3:30.77 from Monaco, did not make the final in Moscow (he finished 10th).

What about the Americans?

Leo Manzano returns to action after a disappointing World Championship semifinal, where he finished eighth and did not advance. We usually look for some kind of pattern to try and predict Manzano’s next performance, but we seriously have no idea what’s in store for "The Lion."

Women’s 3000m
Number of World Championship finalists: 5 out of 15

ATHLETE DATE OF BIRTH NATION PB SB
ANDERSON Gabriele
25.06.1986
USA
8:42.64
8:42.64
BAHTA Meraf
26.06.1989
SWE
8:58.55
8:58.55
CHERONO Mercy
07.05.1991
KEN
8:38.51
 
CHERONO Gladys
12.05.1983
KEN
9:17.80
 
DEFAR Meseret
19.11.1983
ETH
8:24.51
 
DIBABA Genzebe
08.02.1991
ETH
8:48.35
 
HASAY Jordan
21.09.1991
USA
8:46.89
8:46.89
HASSAN Sifan
01.01.1993
ETH
8:57.71
8:57.71
KIBIWOT Viola Jelagat
22.12.1983
KEN
8:40.14
 
KUIJKEN Susan
08.07.1986
NED
9:07.04
9:07.04
OBIRI Hellen
13.12.1989
KEN
 
 
PLIÅš Renata
05.02.1985
POL
9:04.46
9:04.46
REID Sheila
02.08.1989
CAN
8:44.02
8:44.02
ROMAN Sonja
11.03.1979
SLO
9:03.99
9:28.32
ROWBURY Shannon
14.09.1984
USA
8:31.38
8:41.46

Three of the top four women from Moscow’s 5000m final will drop down to the 3k in Stockholm. Works for me.

The 5k’ers to watch will be Ethiopia’s Meseret Defar (gold), Kenya’s Mercy Cherono (silver), and Kenya’s Viola Kibiwot (fourth).

While she may have won her fourth 5k title (two Olympic and two Worlds), it was the second half of Defar’s race in Moscow that has us intrigued.
The question is how fast can she go?

To try and figure it out, here are some of Defar’s last splits from Moscow. 29.32 for the final 200m. 4:06.67 for the final 1500m. 7:02.03 for the second half (2500m) of the championship final. For those keeping score at home, that’s roughly 14:04 pace. Could Defar take a shot at Dibaba’s 14:11.15 world record later this season? That’s a question that may be answered in Zurich.

But back to Stockholm. After hanging with Defar for nearly the whole way in Moscow, Cherono is an obvious threat. And even though she was dropped over the last lap in Moscow and finished outside the medals, Kibiwot has run 4:00.76 and 14:33.48 this season. Speed and strength make an interesting combination for the 3k. More on that in a bit.

The more important story is that Defar will finally, FINALLY, go up against her compatriot and number one rival, Dibaba... except it’s not Tirunesh, it’s Genzebe. Sigh.

This Dibaba has had an interesting last two championships. Though she ran the third fastest time in the world this year (3:57.54), Dibaba had an unfortunate repeat of her performance from London in Moscow.

Prior to the Olympics, Dibaba had run 3:57.77, but finished 10th in her quarter-final heat. This year in Moscow, she made just barely final, but finished back in eighth. Small improvements?

The other 1500m woman to watch is Kenya’s Hellen Obiri, who walked away from Moscow with the bronze. She’s the ’12 World Indoor 3k Champion and has run 8:35.35i.

What about the Americans (and former NCAA stars)?

We really enjoy watching Shannon Rowbury run the 3k. Known for her speed in the 1500m, Rowbury “chose” to run the 5k at Worlds this year and finished seventh, right behind Molly Huddle. So why this love for Rowbury in this odd event?

Back when she ran her personal best of 8:31.38, she had already started to transition to more strength-based work. Earlier that spring, Rowbury had run 15:00.51 in the 5k, which was another personal best. Clearly, the increase in her workload had paid off.

After a very slow opening few laps in Moscow, Rowbury came within 6-seconds of having a new best mark. She’s due for an upgrade in the 5k and if all goes according to plan, her 3k all-time best may fall too.

Fun Fact: When Rowbury ran 8:31.38 in 2010, her season’s best in the 1500m was 4:01.30. Her fastest 1500m this year? 4:01.28. Watch out for her.

The two other Americans are Gabriele Anderson and Jordan Hasay. The two met at this distance in London, where Anderson took second in 8:42.64 (right behind Rowbury, who won in 8:41.46) and Hasay finished fifth in 8:46.89. I’m fairly sure that race didn’t have any rabbits, so expect some quicker opening laps here.

Sandwiched between the two in that race was Canada’s Sheila Reid. The former Villanova standout had a disappointing World Championships, where she finished seventh in her quarter-final heat and did not advance.

