Christian Coleman will be out to defend his title as he lines up against a strong charge in the men’s 100m at the Diamond League Meeting final in Brussels, Belgium on Friday, September 13.
The American has had a turbulent season and ending it on a high will be a plus for him. He was off to a great start to his season, winning the indoor title at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.
He then raced in a series of Diamond League Meetings, claiming the win at the meeting in Xiamen before finishing second in Suzhou. Coleman claimed top honours at the Prefontaine Classic before his poor run at the US Olympic trials where he missed an individual slot to the Paris Olympic Games.
Mark Otieno has opened up about how watching Tyson Gay, Justin Gatlin, and others who were suspended before, motivated him to bounce back strongly after serving his doping ban.
The former world champion finished fourth in the men’s 100m and 200m finals at the trials. He then raced in the men’s 4x100m relay at the Olympic Games but Team USA got disqualified.
He took time off and resumed training ahead of the Diamond League Meeting in Rome where he finished second behind Letsile Tebogo. The American now eyes the win at the Diamond League Meeting final but he faces great opposition from his rivals.
Olympic 100m bronze medallist Fred Kerley will also be lining up and he made it clear in a past interview that he will be going for a win in the race. Kerley raced at the Diamond League Meeting in Lausanne where he finished third before claiming the win at the meeting in Silesia. The American then finished third at the meeting in Rome then managed fourth in Zurich.
Another athlete to watch is Akani Simbine who has always been known to show up when it matters. The South African sprinter finished second at the ISTAF 2024 in Berlin and Galà dei Castelli. He narrowly missed the podium at the Paris Olympic Games, finishing fourth in the men’s 100m and winning the Diamond League Meeting final trophy will be a huge plus for him.
Ackeem Blake, fresh from winning the Gala dei Castelli has the much-needed confidence to pull off something great in Brussels. Blake finished fifth in the semifinal of the men’s 100m at the Paris Olympic Games to miss out on a slot in the final. He finished third at the Diamond League Meeting in Silesia before fading to fourth in Rome. Blake will enjoy the company of fellow Jamaican Rohan Watson.
Brandon Hicklin will also be lining up with Emmanuel Eseme and Japan’s Abdul Hakim Sani Brown will also be competing.
Curious athletics fans have been scratching their heads about what will happen to Emmanuel Wanyonyi's world record that was yet to be ratified after Elliot Giles set another record over the same distance.