After a break following the Commonwealth Games, the Diamond League track and field series restarted today in Lausanne, Switzerland, with a unique men’s pole vault “city event.” Armand Duplantis from Sweden, a double Olympic gold medalist and three-time world champion, set a meet record by clearing 6.21 meters. Despite thrilling attempts at 6.32m to break his own world record by one centimeter, he fell short.
The event marks the beginning of the final phase of the global track and field season, leading up to the Diamond League Final and the newly introduced World Athletics Ultimate Championship.
The upcoming schedule includes three remaining regular-season meets before the Diamond League champions are determined at the Final in Brussels on September 4 and 5. Notable events include a men’s 800m race featuring the medallists from the 2024 Paris Olympics, such as Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Marco Arop, and Djamel Sedjati. Additionally, the lineup boasts top athletes like Letsile Tebogo, Shericka Jackson, and Amy Hunt in the 200m races.
Live coverage of the events is available for viewers on CBC Gem and CBC TV network. On Saturday, the action moves to Poland’s Silesian Stadium for two days of fierce competition, with athletes like Sarah Mitton, Jessica Schilder, and Chase Jackson competing in field events.
Sunday’s lineup features prominent athletes like Ethan Katzberg, Camryn Rogers, and Andre De Grasse in events like the men’s 100m and 1,500m. A highlight will be the women’s 100m race with a stellar lineup including Julien Alfred, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, and Sha’Carri Richardson.
The Diamond League Final in Brussels will see top athletes competing for the prestigious Diamond Trophy and significant cash prizes. The World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, following the Diamond League Final, offers a substantial $10 million prize pool and features a selective lineup of elite athletes competing for the title of the best in the world.
Canada’s athletes, including Arop, Mitton, Katzberg, and Rogers, are aiming for top performances in these upcoming events, hoping to secure their positions in the highly competitive field of track and field.