The athletics competition at the Paris Olympic Games is set to kick off on Thursday, August 1, promising an electrifying spectacle as some of the world's most dazzling sports stars line up to vie for Olympic glory. As anticipation builds, we turn our focus to the women's track events, offering a preview of the key races and athletes to watch in what promises to be a showcase of speed, endurance, and sheer talent. Below, we delve into the athletes and races set to light up the track in Paris.
Women’s 100 metres:
Sha’Carri Richardson is aiming her first Olympic gold medal one year after winning two world gold medals in the 100m in 10.65 and in the 4x100 relay in 41.03 and the bronze medal in the 200 metres in 21.92 in Budapest. Richardson won the 100m at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene in 10.83 and at the US Trials final on the same track in a seasonal best of 10.71.
Melisa Jefferson and Twanisha Terry, who are Richardson’s training parters, finished second and third at the US Olympic Trials clocking 10.80 and 10.89 respectively.
Julien Alfred, who became the first athlete from Santa Lucia to win a world indoor gold medal in the 60 metres in Glasgow in 6.98, is aiming to make history again and win the first Olympic medal for her country. She won her first Diamond League in the 100 metres in Monaco in 10.85 into a headwind of -1.0 m/s and finished first in Kingston in 10.78 and second at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene in 10.93.
Shericka Jackson won the 100 metres in 10.84 at the Jamaican Trials in Kingston. Jackson is aiming to add another medal to her collection over this distance after finishing third at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021 in 10.76 and second at the World Championships in Eugene 2022 in 10.73 and Budapest 2023 in 10.73.
Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce will take part at the Olympic Games for the fifth time in her career. The Jamaican sprint legend won two Olympic gold medals in the 100 metres in Beijing 2008 and in London 2012 and in the 4x100 relay in Tokyo 2021 and five world titles in Berlin 2009, Moscow 2013, Beijing 2015, Doha 2019 and Eugene 2022. She set her seasonal best of 10.91 in the semifinal of the Jamaican Trials before finishing third in the final in 10.94.
The Jamaican team will be also represented by 19-year-old Tia Clayton, who finished second at the National Trials in her PB of 10.86. Clayton won two world under 20 gold medals in Nairobi 2021 and Cali 2022.
Jamaica won the 100 metres in the past four editions of the Olympic Games thanks to Fraser Pryce and Elaine Thompson Herah, who won in Rio de Janeiro 2016 and Tokyo 2021, but will not compete in Paris, as she suffered an Achiles tendon injury during the Continental Tour Gold meeting in Paris.
Marie Josée Ta Lou will aim to win her first Olympic medal three years after finishing fourth in Tokyo in 10.91. The Ivorian sprint star won three world individual oudoor medals and set the African record with 10.72 in Monaco in 2022.
Dina Asher Smith won her second European gold medal in the 100 metres in 10.99 in Rome after setting her seasonal best of 10.96 in the semifinal. She finished third in two Diamond League races in Eugene in 10.98 and Monaco in 10.99 into a headwind of -1.0 m/s.
Mujinga Kambundji set a seasonal best of 10.90 in La Chaux de Fonds narrowly missing her Swiss record by 0.01. Kambundji finished sixth in the 100m Olympic final in Tokyo and fifth at the World Championships in Eugene in 10.91 and won the European silver in Munich 2022 in 10.99.
Ewa Swoboda won silver medals at the World Indoor Championships in the 60m in 7.00 and at the European Championships in Rome in the 100m in 11.03. She finished sixth in the 100m at the World Championships in Budapest in 10.97.
Zaynab Dosso from Italy won two bronze medals at the World indoor Championships in Glasgow in the 60m in 7.05 and the European Championships in Rome in 11.03. Dosso improved Italian records with 7.02 in Torun in the 60 metres and 11.01 in the semifinal of the European Championships in Rome.
Gina Luckenkemper is seeking her first sub-11 time of the season after clocking 11.04 at the German Championships. Luckenkemker won the European gold medal in Munich in 10.99.
