The Diamond League regular season concludes at Zurich’s Letzigrund Stadium tonight, with several of the biggest names in athletics chasing places in next week’s final in Brussels.
No Irish athlete will compete during the televised programme, but Sophie O’Sullivan is entered in a strong women’s 1500m on the pre programme.
Sophie O’Sullivan in Action in the Pre Programme
O’Sullivan will make her first appearance at a Diamond League meeting when she lines up in the women’s 1500m at 6.08pm Irish time. The race does not carry Diamond League points and takes place before the announced television coverage begins.
The Ballymore Cobh AC athlete has won the Irish 1500m title in a championship record of 4:05.62, finished eighth in the European final and clocked 1:59.65 over 800m this season. That 800m performance moved her to third on the Irish all time list.
Her 1500m personal best stands at 4:00.23, and Zurich offers another opportunity to attack the four minute barrier. Australia’s Linden Hall, Britain’s Katie Snowden and Kenya’s Susan Ejore Sanders have all run below 3:57, while Lucia Stafford, Salomé Afonso, Ludovica Cavalli and Weronika Lizakowska are also included in the official start list.
Major Match Ups to Look Forward to in Zurich
The women’s 100m brings Olympic champion Julien Alfred together with world champion Melissa Jefferson Wooden and former world champion Sha’Carri Richardson. European 200m champion Amy Hunt also drops down in distance after her victory over half a lap in Lausanne.
In the men’s 400m hurdles, Karsten Warholm renews his rivalry with Alison dos Santos. The Brazilian has beaten Warholm in each of their meetings this season and holds the quicker season’s best by nine hundredths of a second.
The women’s 100m hurdles contains the reigning Olympic champion, world champion and world record holder. Masai Russell, Ditaji Kambundji and Tobi Amusan lead a field which also includes Nadine Visser, Ackera Nugent and Pia Skrzyszowska.
The men’s 1500m is another belter. Jakob Ingebrigtsen faces Olympic champion Cole Hocker, world champion Isaac Nader, Yared Nuguse and Ethan Strand. Strand beat Ingebrigtsen and Hocker in Silesia on Sunday, giving Zurich an immediate rematch.
Home favourite Audrey Werro leads the women’s 800m after running 1:53.80 this season. European 1500m champion Georgia Hunter Bell, Femke Broeders Bol and Jessica Hull provide the main opposition following Keely Hodgkinson’s withdrawal.
Could Zurich Affect Irish Athelte's Ultimate Championship Places?
The men’s 800m carries some interest for Cian McPhillips, although his position is not under immediate threat. The Irish record holder remains inside the 16 athlete quota with some breathing room. Gabriel Tual and Slimane Moula are among the Zurich entrants currently behind him, so strong performances could narrow that margin. Mark English is in a much safer position.
The men’s 1500m is more significant for Andrew Coscoran. The current World Athletics tracker gives Coscoran 1,290 ranking points, just one more than Anass Essayi, who will race in Zurich. Hobbs Kessler is also close behind and included in the field. A major result from either could push Coscoran down the order before qualification closes on September 1st.
Sophie O’Sullivan’s Start Time
⏰ 6.08pm - Sophie O’Sullivan - Women’s 1500m
O’Sullivan’s race is not scheduled to be shown live because it takes place before the television window. Live timing will be available through the official results page.
Full Televised Programme
⏰ 7.04pm - Women’s 400m Hurdles
⏰ 7.16pm - Men’s 3000m
⏰ 7.29pm - Men’s Long Jump
⏰ 7.32pm - Women’s 100m
⏰ 7.42pm - Men’s 400m Hurdles
⏰ 7.42pm - Men’s Javelin
⏰ 7.50pm - Women’s 3000m Steeplechase
⏰ 8.08pm - Men’s 800m
⏰ 8.19pm - Women’s 100m Hurdles
⏰ 8.26pm - Men’s 1500m
⏰ 8.41pm - Women’s 800m
⏰ 8.53pm - Men’s 200m
How To Watch
📄 Startlists
📺 TV Coverage: IE - Virgin Media Two - 7pm to 9pm | UK - BBC Three - 7pm to 9pm
📺 Streaming Link: IE - Virgin Media | UK - BBC iPlayer
📊 Results
