Kenyans are expected to bag Diamond League prizes

Kenya's Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi celebrates with her silver medal during the podium ceremony for the Women's 3000m Steeplechase Final during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 15, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Johannes EISELE

A big show is expected when Kenyans will get down to the thrill of the night battle for the IAAF Diamond League payout at Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich, Switzerland.

World 1,500m champion Elijah Manangoi tops the leader board with 30 points as silver medallist Timothy Cheruiyot trails with 25 points. Ethiopia’s Aman Wote, the 2014 world indoor silver medallist, 2011 world silver medallist Silas Kiplagat, and Vincent Kibet tie with 15 points.

Former world 3,000m steeplechase champion Hyvin Kiyeng, Africa champion Norah Jeruto, and Beatrice Chepkoech are hot favourites for a share of the Sh164.8m ($1.6m) pay cheque in the 3,000m steeplechase. They lead with 15 points each.

Ethiopia’s world 10,000m champion Muktar Edris and world indoor 3,000m champion Yomif Kejelcha top the 5,000m standings with 19 points from three meetings.

Other Olympic champions in action include Christian Taylor in the triple jump, Faith Kipyegon in the 1500m, Ruth Beitia in the high jump, Tianna Bartoletta in the long jump, Sandra Perkovic in the discus, Ryan Crouser in the shot put, Thomas Rohler in the javelin, and sprint hurdler Omar McLeod, who will contest the 100m in Zurich.

Zurich’s Weltklasse meeting, the 13th stop of the IAAF Diamond League meetings, welcomes 14 Olympic champions and 26 silver and bronze medallists, eight reigning world champions, and 17 European champions. The women’s 200m and the men’s pole vault are just two examples of 18 top-class events.

The gold medal haul of athletes competing in women’s 200m in Zürich is truly impressive: Elaine Thompson, Dafne Schippers, Allyson Felix, and Veronica Campbell-Brown have won a total of 25 global titles. It will be the first time ever that this quartet has met over 200m.

History could be written in the men’s pole vault in Zurich as world record-holder Renaud Lavillenie seeks an unprecedented seventh Diamond Race victory. The competition will also provide him with an opportunity to settle the score with Thiago Braz, the surprise Olympic champion.

The two will be challenged by Olympic bronze medallist Sam Kendricks, world bronze medallist Piotr Lisek, and European silver medallist Jan Kudlicka.