Gambia’s Gina Bass Bittaye, world championships finalist in the 200 metres in Doha 2019, improved her PB to 10.93 in Fort de France (Martinique) and finished first in Stockolm in 11.15 and second in Paris in 11.09 into a headwind of -2.0 m/s.
Women’s 200 metres:
Gabby Thomas won the third US Trials title of her career in 21.81 after setting the fastest time in the world this year with 21.78 in the semifinal. Thomas finished third in the Olympic final in 21.87 in Tokyo 2021 and second at the World Championships in Budapest 2023 in 21.81. The US sprinter won the fifth Diamond League race of her career in London in 21.82, the third fastest time of the season. She moved to fourth in the all-time list with her PB of 21.60 set at the 2023 US Championships.
Shericka Jackson won two consecutive world titles in Eugene 2022 in 21.45 and in Budapest 2023 in 21.41 setting the second fastest time in the world all-time list. Only 1988 Olympic champion Florence Griffith Joyner ran faster in history with her world record of 21.34 set at the 1988 US Trials in Indianapolis. Jackson won the 200 metres at the Jamaican Trials in her seasonal best of 22.29 and won two Diamond League races in Marrakesh and Stockolm but she suffered from a cramp during her most recent race in Szelesfehrvar.
Jackson and Thomas are two of the four fastest women in history.
Mckenzie Long won the 100m, 200m and in the 4x100 relay at the NCAA Finals clocking 10.82 and 21.83m respectively in Eugene last June. Long finished third in the US Olympic Trials in 21.91. Brittany Brown won the world silver medal in Doha 2019 and finished second at the US Trials in 21.90.
Julien Alfred finished second in London improving her national record by 0.05to 21.86. The Santa Lucian sprinter finished fourth in the 200m final at the World Championships in Budapest 2023 in 22.05.
Dina Asher Smith won the British title in the 200 metres in 22.18 and improved her seasonal to 22.07 when she finished third at the London Diamond League meeting. The British sprinter won the world gold medal in Doha 2019 in 21.88 ahead of Tiffany Brown and the European title in Berlin 2018 and the world bronze medal in Eugene 2022 in 22.02.
Daryll Neita won the European silver medal in Rome in 22.50 and finished fifth at the World Championships in Budapest 2023. Neita won two Diamond League races this year in the 200m in Suzhou with 22.62 and in the 100m in Doha in 10.98.
Kambundji won the world bronze medal in Doha 2019 and two European gold medals in Munich 2022 and Rome 2024. The Swiss sprinter finished seventh in her previous appearance in the 200 metres Olympic final. This year she set a seasonal best of 22.42 at the Swiss Championships in Winterthur.
Marie Josée Ta Lou will be aiming to improve on her fourth-place finishes in the 100 and 200 metres at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio and in the 100 metres in Tokyo 2021. Ta Lou set a seasonal best of 22.36 in the Bislett Games in Oslo.
Women’s 400 metres:
Jamaica’s Nickisha Pryce made her breakthrough this year when she won the NCAA outdoor title in Eugene in 48.89 and the Jamaican Trials in 50.01. Pryce won her first Diamond League race of her career in London with 48.57 on her professional debut, setting the seventh fastest time in history ahead of Olympic champions Cathy Freeman and Sanya Richards Ross.
Marileidy Paulino from Dominican Republic is chasing her first Olympic gold medal after winning the silver medal in Tokyo 2021 in 49.20 and the world gold medal in Budapest 2023 in 48.76. This season Paulino won four Diamond League races in Xiamen in 50.08, Suzhou in 50.89, in Oslo in 49.30 and Paris in 49.20.
Marileidy Paulino: “Winning a gold medal and becoming Olympic champion would be very important for the Dominican Republic, and an opportunity as well as a platform to expand the sport of athletics in my country”.
