What is more exciting than one Diamond League? Two! Less than 72 hours since some of the best took to the track in Lausanne, the show continues in Poland on Sunday. James Rhodes previews the men’s 800m, where all eyes will be on the clock.

The Olympics are over and for many now a distant memory. However, the track season continues at pace. On Thursday, many raced for the first time since Paris. Lausanne provided a mix of post-Olympic heroics and hangovers. If the fields in the Stade Pontaise were good, Silesia feels one step above. Many faces return for a second race of the week, and plenty more fly to the Polish city to join them. One race of particular interest will be the men’s 800m.

World Record? Take Two

Not since the days of David Rudisha has the talk before a men’s 800m been about the possibility of a World Record. 1:40.91. A performance so groundbreaking twelve years ago it was hard to see people getting close. How quickly things change.

Paris (DL). Monaco. Paris (Olympics). Lausanne. Four races, each faster than the one before.

In Lausanne, Olympic Champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi moved one step closer. He now sits joint second on the all-time list, alongside Wilson Kipketer. Only Rudisha’s three World Records are faster.

Wanyonyi has another go in Poland. He’ll be joined by many who joined him in Lausanne, including the closest contender Marco Arop. The Canadian finished just 0.01s behind in Paris (1:41.20) and second in Lausanne (1:41.72). Six of the eight Olympic finalists will be there, including sub-1:42 runners Bryce Hoppel and Gabriel Tual, plus Mohammed Attoui.

Let’s not forget, Hoppel ran 1:41.67 at the Olympics, a time that moved him to being the seventh fastest man in history. Yet, such was the quality of the race, he only finished fourth. No one has ever run that fast and finished that far down the field before.

It is excellent to see Max Burgin on the entry list too. He improved his PB to 1:43.50 in Paris. After years of opportunities cruelly rescinded by injury, it is great to see Max fit and healthy. Hopefully he has a good two laps in what is just the second Diamond League of his career.

Photo: James Rhodes

World Indoor medallists, and current road mile World Record holder, Hobbs Kessler has been added to the field.

Djamel Sedjati is a notable withdrawal after previously being on the entry list. Ben Pattison is also no longer competing.

British Interest Elsewhere

Georgia Bell returns to the 1500m after finishing second over 800m at the Lausanne Diamond League. The Olympic bronze medallist may go in as one of the favourites, following the withdrawal of previously announced Jess Hull. Hull won silver in Paris.

Revee Walcott-Nolan and Melissa Courtney-Bryant also compete. Olympic fourth-placer Diribe Welteji, who moved to fourteenth on the 3000m all-time list in Lausanne, will likely feature.

Photo: James Rhodes

Also on the programme is a women’s 1000m, with Jemma Reekie in the field. She will race, amongst others, Mary Moraa, 2019 World Champion Halimah Nakaayi, Commonwealth Games medallist Abbey Caldwell and Nia Akins.

A particularly strong men’s 3000m field has been assembled, starring Jakob Ingebrigtsen and some of the fastest Africans in recent history. Perhaps one eye will be on Daniel Komen’s longstanding (and seen-to-be-impossible-to-break) World Record.

Ethiopian trio Yomif Kejelcha, Selemon Barega, Berihu Aregaewi are entered, alongside Kenyan 5000m silver medallist Ronald Kwemoi and Grant Fisher of the US. Canadian Mo Ahmed, who finished fourth in Paris over 25 laps, runs too. George Mills is the sole British entrant.

The three Paris medallists; Soufiane El Bakkali, Kenneth Rooks and Abraham Kibiwot headline the men’s 3000m steeplechase, Rooks in his Diamond League debut.

Other Events

Men: 100m, 200m, 110m hurdles, 400m hurdles, pole vault, high jump, hammer throw, shot put.

Women: 100m, 400m, 100m hurdles, 400m hurdles, triple jump, javelin, hammer throw.

The Silesia Diamond League will be shown on BBC2 tomorrow afternoon between 15:00 and 17:00.