The Diamond League offers a new meeting this Sunday, July 16, in Chorzow, Poland. The Silesian stadium will be the scene of several confrontations.Africa will have many athletes on the track.
With just over a month to go until the World Athletics Championships (August 19 to 27, 2023 in Budapest, Hungary), the athletes continue to gauge themselves. This Sunday, July 16, they will be competing in Silesia, Poland, for another Diamond League event. Among them are several Africans, who are facing major challenges. Among the protagonists, Tobi Amusan will be competing in the 100 m hurdles. The Nigerian, who won the distance in Stocholm earlier this month, seems to have launched her season. What's more, the reigning world champion and 12s12 world record holder will be aiming for another success to consolidate her dominance. However, the 26-year-old will have her work cut out with competition from American Nia Ali, Puerto Rican Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, the reigning Olympic champion, and Jamaican Megan Tapper. South Africa's Marione Fourie will also be in attendance. Two-time champion of her country, bronze medallist at the 2022 African Championships, the 21-year-old runner is beginning to make a name for herself.
South Africa will also have a representative in the 400m with Wayde van Niekerk. The 31-year-old sprinter has struggled since injuring his knee in 2017. Due in 2023, he has bounced back with the 2nd best world performance of the year (44 sec 17). He also won the Diamond League in Oslo in mid-June (44.38). To be confirmed this Sunday. The rainbow nation will be well represented with Akani Simbine starting in the 100, alongside Cameroonian Emmanuel Eséme.
"African Championship" in the 3000m stepple
In the 3,000 m steeplechase, Soufiane El Bakkali is aiming for victory in Silesia, after winning at home in Rabat in May and Stockholm in June. The event will also be a mini-African championship, with several of the continent's sons taking part. Ethiopia's Getnet Wale, Hailemariyam Amare and Abrham Sime, Morocco's Abderrafia Bouassel, Mohamed Tindouft and Mohammed Msaad, Tunisia's Mohamed Amin Jhinaoui and Kenya's Leonard Kipkemoi Bett, Abraham Kibiwot, Benjamin Kigen, Amos Kirui and Amos Serem will all be taking part.
The Mary Moraa attraction
At the Diamond League in Silesia, Mary Moraa will be eagerly awaited.The 23-year-old Kenyan will start in the 800m.After winning her races in Rabat last year (1mn58s93) and Lausanne at (1mn57s43) in June, she will be up against Uganda's Halimah Nakaayi, world champion in 2019 in Doha. The other African representative over the distance will be Benin's Noélie Yarigo.
In the women's 3000m, there will be a duel between Kenya's Lilian Kasait Rengeruk, second at the Oslo Diamond League with a time of 8:25.90, and Ethiopia's Freweyni Hailu. The latter, world indoor 800m runner-up, will be making her outdoor debut in the 3000m.
