USATF Los Angeles Los Angeles Grand Prix Event by Event Preview

Posted by: Watch Athletics

Armand Duplantis will make an attempt to break his own world record in the men’s pole vault for the seventh time in his career at the USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix at the Drake Stadium. Duplantis won his first world gold medal on US soil in Eugene clearing the world record height of 6.21m and improved it by one cm with 6.22m in Clermont Ferrand last March.

Duplantis will renew his rivalry with his close friend Sam Kendricks, who won his second consecutive world outdoor gold medal beating the Swedish vaulter on countback with 5.97m, and Chris Nilsen, who won the Olympic silver medal in Tokyo and the World Championships in Eugene. Kendricks is making his come-back from a knee surgery which sidelined from competitions for most of last season.

Women’s pole vault: 

Olympic and world champion Katie Moon will face two-time world indoor champion Sandi Morris in the women’s pole vault. Moon won their first clash of the outdoor season at the Diamond League meeting in Doha with a world leading mark of 4.81m beating Morris, who finished third with 4.71m. 

The line-up also features Alysha Newman, Canadian record holder with 4.82m, and Gabriela Leon, NCAA champion in Eugene last year. 

Women’s 100 metres: 

Sha’Carri Richardson will be seeking another fast time in the women’s 100 metres after her impressive win in the first meeting of the Diamond League meeting in Doha in 10.76 over Sherika Jackson and Dina Asher Smith. The US star also ran a wind-assisted 10.57 in Miramar. On the track of the Drake Stadium Richardson will go head-to-head against three-time world medallist Marie Josée Ta Lou, who came very close to her African record clocking 10.78 in Eagle Rock a few weeks ago, and Aleia Hobbs, who set the national indoor record in the 60 metres with 6.94 at the US Indoor Championships in Albuquerque and clocked an outdoor seasonal best of 10.86 in Baton Rouge last April.

Men’s 100 metres: 

World indoor record holder Christian Coleman is seeking his second consecutive 100 metres in the Continental Tour Gold after beating Noah Lyles in a wind-assisted 9.78 at the Bermuda Grand Prix in Devonshire last Sunday. Coleman will face Eugene 2022 world silver medallist Marvin Bracy Williams and last year’s NACAC champion Ackeem Blake from Jamaica. 

Women’s 100 metres hurdles: 

World champion and world record holder Tobi Amusan from Nigeria will clash against Olympic gold medallist Jasmine Camacho Quinn from Puerto Rico. Amusan set the world record with 12.12 in the semifinal of the World Championships in Eugene before winning her first world gold medal in a wind-assisted 12.06. The Nigerian hurdler won two consecutive editions of the Diamond League final in Zurich in 2021 and 2022. 

Camacho Quinn won the Olympic gold medal in 12.37 after setting the Olympic record with 12.26 in the semifinal. The Puerto Rican hurdler claimed two consecutive wins in the opening meeting of the Diamond League in Doha in 12.48 and in the Bermuda Grand Prix meeting in a wind-assisted 12.17, the third fastest time in any conditions.

The line-up also features former world record holder and Olympic silver medallist Kendra Harrison and Tia Jones, who beat Amusan at the Drake Relays in Des Moines. 

Men’s 200 metres: 

World 4x100 champion Aaron Brown will face 400 metres world indoor champion and Commonwealth 200m champion Jereem Richards from Trinidad and Tobago, world finalist Alexander Ogando (PB 19.91), and Josephus Lyles, who finished fifth in the US Championships in Eugene in 19.93.

Brown finished second in Gaborone in 20.00 and won in Nairobi in 20.12. 

Women’s 400 metres: 

Olympic and world champion Marileidy Paulino will line up against Sada Williams from Barbados. Paulino showed her good form by winning her first Diamond League race of the season in Doha in 50.51. The sprinter from Dominican Republic won the Diamond League final in Zurich in her PB of 48.99. 

Williams improved the national record to 49.75 when she won the world bronze medal in Eugene. 

Women’s 200 metres: 

Olympic 200m bronze medallist Gabby Thomas will take on world 4x100 relay Jenna Prandini. Thomas showed her versatility by improving her PB to 49.68 in the 400 metres and winning the 200 metres in 22.21 in Austin. She won the US Olympic Trials in Eugene in 21.61. 

Men’s 400 metres: 

Three-time Olympic and world medallist Kirani James will run his second 400 metres race in the Continental Tour Gold after finishing second in 44.76 in Gaborone. The Grenadan athlete completed the full set of Olympic and world medals and won the Diamond League final last year in Zurich. This season James finished second in 44.76 behind Muzala Samukonga in Gaborone. 

