Men’s Track, Women’s Field Highlight Swiss Meeting 

By Scott Bush

With the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships all wrapped up, it’s time to turn the collective track and field focus back on the Diamond League. After a two week hiatus, the IAAF showcase resumes in Laussane, Switzerland, as the Athletissima meeting takes place this Thursday, July 3.

Here are five events to keep an eye on:

Gatlin v. Gay

Justin Gatlin (USA) is running stronger than he ever has. He’s run four of the fastest five times in the world this season, all between 9.86-9.92, while running undefeated. He hasn’t squared off against Yohan Blake or Usain Bolt (who’s yet to race this season) up to this point, but who cares. He’s proving he’s the top sprinter in the world in 2014.

What will be the story of the day, regardless of what transpires, is the return of fellow American Tyson Gay from a one-year doping ban. Gay is in shape, focusing on training hard the past few months, and could very well come out and surprise with a sub-10 effort, but we’ll see.

Gay owned the 100m event before he tested positive. Gatlin owns the event now. Will we see a tight race Thursday? We’ll see. Regardless, Gatlin v. Gay is the main event in Laussane.

Merritt v. James - Round 3

No rivalry in track and field matches the intensity of LaShawn Merritt (USA) versus Kirani James (GRN). The two battle every time out, James having won Olympic gold in 2012 and Merritt picking up the World Championship title last year.

In 2014, the two are 1-1 going head-to-head. Merritt best James at the Drake Relays back in April, while James edged Merritt at the Pre Classic, where both athletes finished in 43.97. Merritt is very race sharp, owning seven of the top ten times in the world this season, while James raced sparsely up until this point in the season.

Track and field needs great rivalries to really thrive and this battle of superstar talent is one of the best around.

Serious Talent in the Women’s Javelin

No event in 2014 may find itself as loaded with top-flight talent as the women’s javelin. The event hosts the top seven throwers in the world, along with a few other very good athletes. Leading the charge is 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Linda Stahl (GER). Stahl won the javelin at the adidas Grand Prix earlier in the season with a world leading mark of 67.32m. While she doesn’t own another mark in the top ten, she’s proven herself as a pre-event favorite.

The Australian tandem of Kimberly Mickle and Kathryn Mitchell currently rank #2 and #4 in the world. They’ve been among the world’s best all season long, having tossed incredible throws during the Australian track season, while continuing their success during the international season. Mickle’s 66.83m and 66.12m effort give her two marks among the world’s top four, while Mitchell holds two marks over the 66 meter mark, along with a runner-up effort at the adidas Grand Prix.

Throw in London Olympics gold medalist Barbora Spotakova (CZE), who won in Rome earlier this season with a world #3 toss of 66.43, world #5 Martina Ratej (SLO) and her winning mark in Doha of 65.48m, world #6 Madara Palameka (LAT) who finished third at adidas and Sunette Viljoen (RSA) who ranks world #7 and you have the deepest throws field in the world this year. Oh, and American Kara Patterson looks to improve upon her season best fourth place effort at adidas of 62.47m, while building on her success and another national title at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships last weekend.

Throw on! 

Bragging Rights on the Line in Men’s 110m Hurdles

While American hurdling sensation Devon Allen and fellow collegian Aleec Harris won’t take part in much (if any) European racing in 2014, the men’s 110m hurdles is ridiculously loaded with talent. Pascal Martinot-Lagarde (FRA) seeks to regain his world #1 ranking. He’s won big against top fields over the past month at the Pre Classic and Bislett Games, but lost his world #1 time to Ronnie Ash this past weekend. The Frenchman is driven, on fire and surely has the talent to dip under 13.10 and 13-flat in the right conditions.

Americans David Oliver and Ryan Wilson, who’ve been consistent on the Diamond League tour this season, show up after placing third and second at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships last weekend. It’s wild to think these two guys rank #9 and #12 in the world at the moment, but this is the time of year they start hitting their stride, so don’t be surprised if either comes away with the win Thursday.

While Hansle Parchment (JAM) scratched out of Lausanne, the man who beat him at the Jamaican Championships last weekend, Andrew Riley, is entered. While Riley enters with the sixth fastest time in the field this season, the former NCAA champion is starting to heat up and besting Parchment has to give him a new level of confidence moving forward in the season.

Two other athletes with season bests of 13.20 or faster are Sergey Shubenkov (RUS) and Orlando Ortega (CUB). Both are running tremendously well this season and if any of the frontrunners slip up at all, these guys are capable of pulling off a top three finish. This event is hot!

Columbians Set to Challenge for Triple Jump Dominance

The South American nation of Columbia is dominating the women’s triple jump at the moment. Columbian duo Caterine Ibarguen and Yosiri Urrutia own six of the top nine leaps of 2014. Ibarguen leads the world with a best of 14.87m, while picking up big-time wins at Doha, Ponce, Hengelo and Rome. She’s the best until someone knocks her off.

For Urrutia, she’s found consistency this season with two 14.47m efforts, while finishing second to Ibarguen in Ponce. As she eyes a new seasonal best and a Diamond League win in Lausanne, she’ll need to hold off the rest of the field, including Russia’s Ekaterina Koneva.

Koneva currently ranks #2 in the world with a season best leap of 14.83m. She owns two of the top four jumps in the world this season, while picking up big wins in Sochi and Braunschweig, while finishing second to Ibarguen in Rome.

With four of the top five ranked triple jumpers in the world, the final individual of the leading quartet is Mabel Gay (CUB). Gay holds the tenth and twelfth best marks in the world this season, holding a seasonal best of 14.42m. She’s finished third in both Rome and Ponce. Olga Saladukha (UKR) may contend for top three, having finished second in Doha and Braunschweig. It seems only a matter of time before she improves her 14.33 seasonal best.