Revenge for LavillenieDispossessed from his pole vault Olympic title by the Brasilian Thiago Silva, Renaud Lavillenie (FRA) will get a chance to take his revenge as early as next Thursday in Lausanne. The Frenchman will be looking to put on a show. The American bronze medallist Sam Kendricks (USA) will also take part in this event.
Thompson, James and Meritt for Crazy Sprints
Athletissima’s 2016 sprint races will be royal with men’s 100 m, 200 m and 400 m, as well as women’s 100 m on the schedule. The first superstars announced are the 100 m Olympic champion Elaine Thompson and the two 400 m medallists Kirani James (GRN) and Lashawn Meritt (USA).
Semenya, Kiprop and Dibaba : Middle-Distance in the Spotlight
Three of the all-time best middle-distance runners will be on the track of la Pontaise next Thursday. On 1000 m, Asbel Kiprop (KEN), world’s best 1500 m specialist, will be facing the best 800 m and 1500 m runners of the planet, starting with the world champion of 2013 Mohammed Aman (ETH) and Rio’s bronze medallist Clayton Murphy (USA). The 800 m queen Caster Semenya will also be there on the 800 m, next to Selina Büchel (SUI), Melissa Bishop (CAN) and Eunice Sum (KEN). And, finally, the world record holder on 1500 m Genzebe Dibaba (ETH), beaten in Rio, will start on 3000 m. She asked for a very high pace.
Many medallists
The full 110 m hurdles Olympic podium will be in la Pontaise, with Omar McLeod (JAM), Orlando Ortega (ESP) and Dimitri Bascou (FRA). In the high jump, the two stars Mutaz Barshim (QAT) and Bohdan Bondarenko (UKR), medallists, but beaten by Derick Drouin (CAN) in Rio, are also announced. The brand new discus Olympic champion Christoph Harting (GER) who will be facing world’s best specialists.
Amazing Harrison
The story of Kendra Harrison’s 2016 season is amazing: after missing to qualify for the Olympics during the American trials, she has beaten the world record of the 100 m hurdles during London’s Diamond League. Lausanne will be her first race after this monumental performance and the track of La Pontaise is known to be very fast for hurdle races.
About Ten Swiss Athletes in the Main Programm
Athletissima is happy to welcome this year about 10 Swiss athletes in its main program.