Natalia Kaczmarek won the European gold medal in Rome 2024 in 48.98 improving the Polish record set by legend Irena Szewinska with 49.28 at the Olympic Games in Montreal 1976. Kaczmarek finished second in Paris in 49.82 and in London in 48.90 improving her own national record to 48.90.
Rhasidat Adeleke from Ireland won the European silver medal in Rome 2024 in 49.07 and won the first Diamond League race of her career in Monaco in 49.17. Adeleke was born in Dublin to parents, who come from Nigeria. She won the NCAA title in the 400m in 2023 in 49.20 in Austin and holds Irish records ranging from 60m indoors (7.17) and 100m (11.13) to 200m indoors (22.52) and outdoors (22..34), 400m indoors (50.33) and 400 metres outdoors (49.07). She won European under 20 titles in the 100m and 200m in Tallin 2021.
Kendall Ellis won the US Olympic Trials Final in 49.46 and finished third at the Diamond League in Monaco in 50.39. The US team will be also represented by Aaliiah Brown and Alexis Holmes, who finished second and third clocking 49.71 and 49.78 respectively at the US Trials.
Amber Anning, who studies advertising and public relations at the University of Arkansas in the United States, made headlines last winter when she broke Katherine Merry’s 25-year-old British indoor record with 22.60 in the 200 metres in Fayetteville. Anning improved her PB to 49.51 in the 400m in Galinesville, moving to third in the British all-time list behind Christine Ohurougu’s 49.41 and Kathy Cook’s 49.43. Anning finished third in 49.59 at the NCAA Outdoor finals as her fellows of the Razorbacks team of the University of Arkansas finished in the top four.
Lieke Klaver won the world indoor silver medal in Glasgow and the European bronze medal in Rome. The Dutch athlete improved her PB to 49.64 in Monaco and 49.58 in London.
Women’s 100 metres hurdles:
Jasmine Camacho Quinn will aim to win the second consecutive Olympic gold medal of her career. The Puerto Rican hurdler set the Olympic record with 12.26 in the semifinal before winning the final in 12.37 in Tokyo. At the World Championships she finished third in Eugene in a wind-assisted 12.23 and second in Budapest in 12.44. She won three consecutive races in Hengelo in 12.39, Szekesfehrvar in 12.47 and Lucerne in 12.41.
Masai Russell won the US Trials final setting the fastest time in the world this year with 12.25. Russell also finished fourth at the World Indoor Championships in the 60 metres hurdles in 7.81.
Alaysha Johnson and Grace Stark finished second and third clocking the second and the third time with 12.31 at the US Trials in Eugene. Johnson won the US indoor title in the 60 metres hurdles. Stark won the NCAA title in 12.47 and in Gainesville in 12.58 into a headwind of -1.7 m/s.
Cyrena Samba Mayela from France won at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene in 12.52 and the European gold medal in Rome in 12.31 but her preparation was slowed down by covid. The French hurdler returned with 12.66 in Lucerne and 12.72 in Schifflange.
Ditaji Kambundji from Switzerland won her first Diamond League race in Doha in 12.49 and the European silver medal in Rome improving her Swiss record to 12.40.
Two other strong European contenders are two-time European indoor champion Nadine Visser and this year’s European bronze medallist and 2022 European champion Pia Skryszowska, who improved their PBs to 12.36 and 12.37 in La Chaux de Fonds.
Ackera Nugent from Jamaica won the National Trials setting the second fastest time in the world this year. Nugent won the world under 20 title in Nairobi 2021 and finished fifth at the World Championships in Budapest in 12.61.
Devynne Charlton broke Susanna Kallur’s world indoor record with 7.67 at the Millrose Games in New York before winning the world indoor gold medal in Glasgow with another world record of 7.65. Charlton finished second in Xiamen in a seasonal best of 12.49.
Tobi Amusan set a world record of 12.12 in the semifinal of the World Championships in Eugene before winning the world gold medal. Amusan set a seasonal best of 12.40 in Kingston.
