Athletes must qualify in 12 IAAF Diamond League meetings in order to qualify for the Finals that are held in Zürich and in Brussels. After 6 meetings and halfway on the Road to Brussels a number of attractive names have already earned their spot in the big final at the AG Memorial Van Damme.
In the Men’s High Jump Mutaz Essa Barshim is performing at the highest level. The Qatari took 3 consecutive wins in the Diamond League and will be present in Brussels. The Men’s High Jump will certainly be one of the highlights of this final. The Women’s High Jump with Nafi Thiam will also be held in Brussels. Other Belgian athletes on the infield at the Diamond League Final will be the Borlée brothers in the 400m. The organisers are allowed to attribute more wild cards to Belgian athletes and will likely do so.
Meeting director Cédric Van Branteghem is very much looking forward to the Men’s High Jump. “Four years ago Barshim was absolutely fabulous. He set a personal best of 2,43m and only narrowly failed to set a new World Record. This year his focus is entirely turned to the Diamond League and he wants to attack records. And Barshim has challengers again, not to mention Lysenko. In 2018 there are no Olympic Games or World Championships and athletes want to stand out in the IAAF Diamond League. That can raise the level of our Final here in Brussels.”
In the Men’s Discus Throw already 4 finalists have qualified : Andrius Gudzius, Ehsan Hadadi, Fedrick Dacres and Daniel Stähl. Philip Milanov ranks provisionally in 5th and is also likely to qualify !
The Women’s Discus Throw will also be held in Brussels this year. Sandra Perkovic from Croatia dominates the event for quite some time now and she is also unstoppable this year. She is the only athlete in this event that has already qualified.
In the Women’s 100m Hurdles Brianna McNeal will be travelling to Brussels. Kenyan Hyvin Kiyeng and American Emma Coburn have qualified in the 3000m Steeplechase.
The next meeting will be held in Paris on June, 30th. On August, 31st the top 8 athletes in each event will be heading for Brussels for the Final at the AG Memorial Van Damme.
