Meeting Herculis EBS is unveiling some big names

"Every athlete knows it: the Meeting Herculis EBS in Monaco is a prime venue for middle-distance records with no fewer than four of the current world records posted at the event: women’s 1,500m (3'50''07, Genzebe Dibaba in 2015), women’s 3,000m steeplechase (8'44''32, Beatrice Chepkoech in 2018), women’s mile (4'12''33, Sifan Hassan in 2019) and men’s 5,000m (12'35''36, Joshua Cheptegei in 2020). For this latest edition, we can expect some stellar performances..."

Christopher Kelsall

May 23, 2023

The Meeting Herculis EBS is unveiling some of the new names to watch on July, 21, at the Louis II stadium. Laying its cards on the table, it will clearly be essential to keep a close eye on the middle-distance races again this year, in what is set to be a kind of dry run just one month before the world championships in Budapest.

Women’s 1500 metre

Faith Kipyegon is a familiar face on the track of the Louis II Stadium. The double world and Olympic champion secured a fantastic performance last year, crossing the line just three-tenths of a second shy of the world record over the distance (3’50”37). The Kenyan is back for a revenge match this year, eager to beat her world-leading performance of 2023 (3’58”57) in Doha during the first leg of the Wanda Diamond League.

Men’s 800m

The Kenyan Emmanuel Korir proved that he is the boss of the world 800m by becoming Olympic champion in 2021 and world champion in Eugene last year, before winning the Wanda Diamond League final the same year. He’ll be competing in Monaco to hone his performance prior to the world championships and he’s very familiar with the track having graced it during the past two editions (800m and 1,000m).

Men’s 5000m

The men’s 5,000m will cut a dash with several big names on the start line. Among the most notable will be Jacob Kiplimo, February’s world cross-country champion, who will have his eyes on the prize after medalling bronze in the 5,000m at the last Worlds. He’ll be up against the runner-up in the cross-country Worlds, Ethiopian Berihu Aregawi, world record holder over 5km and the Wanda Diamond League winner in the 5,000 m in 2021. Jimmy Gressier will likely be the man to watch of the French contingent. The athlete from the north of France has always excelled in the Principality, breaking the European 5km record here twice (2020 and 2023).