Women’s 400 metres hurdles:
The clash by Olympic campion and world record holder Sydney McLaughlin Levrone and world and European champion Femke Bol in the women’s 400 metres hurdles is shaping up as one one the greatest races of the 2024 edition of the Olympic Games. In Paris.
McLaughlin Levrone made her breakthrough in 2016 when she placed third at the US Olympic Trials in 54.15, setting a world youth and record qualifying for the Olympic Games at the age of 16 before her senior year in high school. In August 2021 McLaughlin set a world record of 51.46 to claim the Olympic gold medal in Tokyo. She broke her own record clocking 51.41 at the US Championships in Eugene in 2022. One month later she won her first world gold medal at Hayward Field in Eugene improving her world record to 50.68. The US star won the US Olympic Trials final in Eugene last June setting the fourth world record of her career with 50.65.
Bol won the Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo improving the European record to 52.03 becoming the third fastest woman in history. At the 2022 Bol equalled her seasonal best of 52.27 to finish second behind McLaughlin. One month later the Dutch athlete became the first female athlete to complete a double win in the 400 metres in 49.44 and in the 400 metres hurdles in a championships record of 52.67. She rounded off her Munich campaign with a third European gold medal in the 4x400 relay with a anchor leg in 48.52. Bol successfully defended her European indoor title in the 400 metres in Istanbul and won two world gold medals in the 400 metres hurdles with 51.70 and in the 4x400 relay with 3:20.72. Bol broke Jarmila Kratochvilova’s world indoor record in the 400 metres with 49.26 at the 2023 Dutch indoor Championships in Apeldoorn. She improved her own record twice more during the 2024 indoor season to 49.24 at the 2024 Dutch Championships and to 49.17 at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow. She successfully defended her European title in Rome in a championship record of 52.49. Bol improved her own European record to 50.95 in La Chaux de Fonds and won two Diamond League race in Stockolm in 53.07 and in London in a Diamond League and meeting record of 51.30.
The other candidates for the podium are Anna Cockrell from the USA, Rushell Clayton from Jamaica and Kemi Adekoya from Barhein. Cockrell finished second at the US Trials in 52.64 and won at the Continental Tour Gold meeting in Los Angeles in 53.75. The US hurdler won two NCAA titles in the 100 metres hurdles and in 400 metres hurdles in 2021 and finished fifth at the World Championships in Budapest last year.
Clayton won the world bronze medal in Budapest 2023 in 52.81. This year she claimed two Diamond League wins in Marrakesh in 53.98 and Oslo in 54.02 and the Jamaican Trials title of 52.51.
Adekoya finished fourth at the World Championships in Budapest improving the Asian record to 53.09. Adekoya won three races in Turku (54.37), Madrid (53.90), Szekesfehrvar (54.13) and finished second to Bol in La Chaux de Fonds in 53.41.
The other top contenders for a spot in the final are Jasmine Jones, winner at the NCAA Finals in 53.15, third at the US Olympic Trials in 52.77, Janieve Russell, fourth at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021 and second at the Jamaican Championships in 53.33, Shiann Salmon, third at the Jamaican Championships in 53.71, Catheljin Peeters from the Netherlands, third at the European Championships in Rome 2024, Lina Nielsen from Great Britain, seventh at the European Championships in Rome, Ayomide Folorunso from Italy, sixth at the World Championships in Budapest 2023 after improving her national record to 53.89 and fifth at the European Championships in Rome, Line Kloster, sixth at the European Championships in Rome.
Women’s 800 metres:
Keely Hodgkinson is undefeated this year and is aiming to win his first global gold medal after three consecutive silver medals at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021, at the World Championships in Eugene 2022 and Budapest 2023.
Hodgkinson opened her season with a win at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene in 1:55.78. The British 800 metres star retained her European title in Rome in 1:58.65 and won by more than a second at the Continental Tour Gold in Hengelo in 1:57.36. In her final race before the Olympic Games in Paris she won in 1:54.61 breaking the British record at the London Diamond League meeting in front of her home fans.
