Since losing to Usain Bolt at the 2013 World Championships, Justin Gatlin has gone on to dominate by being undefeated for two consecutive years; and it doesn’t look like his winning streak will end anytime soon, not even at the Herculis meeting on July 17, in Monaco.
The 2014 100m Diamond Trophy winner has been on record breaking form since the 2015 season started, opening his season with a Personal Best (PB) of 9.74s at the Doha Diamond League. Few weeks later in Rome, he smashed Bolt’s Meeting Record (MR) of 9.76s, shedding 0.01s before going on to win the US 200m title with a PB of 19.57s.
Just last week in Lausanne, Gatlin powered past an elite field that included former World Record holders: Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay winning the race in 9.75s.
At the Stade Louis II stadium this Friday, the MR of 9.82s might just be another stroll in the park for Gatlin, going by his present form. He would be up against an impressive field that consists of: Gay, Frenchman Jimmy Vicaut and Keston Bledman who both have a joint PB/SB of 9.86s respectively.
In the women’s 200m, Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor is one of the big-name athletes competing on the night. It will be Okagbare’s second appearance in the 200m this year after pulling out of the race in Lausanne, moments after competing in the Long Jump.
Okagbare will be facing a strong field made up of: America’s Torie Bowie, double European Champion Dafne Schippers, GBR’s Dina Asher-Smith and Bahamas Shaunae Miller, who is in great form.
There will be a big attention on Miller, especially after her outstanding performance in Lausanne where she defeated Olympic 400m Champion Sanya Richards-Ross with a PB of 49.92s. It is the first sub 50s Miller has done, and she is getting better in her races.
The men’s 400m Hurdles should be exciting. All those competing have a SB below 49s, and America’s Bershawn Jackson will no doubt be the favourite. His countryman and teammate, Johnny Dutch will be looking at getting one over him. Dutch has two Diamond race victories this year, beating Jackson in Rome. 2012 Olympic silver medallist Michael Tinsley, Michael Stigler and Russia’s Denis Kudryavtsev could look to cause an upset.
In the women’s 100m hurdles, no fewer than five Americans will be in action. World leader Sharika Nelvis, Jasmin Stowers American National Champion Dawn Harper-Nelson, Kendra Harrison, World Champion Brianna Rollins, Great Britain’s Tiffany Porter will all make the star-studded line-up.
The women’s 400m will see Jamaica’s National Champion Christine Day, compatriots Stephanie Ann-Mcpherson and Sherika Jackson going all up against World Champion Christine Ohuruogu and USA’s duo of Francena McCorory and Phyllis Francis.
In the field events, the astonishing match-up between Cuba’s Pedro Pichardo and America’s Christian Taylor would surely be the centre of attraction once again. The triple jumpers have been producing record breaking performances every time they’ve competed against each other this year.
At the Doha meeting, Pichardo was the hero as he leapt to a Diamond League Record (DLR) of 18.06m while Olympic Champion Taylor, who had never entered the 18m territory before responded hugely in the last round with 18.04m.
The duo continued their rivalry in Lausanne, matching their heroic performances in Doha. Taylor overturned the table by handing Pichardo his first defeat in 2015, becoming the first man to jump above 18m in Lausanne. He recorded 18.02m and 18.06m on his two final efforts, thereby setting a PB and MR, equalling Pichardo’s DLR.
Another Nigerian athlete competing in Monaco is National women’s High Jump Champion, Doreen Amata. The two-time All-African Games Champion would look to put behind her disappointment of not clearing any bar at the Adidas Grand Prix in New York. Amata will be going up against an elite list that comprises of: Olympic Champion/world leader Anna Chicherova (2.03m), European Champion Ruth Beitia (2.00m), Marina Kuchina (1.99m) and Kamila Licwinko (1.97m).
