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Lapierre to lead the charge in Gateshead
World indoor champion Fabrice Lapierre and fellow Commonwealth Games long jump nominee Chris Noffke will lead the Australian charge in Diamond League action tomorrow, the 14-meet series stopping over in Gateshead, England.
The pair is joined on the Round 8 start list by Australian Flame Youcef Abdi, the New South Welshman making his Diamond League debut in the 3000m steeplechase.
Crowned world indoor champion with an 8.17m best effort at the Doha-hosted world indoor championships, Lapierre had the crowd on their feet with a wind assisted 8.78m leap to secure his third national title at the Go for 2&5 88th Australian Athletics Championships during April.
With plans to line up in all seven men’s long jump events on the Diamond League calendar, Lapierre currently sits third with five points after taking to the runway in Shanghai (CHN), Rome (ITA) and Eugene (USA).
Leaping 8.30m (w: +0.1) to take victory at Diamond League Shanghai, 27-year-old Lapierre then registered 8.11m (w: +0.1) to place third at the Golden Gala in the Italian capital last month and 8.17m (w: +0.8) to place fifth at the Prefontaine Classic this past weekend.
No doubt looking for a big performance to improve his current ranking, Lapierre will be joined in Gateshead by Chris Noffke.
After second place at the Australia Cup (7.75m, w: +0.5) in Canberra, Brisbane Athletics Classic (7.68m, w: -0.1) and Sydney Track Classic (7.81m, w: +1.2), Noffke took victory at the IAAF Melbourne Track Classic leaping 7.96m (w: +0.2). The 22-year-old went on to win a silver medal at the Go for 2&5 88th Australian Athletics Championships, his best effort of 8.33m (w: +1.2) enough to ensure a podium finish.
Arriving in Gateshead in great form, Noffke leapt 8.00m (w: +0.6) only yesterday to win at Vardinoyiannia, a European Athletics Outdoor Premium Meet in Rethymno (GRE).
Setting up what will be a brilliant showcase of long jump talent, the start list also includes the reigning Olympic champion Irving Saladino (PAN), his six points currently placing him second overall, alongside local favourites Chris Tomlinson (GBR) and Greg Rutherford (GBR).
Australian Flame athlete Youcef Abdi takes to the start line in the 3000m steeplechase as he continues his hunt for an elusive Commonwealth Games A-qualifier.
With line honours in the same event at the Perth-hosted National championships during April in a time of 8:36.63, Abdi has most recently placed 12th (8:43.00) in Rabat (MAR), 6th (8:38.37) in Sotteville (FRA) and 5th (8:32.66) in Metz (FRA).
Australia’s three-man contingent will be joined in Gateshead by a bounty of outstanding athletes that includes 41 Olympic and 58 world championships medallists.
Flying the flag for our cross-Tasman rivals, Valerie Vili (NZ) will be looking to extend her Diamond Race lead, the world champion once again facing off in the shot put with Nadzeya Ostapchuck (BLR), who’s four points currently place her in second behind Vili.
Despite not being a Diamond League event, Asafa Powell (JAM) and Tyson Gay (USA) are both set to start in the men’s 100m. Powell, the current Diamond Race leader, stopped the clock at 9.82 (w: +0.6) in Rome (ITA) during June to post the fastest time in 2010.
In other action this weekend Commonwealth Games 5000m nominee Eloise Wellings takes to the track across 1500m in Solihull (GBR), joined by fellow Australians Nick Bromley (800m), Benita Willis (5000m) and Mitch Kealey making his 3000m steeplechase debut.
IAAF Diamond League – Round 8
Gateshead (GBR)
Saturday, July 10
16:31PM (02:31AM Sunday, July 11
AEST)
Long jump: Fabrice Lapierre, Chris Noffke
18:12PM (04:12AM Sunday, July 11
AEST)
3000m steeplechase: Youcef Abdi
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