Lausanne: Stellar Fields In The Triple Jump And 400m Hurdles

The current world and Olympic champion in the triple jump, Christian Taylor, has confirmed his presence at Athletissima on 6 July. With the 18.11m jumped in Eugene, the American has already proven that he is in very good shape and that if someone is to beat Jonathan Edward’s world record of 18.29m someday, that is him. Being the only athlete to have jumped beyond 18m four times, he is naturally thinking of this target more and more. “I want this world record more than anything; what would really help me is strong competitors”. He will face great competition in Lausanne as his fellow countryman Will Clay, Olympic silver medallist and second in Oregon (18.05m, with too much tailwind unfortunately), will be in Lausanne as well. Taylor seems to like the Lausanne track, since he won the event in 2015 by establishing a new stadium record of 18.06m. Another great competitor confirmed is Cuban vice-world champion Pedro Pablo Pichardo.

Bowie in the 200m

In the women’s races, one can expect a very fast 200m. The world champion Dafne Schippers will face the fastest athlete of the season so far, Tori Bowie, who clocked 21.77 recently. This race could well lead to very fast times and help the two Swiss Mujinga Kambundji and Sarah Atcho reach a new level. One can be certain that Merlene Ottey’s stadium record (22.07 in 1995) will be at risk in this race.

Very though opposition for Sprunger

In the 400m hurdles, Lea Sprunger will face the best athletes this event has to offer with all three Rio medallists competing: Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad, also winner at Athletissima last year, Olympic silver medallist Sara Slott Petersen (reigning European champion and Athletissima winner 2015), and bronze medal winner Ashley Spencer, who set a world lead in Eugene. World champion Zuzana Hejnova will complete this impressive line-up.

Exciting women’s High Jump and Long jump

In the women’s high jump, the reigning world champion Maria Lasitskene (born Kuchina) has just shown that she has no intention of losing her title at the world championships in London this summer. The Russian, who will compete under neutral flag, has just set a world lead of 2.03m in Eugene. Finally, in the long jump, European champion and world indoor champion Ivana Spanovic, who won this event at Athletissima last year, will try to reiterate her victory.

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Athletissima