Diamond League Oslo Preview

We're already nearly halfway through the Diamond League circuit as we, through our televisions, travel to Oslo Thursday for the 7th of 14 meets. The mile is the signature event of the Oslo meet, and they have assembled a particularly strong men's field. Events are also strong, in general, in the women's sprints.

TV Coverage

As a 2016 Diamond League meet, television and legal online streaming coverage will be available through BeIN Sports and BeIN Sports Connect from 2-4pm EST. All these evening European meets really kill our 9-5 work vibe--such as it is--in the United States. But, we soldier on, mostly because we don't have a choice.

Schedule

All times EST

12:20 pm: Women's Pole Vault

12:55 pm: Men's Triple Jump

1:15 pm: Men's Shot Put

2:00 pm: Women's High Jump

2:03 pm: Men's 400m Hurdles

2:15 pm: Women's 3000m Steeplechase

2:35 pm: Women's 400m

2:40 pm: Men's Javelin

2:45 pm: Men's 5000m

2:45 pm: Women's Long Jump

3:12 pm: Women's 100m Hurdles

3:20 pm: Men's 100m

3:30 pm: Men's ExxonMobile Dream Mile

3:40 pm: Women's 200m

3:50 pm: Women's ExxonMobile Dream Mile

Event Previews

Women's 400m (2:35 pm)

Both Stephanie Ann McPherson and Novlene Williams-Mills were finalist at the World Championships in Beijing. They'll be joined by Natasha Hastings to bring this field up to three women who have both run sub-51 this season and sub-50 in their careers. These three will likely go 1-2-3 in Thursday, but the order is up to a flip of a fictional three-sided coin since their season-bests are all within 0.12 seconds of each other. It's not the strongest field ever assembled, but's it's a strong collection of tier 1B in the event.

Men's 5000m (2:45 pm)

Similar to the women's 400m, the men's 5000m is a solid collection of not-quite-first-tier, but not-exactly-second-tier runners. Headlining the field is world bronze medalist Hagos Gebhriwet and current Diamond League leader Edris Muktar. They're joined by Abdelaati Iguider--making his season debut at the distance--Yenew Alamirew, Isiah Koech, Edwin Soi, Yomif Kejelcha, and Dejan Gebremeskel. There's no Mo Farah, Caleb Ndiku, or Galen Rupp here, but Oslo has assembled a formidable collection of next-bests.

Men's 100m (3:20 pm)

Again, forget the top tier of Usain Bolt, Justin Gatlin, and Yohan Blake, and you're looking at a really good field. Three men who have broken 10 this season--Kim Collins, Ameer Webb, and Michael Rodgers--are joined by world co-bronze medalist Andre de Grasse, who is coming off a win in the 200m in Birmingham over the weekend. In a closely-matched field like this, it's hard to pick a clear winner, but look for Ameer Webb to bounce back from a disappointing performance in Birmingham and continue his rise to true medal contention.

Men's ExxonMobil Dream Mile (3:30 pm)

The three of the top four from Beijing are in this race. Asbel Kiprop will probably win because he's Asbel Kiprop, but the race for second and third could be spicy with Elijah Manangoi, Taoufik Makhloufi, and Robert Biwott as the likely contenders for the top-3. Literally everyone else in the field, though, could make their way into the second spot though; that's what happens when Nick Willis, Henrik Ingebrigtsen, Ryan Gregson, and Aman Wote linger. This is the event of the meet and has certainly earned the piping hot oil company sponsor money that accompanies it.

Women's 200m (3:40 pm)

In Dafne Schippers and Elaine Thompson, the field features both the gold and silver medalists from Beijing. Both seem committed to running as many Diamond League meets as they'll allow and are definitely in form to go 1-2 in Oslo. Schippers is always must-watch TV and after her narrow win over Thompson last summer (.03 seconds), this should be a competitive battle up front.