13 May, 2024

The express trains

Photo: Bildbyrån

When you have a heat consisting of the reigning Olympic champion, the 2021 world champion, four of the twenty fastest in the world ever and a field where everyone has a personal best under 10.00, you just must fasten your seat belts. This builds up to be a fantastic duel, primarily between Lamont Marcell Jacobs from Italy and Fred Kerley from the USA. But Akine Simbine from South Africa must be considered a joker.

Provisional starting field for 100 meters:

Lamont Marcell Jacobs from Italy.

Olympic champion in 2021. Indoor world champion at 60 meters in 2022. European champion in 2022. European indoor champion at 60 meters in 2021.

Number fifteen in the world ranking.

Personal record: 9.80 which is a European record. Number twelve in the all-time world statistics.

Fred Kerley from the USA.

World champion in 100 meters 2022. Number two in the Olympics 2021. Bronze in 400 meters in the WC 2019.

Number five in the world ranking.

Personal best: 9.76. Number six on the all-time world statistics.

Winner of the Wanda Diamond League in 400 meters in 2018 and 100 meters in 2021.

Akine Simbine from South Africa.

Number seven in the world ranking. Personal best: 9.84. Number nineteen in the all-time world statistics.

Number four in the 2021 Olympics. Number five in 2016. Number four in the WC 2019. Number five in 2017 and 2022.

Won the 100 meters during the Diamond League meet in Shanghai/Suzhou on April 20.

Yohan Blake from Jamaica.

Number eleven in the world ranking.

Personal best: 9.69. Number three in the all-time world statistics.

World champion in 2011. Number two in the 2012 Olympics. Number two in the 200 meters in the Olympics in 2012.

Winner of the Wanda Diamond League in 100 and 200 meters in 2011.

Abdul Hakim Sani Brown from Japan.

Number fourteen in the world ranking.

Personal best: 9.97.

Number six in the WC 2023. Number seven in 2022.

Rohan Watson from Jamaica.

Number twenty one in the world ranking.

Personal best: 9.91.