Hodgkinson’s compatriot Jemma Reekie finished second in London setting the second fastest time in the world this year with her PB of 1:55.61. Reekie finished fourth at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021 in 1:56.90 and won the world indoor silver medal in Glasgow in 1:58.28.
British 17-year-old Phoebe Gill improved her PB to 1:57.86 setting a European under 18 record and won the national title in Manchester in 1:58.66 beating Reekie.
Reigning world champion Mary Moraa won the Diamond League meeting in Doha in 1:57.91 and finished second in Eugene in 1:56.71 and at the Kenyan Trials in Nairobi in 1:59.35.
Prudence Sekgodiso from South Africa won two back-to-back Diamond League races in Marrakesh in 1:57.26 and Oslo in 1:58.66 and finished second to Hodgkinson in Hengelo in 1:58.75.
Tsige Duguma from Ethiopia won the world indoor gold medal in Glasgow in 2:01.90 and the African Games title in Accra in 1:57.73. The Ethiopian athlete finished second at the Continental Tour Gold meeting in Los Angeles in a lifetime best of 1:57.56.
Halimah Naakayi, world champion in Doha 2019, won in Los Angeles in 1:57.56 and improved her PB to 1:57.26 to finish second in London.
Jamaica’s Natoya Goule Toppin, sixth at the Olympic Games in Tokyo and fifth at the World Championships in Eugene 2022 won the national title in 1:59.06 in Kingston and finished fourth setting her seasonal best with 1:56.83 in London.
Three-time European silver medallist Renelle Lamote finished fourth at the French Championships but she bounced back by setting a seasonal best of 1:57.06 in London.
Reigning Olympic champion Athing Mu fell at the US Trials and missed out on selection. The US team will be led by world finalist Nia Atkins, winner at the National Olympic Trials with a PB of 1:57.36. Atkins will be joined by Allie Wilson and Juliette Whittacker, who finished second and third respectively with 1:58.32 and 1:58.45. Wilson then improved her lifetime best to 1:57.52 in London.
Women’s 1500 metres:
Faith Kipyegon is aiming to become the second woman to win three gold medals in the same individual event at the Olympic Games following hammer thrower Anita Wlodarczyk.
Kipyegon improved the previous world record in the 1500 metres by almost a second with 3:49.11 in the 2023 edition of the Golden Gala in Florence and followed this performance with two world record in the 5000 metres with 14:05.20 in Paris and 4:07.64 in the mile in Monaco.
The Kenyan middle-distance star won the 1500 metres and 5000 metres at the World Championships in Budapest becoming the first woman to achieve this double and win three titles in the 1500 metres. She crowned a successful 2023 season with a win in the Diamond League Final in Eugene in 3:50.72.
Kipyegon postponed her start to the 2024 season due to a muscle injury, but she made a successful come-back with a win in the 1500m at the Kenyan Olympic Trials in 3:53.09 at altitude in Nairobi. Last July Kipyegon broke her own record by 0.07 with 3:49.04 at the Paris Diamond League meeting.
Kypigeon will face her Ethiopian rival Gudaf Tsegay, world champion in the 5000 metres in Eugene 2022 and in the 10000 metres in Budapest 2023. Tsegay broke Kipyegon’s world record clocking 14:00.21 at last year’s Diamond League Final in Eugene.
Tsegay set the fourth fastest 1500m time in history clocking 3:50.30 at the Diamond League in Xiamen and the third fastest time of all-time in the 10000 metres with 29:05.92 in Eugene last May.
The entry list features five more women in the world all-time top 13.
Jessica Hull set an Oceanian record of 3:50.83 in Paris and broke the 2000 metres world record in Monaco with 5:19.70 five days later.
Laura Muir from Great Britain, Olympic silver medallist in Tokyo and world bronze medallist in Eugene, broke the British record clocking 3:53.79 to finish third in Paris.