There’s another former NCAA star in Stockholm, but she’s riding a high from Moscow. In her first major final, the Netherland’s Susan Kuijken finished eighth in Moscow and was all smiles in the mixed zone. Remember the time that she won the NCAA 3k in 2008?

Women’s 800m
Number of World Championship finalists: 5 out of 8 + Aregawi

ATHLETE DATE OF BIRTH NATION PB SB
AKKAOUI Malika
25.12.1987
MAR
1:57.64
1:57.64
AREGAWI Abeba
05.07.1990
SWE
1:59.20
1:59.20
HINRÍKSDÓTTÍR Aníta
13.01.1996
ISL
2:00.49
2:00.49
KUPINA Yekaterina
02.02.1986
RUS
1:59.21
1:59.21
MARTINEZ Brenda
08.09.1987
USA
1:57.91
1:57.91
MONTAÑO Alysia
23.04.1986
USA
1:57.34
1:57.75
OKORO Marilyn
23.09.1984
GBR
1:58.45
1:59.43
POISTOGOVA Yekaterina
01.03.1991
RUS
1:57.53
1:58.05
SUM Eunice Jepkoech
10.04.1988
KEN
1:57.38
1:57.38
WILSON Ajee
08.05.1994
USA
1:58.21
1:58.21

Five of the top six finalists from Moscow, plus hometown favorite and reigning World 1500m champion Abeba Aregawi? Whoa.

Here are some general notes that I’ll just post because these’s stories write themselves.

1st - Eunice Sum (Surprise gold medalist in Moscow. Can her luck continue?)
3rd - Brenda Martinez (Historic bronze medal. How much faster can she run?)
4th - Alysia Montano (In tears in the Moscow mixed zone. Can she bounce back?)
5th - Ekaterina Poistogova (Just ran a season’s best. Anything left?)
6th - Ajee Wilson (Also just ran a season’s best and the U.S. junior record in the 800m).

Wilson isn’t the only member of Teen Girl Squad to appear in the Stockholm 800m. Watch out for 17-year-old Anita Hinriksdottir from Iceland, who’s run 2:01.17 this year, plus almost every other Icelandic junior record.

It's too bad there won't be a homecoming parade for Aregawi as she's stuck in possibly the most competitive race of the meet. She did run a national record in the 800m of 1:59.20 back in June, so you never know.

Women’s High Jump
Number of World Championship finalists: 8 out of 13

ATHLETE DATE OF BIRTH NATION PB SB
BARRETT Brigetta
24.12.1990
USA
2.04
2.04
CHICHEROVA Anna
22.07.1982
RUS
2.07
2.02
GORDEYEVA Irina
09.10.1986
RUS
2.04
1.97
GREEN TREGARO Emma
08.12.1984
SWE
2.01
1.97
KASPRZYCKA Justyna
20.08.1987
POL
1.97
1.97
KUCHINA Mariya
14.01.1993
RUS
1.98
1.98
SHKOLINA Svetlana
09.03.1986
RUS
2.03
2.03
SKOOG Sofie
07.06.1990
SWE
1.90
1.90
STEPANIUK Kamila
22.03.1986
POL
1.99
1.99
TROST Alessia
08.03.1993
ITA
1.98
1.98

Since this event has possibly the most World Championship finalists taking the quick trip to Stockholm, Universal Sports will hopefully devote some time to the women’s high jump.

First, some notes about commercial breaks. Please don’t let it be during the women’s 3k. Please don’t let it be just highlights. Please either a) integrate some split-screen technology in there or b) show the event during the downtime. We don’t need to see athletes taking off their warm-ups. I want to see the three Moscow medalists battle it out.

Can Svetlana Shkolinva surprise again? What about Brigetta Barrett, who still leads the world with a leap of 2.04m? Then there’s the reigning Olympic champion, Anna Chicherova. Throw in four more finalists and the hometown humanitarian and world fifth place finisher Emma Green-Tregaro and you have us hooked.

Men’s 3000mST

ATHLETE DATE OF BIRTH NATION PB SB
BIRECH Jairus Kipchoge
14.12.1992
KEN
8:03.43
8:10.27
GENEST Alexandre
30.06.1986
CAN
8:19.33
8:23.43
HUGHES Matthew
03.08.1989
CAN
8:11.64
8:11.64
HULING Daniel
16.07.1983
USA
8:13.29
8:22.38
KAHSAY Meresa
23.05.1996
ETH
8:36.13
 
KIPRUTO Conseslus
08.12.1994
KEN
8:01.16
8:01.16
KIPRUTO Brimin Kiprop
31.07.1985
KEN
7:53.64
8:06.86
KIRUI Gilbert
22.01.1994
KEN
8:06.96
8:06.96
KOECH Paul Kipsiele
10.11.1981
KEN
7:54.31
8:02.63
KOECH John
23.08.1995
KEN
8:21.5h
8:21.5h
LAGAT Haron
15.08.1983
KEN
8:15.80
8:24.90
LESLIE Cory
24.10.1989
USA
8:20.08
8:20.08
LUCHIANOV Ion
31.01.1981
MDA
8:18.97
8:19.64
YEGO Hillary Kipsang
02.04.1992
KEN
8:03.57
8:03.57

No World champion Ezekiel Kemboi or World bronze medalist Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad, but it’s still one of the best events of the night. Teen sensation and world silver medalist Conseslus Kipruto goes up against Paul Kipsiele Koech, who finished fourth in Moscow.

