By Spy Uganda
Wanda Diamond League 1500m champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen and 5000m world record holder are among the global superstars set to compete at the sixth leg of the 2023 Wanda Diamond League at Athletissima meeting in Lausanne on June 30th.
Olympic champion Ingebrigtsen, who is also confirmed for the Diamond League meetings in Oslo and Silesia, is out to defend the Diamond Trophy he won for the first time in 2022. The Norwegian has good memories of Lausanne’s Stade de la Pontaise, having clocked a world-leading 3:29.05 there en route to the series title last season.
Cheptegei is also hoping to claim a second Diamond Trophy in 2023, having become the first Ugandan athlete ever to win the title back in 2019. A year later, the 26-year-old made series history yet again when he set a 5000m world record of 12:35.36 at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Monaco.
The two distance stars will be joined in Lausanne by another reigning Diamond League champion Femke Bol, who is eyeing a third successive title in the women’s 400m hurdles this season. The Dutchwoman enters the season on fine form, having set a new 400m world indoor record of 49.26 in February.
The home fans will also have plenty to cheer at Athletissima, with Swiss stars Simon Ehammer and Mujinga Kambundji set to compete in the men’s long jump and women’s 100m. Kambundji is a stalwart of the series with seven Diamond League wins under her belt, while Ehammer is still looking for his maiden victory on the circuit.
The Wanda Diamond League is athletics’ premier one-day series, comprising 14 of the most prestigious events in global track and field. Athletes compete for points at the 13 series meetings in a bid to qualify for the two-day Wanda Diamond League Final in Eugene on 16th-17th September.