Sifan Hassan is entered in the 1500m, 5000m, 10000m and the marathon but she has not announced which events she will contest in Paris. The Dutch won the 5000m and 10000 metres gold medals and the bronze in the 1500m in Tokyo 2021, the world title in the 1500 metres in Doha 2019 and two World Marathon Majors in London and Chicago.
Birke Haylom improved her PB to 3:53.22 in Xiamen. Haylom set the world under 20 record over the mile distance with 4:17.13 in Oslo in 2023. Diribe Welteji won the 1500 metres at the Prefonaine Classic in Eugene in a lifetime best of 3:53.75.
Nikki Hiltz won the US Olympic Trials in a lifetime best of 3:55.33 ahead of Emily Mackay and Elle St. Pierre, who broke the 3:56 barrier by clocking 3:55.90 and 3:55.99.
Women’s 5000 metres:
Faith Kipyegon, Gudaf Tsegay and Beatrice Chebet, who have broken the world records over 1500m, 5000m and 10000m over the past 12 months, will clash in the women’s 5000 metres. All three athletes have won global titles in the past year.
Tsegay, who won the Olympic bronze medal in the 5000m In Tokyo 2021, broke Kipyegon’s world 5000 metres record with 14:00.21 at last September’s Diamond League Final in Eugene, just a few weeks after winning the world gold medal in the 10000 metres in Budapest. The Ethiopian athlete set PBs with 3:50.30 in the 1500 metres in Xiamen and 29:05.92 in the 10000 metres.
Kipyegon will double up in both the 1500 and the 5000 metres in Paris. The Kenyan athlete will compete for the first time in her career in the 5000 metres at the Olympic Games. She won the world gold over this distance in Budapest.
Two-time world cross country Beatrice Chebet broke the world record in the 10000 metres with 28:54.14 at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene. Chebet won two consecutive world medals in the 5000m (silver in Eugene 2022 and bronze in Budapest 2023). She won the 5000m at the Doha Diamond League meeting and finished second to Kipyegon at the Kenyan Trials.
Margaret Chelimo will aim to add another international medal to her collection, which includes silver in the 5000m at the World Championships in Doha 2019, bronze in the 10000m at the World Championships in Eugene 2022, silver in the half marathon at the World Road Running Championships in Riga 2023 and bronze at the World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade 2023.
The Ethiopian team will be represented by teenager Medina Eisa, world under 20 champion in Cali 2022 and winner at the Marrakesh Diamond League meeting in 14:34.18, and Ejgayehu Taye, world bronze medallist in the 10000 metres in Budapest 2023 and second in the 5000m at the Prefontaine Classic meeting with 14:18.92 and in Xiamen in 14:29.26. Eisa and Taye finished fourth and fifth at the World Championships in the 5000m last year.
Elle St. Pierre won the world indoor gold medal in the 3000 metres in Glasgow in 8:20.87 and improved her PB to 14:34.12 this year at the Los Angeles Grand Prix last May.
Nadia Battocletti from Italy won two European gold medals in the 5000 and 10000 metres in front of her home fans in Rome, improving her national record to 14:35.29. Battocletti set the third fastest time of her career of 14:41.06 in the Monaco Diamond League meeting in her final race before the Olympic Games.
Battocletti will renew her rivalry against Karoline Bjerkelj Grovdal, who finished second in the 10000 metres behind the Italian athlete and won the gold medal in the half marathon at the European Championships in Rome last June. Grovdal also broke Grete Waitz’s national record clocking 8.27.02 in the 3000 metres at the Bislett Games in Oslo.
The other athlete to watch is Nozomi Tanaka from Japan, eighth in the 1500 metres at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021 and national record holder in the 5000m with 14:29.18 in Brussels last year.
