The two finals of the IAAF Diamond League will be held in Brussels and a week earlier in Zurich. Only those athletes who qualified for the final in their event throughout the Diamond League season will be allowed to compete at the AG Memorial Van Damme. The organisers can give one wildcard in each event and at the Memorial these wildcards are reserved for the best Belgian athletes. Nafi Thiam, Jonathan Sacoor and the Borlée brothers are already confirmed to participate.
The surprising Ecuadorian Alex Quiñonez and Ramil Guliyev from Turkey were the most consistent athletes in the Men’s 200 meters and they lead the Diamond Race in their event. Aaron Brown is also sure to make it to the Final. Noah Lyles and Andre de Grasse entered the Diamond Race in a later stage, but they performed strongly and are likely to qualify for the Final.
Without any doubt Kenyan Timothy Cheruiyot is the man to beat this season in the 1500m. With three Diamond Race wins and a second place he is comfortably in the lead and has qualified for the Final in Brussels. Ayanleh Souleiman from Djibouti, the Norwegian phenomenon Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Kenyan Vincent Kibet have also qualified.
In the Men’s Discus Throw the entire field for the Final at the Memorial is already confirmed. Daniel Stahl is the unchallenged leader ahead of Dacres (the only athlete who was able to beat Stahl in the Diamond Race in Rabat) and Weisshaidinger. Other finalists are Malachowski, Stunes Isene, Hadadi, Harting and Gudzius.
In the Women’s 5000m all the finalists are also known. After her spectacular race in London where she set a World Leading performance Hellen Obiri now leads the Diamond Race in her event. Agnes Jebet Tirop and the Dutch European record holder Sifan Hassan are standing right behind the Kenyan. With Kipkirui, Dibaba and Kipkemboi as other qualifiers, the Final promises to become very interesting.
The finalists for the High Jump are also decided. Mariya Lasitskene - who is dominant throughout the season – is in the lead in the Diamond Race. Demireva, Kinsey, Levchencko and Mahuchikh will be the main contenders of the Authorised Neutral Athlete in her bid to conquer the precious Diamond League Trophy.
In the 100m Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce made impressive moves to qualify for the Final. She also entered the circuit late but after two impressive wins she is almost certain to qualify. Ta Lou, Asher-Smith and Okagbare have already secured their ticket tot he Final.
That means that 77 Diamond League finalists for Brussels have already qualified. In the last two meetings to be held next month (Birmingham on August, 18th and Paris on August,24th) the remaining spots will be decided and the full line up for the 43rd AG Memorial Van Damme, on Friday September, 6th in the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels will then be available.
