Kirani James and Lashawn Merritt have delivered some fine duels in the 400m over the last few years, a number of them at the Prefontaine Classic in a bid to pick up priceless Diamond League points.
Since 2011, the Diamond Trophy has gone to one of the two men in five out of six seasons. James, who won the title in 2011 and 2015, surrendered the Diamond Trophy to Merritt last season. The American, who picked up seven points with his second-placed finish in Doha, has the chance to extend his points tally in Eugene and take a big step forward on the Road To The Final.
Renaud Lavillenie is the only athlete to have won the Diamond Trophy in every single year since 2010. No other male pole vaulter has ever got his hands on the trophy, thanks to the Frenchman’s imperious dominance.
He has been equally as consistent at the Prefontaine Classic, winning the men’s pole vault competition in each of the last four seasons. As he tells us here, the Diamond League is not just about being successful on one day, it’s about reaching a high level repeatedly throughout the year.