Women’s 10000 metres:
Beatrice Chebet became the first woman to break the 29 minutes barrier in the 10000 metres with her world record of 28:54.14 at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene last May. Chebet finished second in the 5000 metres with 14:52.66 at the Kenyan Trials in her only race since breaking the world record.
Chebet will face former world record holder Letsenbet Gidey from Ethiopia.
Lilian Kasait Rengeruk holds the second fastest time among the entrants with her PB of 29:26.89 set in Eugene.
Defending champion Sifan Hassan has not run a 10000 metres race this year, but she holds the fourth fastest time in history with her PB of 29:06.82 set at the Fanny Blankers Koen in Hengelo in 2021.
Since 1988 only Ethiopian legend Tirunesh Dibaba has won two consecutive Olympic gold medals in the 10000 metres in Beijing 2008 and London 2012.
The entry list features seven women, who have broken the 30 minutes barrier, including Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi (fourth in Eugene in 29:27.59), Foyten Tesfay (first at the Ethiopian Trials in 29:47.71) and Tsigie Gebrselama (first in San Juan Capistrano in 29:48.34). Gebreselama also won the 5000 metres in 14:18.76 at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene.
Women’s 3000 metres steeplechase:
Reigning world champion Winfred Yavi from Barhein will go head-to-head against Olympic gold medallist Peruth Chemutai from Uganda and world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech from Kenya.
Chemutai became the first Ugandan woman to win an Olympic gold medal. Chemutai won the 3000m steeplechase in Eugene ahead of Yavi and Chepkoech setting a world lead of 8:55.09. The Ugandan athlete also won the African Games silver medal and finished third in Xiamen and second in Suzhou.
Yavi, world champion in Budapest and Diamond League winner in 2023, finished ninth in Eugene in her first race after a nerve injury, but she bounced back with a win at the Paris Diamond League meeting in 9:03.68, setting the fifth fastest time of the year so far.
Chepkoech is aiming to win her first Olympic medal after finishing fourth in Rio de Janeiro 2016 and seventh in Tokyo 2021. The Kenyan athlete won the world indoor bronze medal in the 3000 metres and the gold medal in the 3000 metres steeplechase at the African Games. She won two Diamond League races in Xiamen in 8.55.40 and Suzhou in 9:07.36 and finished second in 8:56.51 in Eugene.
Another medal contender from Kenya is 20-year-old Faith Cherotich, who won the world under 20 title in Cali 2022 and the world bronze medal in Budapest 2023. Cherotich won the Kenyan Trials and finished second in Xiamen and third in Eugene.
The Kenyan team will also feature 2022 Commonwealth Games champion Jackline Chepkoech.
The Ethiopian team will be represented by Sembo Almayew, fourth at the African Games and in two Diamond League races in Suzhou and Eugene, and Lomi Muleta, bronze medallist at the African Games and at the African under 20 Championships.
Valerie Constien won the US Olympic Trials in Eugene setting a championships record and a PB with 9:03.22, the third fastest time in the world this season. Constien is looking to continue the US tradition after Emma Coburn and Courtney Frerichs, who won medals in the past two editions of the Olympic Games.
The other major contenders are Alice Finot, European champion in Rome and second behind Yavi in the Paris Diamond League meeting with a national record of 9:05.01, Elizabeth Bird, European bronze medallist in Rome and third in the Monaco Diamond League with a national record of 9:07.87, and Marwa Bouzayani, sixth at the Paris Diamond League meeting with 9:15.54.
Women’s 4x100 relay:
The US team formed by Tamari Davis, Gabby Thomas, Celera Barnes and Melissa Jefferson won at the World Relays setting a world leading time of 41.85 beating France by 0.9. World 100 metres champion Sha’Carri Richardson did not run at the World Relays but is part of the Olympic pool that also features Tamari Davis, Aleia Hobbs, Melissa Jefferson, Twanisha Terry and Jenna Prandini. The US team won two consecutive world gold medals in Eugene 2022 and Budapest 2023.
