On Friday, September 13 and Saturday, September 14, the circle of this year’s Diamond League series comes to a close in Brussels!
There, the world’s top athletes will face off one last time before 2024, with the grand prize being none other than… diamonds!
Of course, for us fans of endurance events, the highlight is the matchup between Jacob Ingebrigtsen and Yared Nuguse in the 1,500m. The American recently made headlines in Zurich when he secured first place, while the Norwegian aims to close the season with one more victory. Also joining them will be the gold medalist in the event, Cole Hocker!
However, there is strong speculation that Jacob will also participate in the Copenhagen Half Marathon on Sunday, something he did not deny.
A great race is expected in the men’s 800m (Saturday, 14/9 at 22:40), with Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Marco Arop, and Djamel Sedjati having run very fast this year, eyeing the notoriously difficult World Record of David Rudisha at 1:40.91.
In the men’s 5,000m (Friday, 13/9 at 19:00), the standout competitors include Ethiopian Hagos Gebrhiwet (two wins this year in Diamond League in Oslo and Rome), as well as his compatriot Yomif Kejelcha, and Kenyan silver Olympic medalist, Ronald Kwemoi.
In the men’s 3,000m steeplechase (Friday, 13/9 at 22:09), the overwhelming favorite is none other than Moroccan El Bakkali, who has been unbeatable in the Diamond League since 2021 (!), but he will not have an easy task against Ethiopians Sime and Wale, as well as Kenyans Serem and Kibiwot.
We also have the women’s 5,000m (Saturday, 14/9 at 22:18), where the favorite is the surprise from Paris, Beatrice Chebet, as well as the women’s 3,000m steeplechase (Saturday, 14/9 at 21:27) with Yavi from Bahrain standing out after her remarkable performance in Rome two weeks ago.
Finally, we await an exciting race in an event that has seen a significant rise this year, the women’s 1,500m (Saturday, 14/9 at 21:54). You see, in Brussels, we will have a… repeat of the Olympic final with World Record holder Faith Kipyegon facing Australia’s Jessica Hull, Ethiopians Haylom, Mesele, and Welteji, as well as British athlete Georgia Bell.
The event will also feature the presence of the World Record holder in the 400m hurdles, Sydney McLaughlin Levron, competing in two events, the 200m and 400m.
Now, the Diamond League series also faces competition as the ATHLOS event is scheduled in New York on September 26, offering substantial cash prizes, leading many athletes to choose to run their final race there, particularly in the sprint events.
See the schedule for both days
-> The races will be broadcast live on ERT 3 on Friday and Saturday at 21:00.