The launch of the IAAF 2018 Diamond League in Doha was centre stage for the top eight performances of the year and five meet records.
Five of these winners have confirmed their participation in the Monaco Herculis EBS meeting.
The first athlete to be announced last November, Mutaz Barshim lived up to his status as reigning world champion to win the high jump competition ahead of his compatriots, as well as securing the year’s best performance in the world with a jump of 2m40.
For her part, the Olympic and World 800-metre champion Caster Semenya triumphed in style over a greater distance, breaking the South African 1,500-metre record in a time of 3:59.92, which was also the best performance of the year. Winning the Diamond League record last year in Monaco, she’ll be running her favourite distance once again on 20 July.
Recently crowned World Indoor Champion in the pole vault, Sandi Morris will be competing in Monaco on the back of her new meet record in Doha of 4m84. Bagging the Diamond League record after clearing 5m00 in the final in Brussels in 2016, Morris will be out to challenge world champion Katerina Stefanidi, whose presence was announced back in November.
Finally, the winners of the sprint races in Qatar will be keen to rack up some precious points in the race to the finals in Zurich and Brussels.
Marie-José Ta Lou will be returning to the venue of her 200m win last year, only this time she’ll be competing in the 100m with the world leader title following her victory in Doha in 10.85. World number two in the 100m and 200m last summer in London, TA LOU will be keen to defend her Hercules EBS champion title.
Meantime, Noah Lyles will be making his debut appearance in Monaco. Winner of the Diamond League in 2017 thanks to his victory in Brussels, he’ll arrive in the principality with a new Doha meeting record and a new personal best of 19.83.
The IAAF Diamond League meeting in Shanghai, Saturday 12th of May, can announce the participation of more new champions in Monaco
