Diamond League Stockholm Preview

It feels like it’s been a while since the last Diamond League race in Oslo. In fact, we’ve only had a week between Oslo and Stockholm, but after the craziness of three meets in eight days—Rome, Birmingham, Oslo—that week seems longer.

Technically action begins this afternoon with the men’s and women’s shot put, but all the track action is reserved for tomorrow, so that’s where our coverage will focus.

Broadcast Information and Schedule

Being a Diamond League meet, coverage in the United States will again be available through BeIN Sports and BeIN Sports Connect running from 2-4 pm EST on Thursday.

All times EST

1:15 pm: Women’s Long Jump

1:20 pm: Women’s Discus

1:30 pm: Men’s Pole Vault

1:52 pm: Women’s High Jump

2:03 pm: Men’s 400m Hurdles

2:15 pm: Men’s 5000m

2:37 pm: Women’s 100m Hurdles

2:45 pm: Men’s Triple Jump

2:48 pm: Women’s 200m

2:52 pm: Men’s Javelin

3:00 pm: Men’s 100m

3:10 pm: Women’s 3000m Steeplechase

3:25 pm: Women’s 400m

3:35 pm: Women’s 1500m

3:50 pm: Men’s 800m

Event Previews

Men’s 400m Hurdles (2:03 pm)

Four of the eight finalists from Beijing are in the field, including surprise gold medalist Nicholas Bett of Kenya. Three of the four Americans who faltered in Beijing—Bershawn Jackson, Kerron Clement, and Michael Tinsley—also appear. Other former World medalists LJ Van Syl and Javier Culston join the strong field. Can the Americans take the sweep they were looking for in Beijing? Odds are against it in this field, but two Americans in the top-3 would be a nice day.

Men’s 5000m (2:15 pm)

Make no mistake: This field is nowhere near the strongest, but the race up front should still be worth a watch. Muktar Edris has put together a solid Diamond League season thus far with a win at the Pre Classic and a second place finish in Oslo last week. He’ll face challenges from Yomif Kejelcha (3rd in Oslo), Imane Merga, Renew Alamirew, and Zersenay Tadese. All of them should only be considered outside shots to take down Edris.

Women’s 3000m Steeplechase (3:10 pm)

Two of the top-4 from Beijing in Habiba Ghribi and Sofia Assefa are joined by current world leader Ruth Jebet. Hyvin Kiyeng is the only woman to take down Jebet this year (Shanghai) and she's absent from Stockholm. With Ghribi and Assefa both possibly on the downturn of their careers, look for Jebet to continue her Diamond League dominance.

Women’s 1500m (3:35 pm)

Coming off a surprising and downright incredible second place finish in the mile in Oslo where she stuck with Faith Kipyegon’s world record attempt for about 1400m, an argument can be made that Laura Muir enters as the favorite. Both Hellen Obiri and Dawit Seyaum have run under 4:00 this season while Gudaf Tsegay and Besu Sado have both come within half a second of that barrier. If Muir’s performance in Oslo was more flash in the pan than a permanent step forward, this race could be a toss up between five women.

Men’s 800m (3:50 pm)

Stockholm is billing this as a race between David Rudisha and Mo Aman, but let’s not forget Pierre-Ambroise Bosse, who came in a close second to Rudisha in the 600m at Birmingham. Rudisha has looked vulnerable this year and Bosse seems like the best candidate in the field to take advantage of that apparent downturn in Rudisha’s career. Ferguson Rotich, the current Diamond League leader in the 800m is also in the field, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he finished outside the top three of this race.