5000m bigwigs Jacob Krop, Kimeli, Beatrice Chebet and Margaret Chelimo chase jewels in Zurich Diamond League

Jacob Krop of Team Kenya Looks on after competing in men's 5000m final athletics event at the Alexander Stadium, on day nine of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, central England, on August 6, 2022. (Kelly Ayodi, Standard) The 2022 Diamond League season reaches its climax on Wednesday and Thursday night at the Weltklasse Zurich meet inside Stadion Letzigrund in Zurich, Switzerland. After 12 meetings that started in May, all the 32 champions will be crowned during the two-day contest, where Diamond League trophies, top $30,000 (Sh3 million) prizes and wild cards to the 19th World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on August 19-27 next year. With the classy line ups, the competition will no doubt turn out into a dogfight. The first six titles will be secured on Sechselautenplatz - one of the city's most famous squares on the shore of Lake Zurich, a temporary track and arena will host both shot put competitions and 5000m finals as well as the women's pole vault and men's high jump tonight. It remains to be seen if Kenya's world 5000m silver medalist Jacob Krop, who impressed at the Brussels meet on Friday, will respond when called upon tonight over the distance. Krop moved to sixth on the world all-time list with his winning 12:45.71 run in Brussels to book his place in the final and will look to build on that when he goes up against some strong opposition in Zurich. The 21-year-old recorded the fastest time in the world so far this year to beat USA's Grant Fisher and Commonwealth Games 5000m silver medalist Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli, who will also compete. Fisher's performance of 12:46.96 was a North American record that moved him to 12th on the world all-time list. Ethiopia's Berihu Aregawi won last year's title on the city centre course and a few months later he further proved his road race strength, setting a world 5km record of 12:49 in Barcelona at the end of the year. His Diamond League campaign this season has included a win in Eugene in May as well as a runner-up finish over 3000m in Monaco, where victory was claimed by Burundi's Thierry Ndikumwenayo in a world-leading PB and Diamond League record of 7:25.93. Other Diamond League meeting winners this season were Ethiopia's Selemon Barega and Telahun Haile Bekele, plus South Sudan's Dominic Lokinyomo Lobalu, and others joining them in the final include Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha and Kenya's Cornelius Kemboi, plus Germany's Maximillian Thorwirth. Like last year, the women's 5000m races will be held on a temporary course around the Zurich Opera House. Nicholas Kimeli winner 5000m men's race during trials World Championships and Commonwealth Games at the Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani. June 24, 2022. [Jonah Onyango, Standard] After winning the world indoor 1500m title in Belgrade, Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay went on to gain outdoor gold over 5000m in Oregon and now the world indoor 1500m record-holder will have a first Diamond Trophy in her sights. The 25-year-old's 5000m PB of 14:13.32 was set last year, while she ran 14:26.69 when finishing second behind her compatriot Dawit Seyaum in Oslo. Seyaum isn't contesting the final in Zurich, but Tsegay will be joined on the start line by three other compatriots: Ejgayehu Taye, Fantu Worku and Hawi Feysa. World silver medallist Beatrice Chebet AP World indoor 3000m bronze medallist Taye broke the world 5km record with her 14:19 run in Barcelona at the end of last year and given the 5000m in Zurich takes place on a temporary track on the streets of the city centre, the results will be classed as road performances and Taye will certainly be one to watch. USA's Alicia Monson ran a big 3000m PB of 8:26.81 when finishing a close second in Lausanne, pipped on the line by Francine Niyonsaba, having been a long-time leader, and will be looking to build on that with a strong 5000m performance. Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi, of Kenya, stands on the podium after winning Bronze in the 10,000 meters women's final at the World Athletics Championships on Saturday, July 16, 2022, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Four of the top five in Lausanne renew their rivalry in Zurich, Monson joined by Netherlands' Olympic 5000m and 10,000m champion Sifan Hassan, who has raced sparingly this year following a full-on 2021 but won the 3000m in Silesia, and Kenya's world 5000m silver medallist Beatrice Chebet and world 10,000m bronze medallist Margaret Kipkemboi. The field also features Britain's Amy-Eloise Markovc and Hungary's Viktoria Wagner-Gyurkes. A number of high-octane races are lined up for Thursday. Wednesday programme Women's shot put: 5:55pm Men's shot put: 5:55pm Women's pole vault: 6:30pm Women's 5000m: 6:35pm Men's high jump: 7:00pm Men's 5000m: 8:10pm Kenyan stars to watch today Men 5000m Nicholas Kimeli Jacob Krop Cornelius Kemboi Women 5000m Margaret Chelimo Beatrice Chebet

5000m bigwigs Jacob Krop, Kimeli, Beatrice Chebet and Margaret Chelimo chase jewels in Zurich Diamond League

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5000m bigwigs Jacob Krop, Kimeli, Beatrice Chebet and Margaret Chelimo chase jewels in Zurich Diamond League

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