Monday, December 23, 2024

Diamond League Final: Matt Hudson-Smith leads British charge in Brussels

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In the 200m, Botswana’s 21-year-old Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo comes up against a strong American contingent, including Kenny Bednarek.

Sweden’s Armand Duplantis may attempt to improve the pole vault world record he has broken three times already this year, while Britain’s Molly Caudery will try to put her disappointing Olympic campaign behind her in the women’s competition.

Britain’s Melissa Courtney-Bryant features in the women’s 1500m, while compatriot Ben Pattison is up against formidable Kenyan Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi in the 800m.

Georgia Bell will run the 800m-1500m double, with Jemma Reekie alongside her over the shorter distance. Neita and Amy Hunt will also compete in the 200m on Saturday.

The line-up for each race has been decided by qualifying points gathered across 14 events staged over the season, with the winners of each Diamond League final taking home a trophy and £24,000 in prize money.

American Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is not in contention for a title and the associated prize money, having preferred a low-key Stateside build-up to the Olympics without any Diamond League events.

However, organisers have put on a pair of special races for the 400m hurdles Olympic champion and world record holder.

The 25-year-old McLaughlin-Levrone will race in invitational 200m and 400m races and could break Sanya Richards-Ross’ American record in the latter.

Full start lists and event schedule are available on the Diamond League website., external

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