The British team featuring Dina Asher Smith, Imani Lansiquot, Amy Hunt and Daryll Neita ran faster with a new world leading time of 41.55 at the London Diamond League meeting, equalling the British record. Great Britain, featuring Asher Smith, Desirée Henry, Hunt and Neita, won the European gold medal in 41.91 in Rome last June. Asher Smith won two Olympic bronze medals in Rio de Janeiro 2016 and Tokyo 2021.
The USA and Great Britain are the only teams to have broken the 42 seconds barrier.
France won the silver medal at the European Championships in Rome in 42.10 and finished second in 42.15 at the London Diamond League meeting.
Jamaica will feature their biggest stars Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce and Shericka Jackson, who were part of the team who won the Olympic gold medal, and Shashalee Forbes, who won the world silver medal in Budapest last year.
The German team featuring Sophia Junk, Nele Jakorski, Gina Luckenkemper and Rebekka Haase set a seasonal best of 42.47 in the heats of the European Championships in Rome before finishing fourth in the final in 42.61.
The Netherlands ran 43.09 at the World Relays in Nassau and improved their best time to 42.39 at the European Championships in Rome.
Italy featuring European bronze medallist Zaynab Dosso, Anna Bongiorni, Dalia Kaddari and Alessia Pavese won the bronze medal in Munich 2022 and finished fourth at the World Championships in Budapest in a national record of 42.14.
Australia set a seasonal best of 42.48 at the Diamond League meeting in London.
Women’s 4x400 metres:
The US team has won the past seven titles in the women’s 4x400 relay since 1996. Their relay pool features six women who have broken the 50 seconds barrier in the 400 metres this season. World 400m hurdles record holder Sydney McLaughlin Levrone ran the fastest time in the world in 2024 with 48.75 in the 400 metres at the Continental Tour Gold meeting in New York last June. The 24-year-old US star ran the first leg at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo contributing to the win of her team, and ran the final leg of the team, who won the gold medal in Eugene 2022. The US team also feature Alexis Holmes, who anchored the US team to win in the mixed relay at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest 2023, and Gabby Thomas, who won the 200m at the US Trials and at the London Diamond League meeting.
Femke Bol led the Netherlands to the world outdoor title in Budapest in 2023 in 3:20.72 and anchored her team to a second global title at the the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow 2024. There is a potential clash between Bol and McLaughlin Levrone in the final leg of the 4x400 relay.
Jamaica has reached the podium in the 4x400 relay in every edition of the Olympic Games since 2000. The Jamaican team is led by NCAA 400 metres champion Nickisha Pryce, who set the national record and the seventh fastest time in history in the one lap event. The Jamaican pool features Junelle Bromfield, Stephanie McPherson and Stacey Ann Williams.
Great Britain won the world indoor bronze medal behind the Netherlands and the USA at this year’s World Indoor Championships in Glasgow 2024. The British team also finished third at the World Championships in Eugene 2022 and Budapest 2023. Their best athletes are NCAA indoor champion Amber Anning and Laviai Nielsen, who clocked 49.63 and 49.87 respectively at the London Diamond League meeting.
Ireland won the silver medal behind the Netherlands in a national record of 3:22.71 at the European Championships in Rome thanks to sub-50 seconds splits by Rhasidat Adeleke and Sharlene Mawdsley.
The Belgian team featuring Naomi Van De Broeck, Imke Vervaet, Cynthia Bolingo and Helena Ponette won the European bronze medal in a national record of 3:22.95.
Italy finished seventh at the past two editions of the World Championships in Eugene 2022 and Budapest 2023. The Italian team featuring Ilaria Accame, Giancarla Trevisan, Anna Polinari and Alice Mangione placed fourth at the European Championships in Rome setting a national record of 3:23.40.
The other candidates for a spot in the final are Canada, Poland and France, who finished fourth, sixth and ninth at the World Championships in Budapest 2023, and Norway, who clocked 3:26.05 at the European Championships in Rome.