Throw in Brimin Kipruto, who was left off the Kenyan team despite winning silver in ’11 and running 8:06.86 this year, and a red-hot Matt Hughes, who just ran the Canadian 3kST record of 8:11.64, and we’re still interested. Dan Huling looks to bounce back after a tough World Championships, where he finished last in his semifinal heat.

Men’s 400m

ATHLETE DATE OF BIRTH NATION PB SB
EKELUND ARENANDER Nick
23.01.1989
DEN
45.50
45.50
LEVINE Nigel
30.04.1989
GBR
45.11
45.23
MANCE Josh
21.03.1992
USA
44.83
45.08
MASLÁK Pavel
21.02.1991
CZE
44.84
44.84
MCQUAY Tony
16.04.1990
USA
44.40
44.40
MERRITT LaShawn
27.06.1986
USA
43.74
43.74
SANTOS Luguelín
12.11.1993
DOM
44.45
44.52
WISSMAN Johan
02.11.1982
SWE
44.56
 

No Kirani James, but we’ll live. The men’s 400m will still have four of the eight finalists from Moscow, which includes all three medalists. LaShawn Merritt looks to continue his winning way as Tony McQuay tries to run him down. Luguelin Santos, who ran an incredible homestretch to grab bronze, will also be in the field.

Men’s 110mH
Number of World Championship finalists: 5 out of 8

ATHLETE DATE OF BIRTH NATION PB SB
NOGA Artur
02.05.1988
POL
13.27
13.29
NOSSMY Philip
06.12.1982
SWE
13.47
13.49
OLIVER David
24.04.1982
USA
12.89
13.00
RICHARDSON Jason
04.04.1986
USA
12.98
13.20
SHARMAN William
12.09.1984
GBR
13.26
13.26
SHUBENKOV Sergey
10.10.1990
RUS
13.09
13.16
THOMAS Mikel
23.11.1987
TRI
13.19
13.19
WILSON Ryan
19.12.1980
USA
13.02
13.08

Again, another repeat from a few days ago. It’s just easier to name the World Championship finalists who aren’t running in Stockholm: USA’s Aries Merritt, France’s Thomas Martinot-LaGarde, and Jamaica’s Andrew Riley.

Those were the last three finishers in Moscow. If having the top five finalists in Stockholm doesn’t get you excited for the men’s hurdles, you need to revisit this race and look at the contrasting reactions of David Oliver and Jason Richardson.


Women’s 400mH

ATHLETE DATE OF BIRTH NATION PB SB
ANTYUKH Natalya
26.06.1981
RUS
52.70
55.20
CHILD Eilidh
20.02.1987
GBR
54.22
54.22
HEJNOVÁ Zuzana
19.12.1986
CZE
52.83
52.83
MOLINE Georganne
06.03.1990
USA
53.72
53.72
MUHAMMAD Dalilah
07.02.1990
USA
53.83
53.83
SPENCER Kaliese
06.05.1987
JAM
52.79
54.88
TITIMETS Hanna
05.03.1989
UKR
54.63
54.63
YAROSHCHUK Hanna
24.11.1989
UKR
54.35
54.77

The world champion Zuzana Hejnova just improved on her world lead with 52.83 win in Moscow. Can she be caught? Doubtful.

USA’s and world silver medalist Dalilah Muhammad will try and give chase while Georganne Moline returns after crashing out, but still getting up and finishing, in the quarter-finals.

Just to reiterate, if you enjoyed the World Championships, then you’ll enjoy Stockholm DL. Here are the twelve World Champions that will appear at Thursday’s meeting:

 Abeba Aregawi, SWE 1500 m (will 800 m at DN Galan)
Eunice Sum, KEN, 800 m
David Oliver, USA, 110 m hurdles
Meseret Defar, ETH, 5000 m (will run 3000 m at DN Galan)
LaShawn Merritt, USA, 400 m
Valerie Adams, NZL, Shot Put
Asbel Kiprop, KEN, 1500 m
Zuzana Hejnova, CZE, 400 m hurdles
Aleksandr Menkov, RUS, Long Jump
Christina Obergföll, GER, Javelin Throw
Svetlana Shkolina, GER, High Jump
Caterine Ibargüen, COL, Triple Jump