Men’s 400 metres hurdes: 

World bronze medallist Trevor Bassitt will face world finalist Khallfah Rosser, and Kyron McMaster from the British Virgin Islands, who finished fourth in the Olympic Games in Tokyo in a national record of 47.08. 

Bassitt improved his PB to 47.39 in the World Championships final in Eugene in 47.39. Rosser finished fifth at the World Championships in Eugene in 47.88 and second in the Diamond League final in Zurich in 47.76. 

Women’s hammer throw: 

World champion Brooke Andersen showed her great form last week, when she improved her PB to 80.17m at the USATF Throws Festival in Tucson becoming the third athlete to break the 80 metres in the women’s hammer throw. 

Anderson will go head-to-head against her compatriot De Anna Price, who is coming back after two difficult seasons plagued by injuries and set the world best in the weight throw with 26.02m at the US Indoor Championships in Albuquerque. Price set her seasonal best of 75.23m in Champaign. 

The US throwers will be joined by Italy’s Sara Fantini, who won the bronze medal at the European Championships in Munich and finished fourth at the World Championships in Eugene. 

Men’s hammer throw: 

Olympic champion and world silver medallist Wojchiech Nowicki will take on Rudy Winkler, who set a seasonal best of 80.88m in Tucson. Nowicki will chase his second consecutive win in the Continental Tour this season after finishing first in Nairobi with 79.78m. 

Women’s discus throw: 

Olympic champion Valarie Allman will be challenged by 2019 world champion Yaime Perez. Allman set a seasonal best of 70.25m in San Diego. 

Men’s discus throw: 

Jamaica’s Fredrick Dacres, who won the world silver medal in Doha 2019, will take on his compatriot Traves Smickle, and Alex Rose from Samoa, who improved the area record to 70.39m last April. 

Men’s shot put: 

Double Olympic champion Ryan Crouser will face world bronze Josh Awotunde. Crouser set his seasonal best of 22.38m in his seasonal debut in Des Moines last April. The US shot put star will take on his compatriot Josh Awotunde, who improved his PB to 22.29m, when he won the world bronze medal in Eugene. 

Women’s shot put: 

Chase Ealey will be seeking her third consecutive win this season after clinching victories in Des Moines (19.12m) and Halle (20.06m). Ealey will be joined by world silver medallist Danniell Thomas Dodd from Jamaica and Maddison Lee Wesche from New Zealand, world under 20 champion in Tampere 2018. 

Men’s Javelin throw: 

Anderson Peters from Grenada will be aiming to return to winning ways after finishing third in Doha with 85.88m and second in Nairobi with 85.72m. Peters set a lifetime best of 85.82m at the Diamond League in Doha. 

Women’s javelin throw: 

Two-time national champion Maggie Malone will be the top name in the women’s javelin. Malone set a seasonal best of 62.38m in Tucson. 

Men’s 800 metres: 

World indoor bronze medallist Bryce Hoppel will face Olympic bronze medallist Clayton Murphy. 

Women’s 800 metres: 

World Indoor champion Ajee Wilson starts as the favourite in the women’s 800 metres against Uganda’s Halimah Nakaayi, who clocked a seasonal best of 2:00.21 in Walnut. 

Women’s 1500 metres: 

Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji is the stand-out name in the women’s 1500 metres. Welteji holds a PB of 3:56.91 and finished second in Doha behind Faith Kipyegon in 3:59.34. Welteji finished fourth in the 800 metres at the World Championships in Eugene in 1:57.02. She will be joined in the field by former 3000m steeplechase world champion Emma Coburn.

Men’s 1500 metres: 

Kenya’s Timothy Cheruiyot leads the line-up in the 1500m Cheruiyot won the 2019 world title in Doha and the Olympic silver medal in Tokyo. Cheruiyot, who set his PB of 3:28.82 in the 2021 Monaco Diamond League, will run his first 1500m race of the season after running 7:36.72 in the 3000m in Doha and 1:44.99 in the 800 metres. 

Former Olympic champion Matthew Centrowitz will make his come-back after being sidelined by an injury problem in 2022. 

The other athletes to watch are world under 20 champion Reynold Kipkorir Cheruiyot from Kenya and reigning world champion Cooper Teare. 

Latest News
©2024 WATCHATHLETICS.COM. All rights reserved.