1. Title defender Stefanidi takes on pretender Morris – Pole Vault
It has been the duel of the women’s pole vault over the last few years, and one in which a new chapter may be written in the Diamond League Final on Thursday. Katerina Stefanidi, having won the Diamond Trophy in each of the last two seasons, now faces quite a fight to defend her crown for a third year in a row. Long-time rival Sandi Morris is enjoying a superb season, and beat Stefanidi in Birmingham, albeit in extraordinarily windy conditions. Morris’ season’s best is also superior to Stefanidi’s, but if there is one thing that the Greek star has proven in the last few years, it is that she can perform when it counts.
Women’s pole vault on Thursday: 18.50 CEST (local time in Zürich)
2. Röhler eyes revenge – Javelin
Fresh from his gold medal success on home soil at the European Championships in Berlin, Thomas Röhler is hoping to do what he did in 2014, and win the Diamond Trophy in Zürich. To do so would also be to banish the ghosts of last year’s Final, where the German was pipped to the trophy by surprise winner Jakub Vadlejch. After Röhler and his compatriot Johannes Vetter had dominated the javelin all season, Vadlejch pulled out a brilliant performance to defend the Diamond Trophy he had won in 2016. After two years incumbency from the Czech, European Champion Röhler will be hoping to finally topple Vadlejch, and add a Diamond Trophy to his list of 2018 titles.
Men’s javelin on Thursday: 20.55 CEST
3. Asher-Smith takes on the Ivory Coast’s finest – 100m
Another newly crowned European Champion who will be eyeing a Diamond Trophy in Zürich is Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, who lines up in the 100m alongside the likes of Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor, Marie-Josée Ta Lou and Murielle Ahouré. The latter two athletes dominated the sprints early on in the Road to the Final, before Asher-Smith shortened her odds with a win in Stockholm. It would prove to be a precursor to a glorious summer for Asher-Smith, who can now boast of two gold medals from Berlin. But can the rising British star do what she did earlier in the season, and beat Okagbare and Ahouré over 100m to take a diamond victory?
Women’s 100m on Thursday: 20.40 CEST
4. All smiles for Lyles? – 200m
With four victories in four appearances on the Road to the Final, Diamond Trophy holder Noah Lyles is the undisputed favourite going into the men’s 200m Final in Zürich. The prodigious American stormed to victory in every Diamond League meeting he appeared in over 200m this season, yet there will be no shortage of strong competitors on Thursday. World Champion Ramil Guliyev is the most likely to be breathing down Lyles’ neck, but Aaron Brown and Jereem Richards can also boast of successful seasons this year. Whether either of them have the guile to catch Lyles in Zürich is another matter.
Men’s 200m on Thursday: 21.11 CEST
5. Sprunger, Russell challenge American dominance – 400m Hurdles
Not since 2015 has a non-American athlete won the Diamond Trophy in the women’s 400m hurdles, with Cassandra Tate and Dalilah Muhammad taking the title in the last two years. It looks like being another American vintage in 2018, with Muhammad and in-form Shamier Little the favourites ahead of the Final, and Georganne Moline also in the running. Jamaica’s Janieve Russell finished second four times on the Road To The Final and will be hoping to go one better, while Switzerland’s Lea Sprunger will be hoping that a European Championship medal, a win in Birmingham and home advantage are enough to propel her to an unexpected victory.
Women’s 400m hurdles on Thursday: 21.02 CEST