Spectacular showdowns expected in Rome as Olympic medalists clash

Just over a year ago, Faith Kipyegon set a new 1500m world record with 3:49.11 at the Golden Gala in Florence.

It was the start of a rollercoaster two seasons for the Kenyan distance star, who went on to break two more world records and claim the world and Wanda Diamond League titles in 2023 before claiming her third successive Olympic gold this summer.

Faith Kipyegon to mark track return in Rome Diamond League

In July, she improved her 1500m world record to 3:49.05 at the Paris Diamond League, and as she returns to Diamond League (DL) action in Rome, she knows she needs another big performance.

In Paris, Kipyegon broke her own Games record with 3:51.29, just two seconds shy of the world record of 3:49.04 she set earlier this year at the Diamond League meeting in Paris.

She will be joined in Rome by the Australian who followed her home in both her world record run and at the Olympic Games, Jess Hull. World indoor champion Freweyni Hailu and fellow Ethiopian Birke Haylom are also in the field, while Olympic 10,000m silver medalist Nadia Battocletti steps down in distance.

Meanwhile, all three Olympic medalists will reunite in the women’s steeplechase as Winfred Yavi, the world and Olympic champion, takes on Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai and Kenya’s Faith Cherotich. The meeting record of 9:00.71 looks vulnerable.

The men’s 5000m is of a similarly high standard as five of the top six finishers from the Olympic final will take to the start line. Kenya’s Ronald Kwemoi and USA’s Grant Fisher, the Olympic silver and bronze medalists respectively, take on world leader Hagos Gebrhiwet, European 10,000m champion Dominic Lobalu, Ethiopian teenager Biniam Mehary, Canada’s Mohammed Ahmed and Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha.

Omanyala to face Tebogo after a year in star-studded Rome Diamond League lineup

Elsewhere, Letsile Tebogo takes on Ferdinand Omanyala for the first time in over a year. Also on the field are Kishane Thompson, 2022 world champion and Olympic bronze medalist Fred Kerley, 2021 Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs, world indoor champion Christian Coleman, and world indoor bronze medalist Ackeem Blake.