The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Tayside athletes joined by sprint king Usain Bolt in Monaco meeting
Sprint king to join Muir and McColgan in Louis II Stadium
Courier Country athletes Laura Muir and Eilish McColgan are in Monaco for tonight’s Diamond League meeting – but their presence will be overshadowed somewhat by the legendary Usain Bolt,
The Jamaican spring king returns to the Louis II Stadium for the first time since 2011 when he won the 100m in 9.88 seconds.
The world and Olympic 100m and 200m champion is looking forward with confidence to tonight’s race in what is one of his favourite venues.
Bolt is in Monaco as part of his farewell tour as he prepares to bring the curtain down on his illustrious career after the World Championships in London next month.
Despite the fact that his season’s best so far of 10.03 ranks him only 24th on this year’s world list, the Jamaican is confident he can again produce the goods.
“There’s always a good field here, and lots of guys have been under 10 seconds so far this season,” he said.
“But I’m here to execute a good race, to work on a few things, to get myself perfect for the big race to come next month.
“I’m always expecting to win. The moment you doubt, there’s no point showing up.”
The Monaco meeting is the final Diamond League fixture before the World Championships and is packed with elite athletes looking to sharpen up before London.
GB sprinter CJ Ujah, will relish the opportunity to compete against the eight-times Olympic gold medallist, having won at the Rabat Diamond League last Sunday in 9.98.
Rising star Akani Simbine could be the main threat to Bolt’s supremacy, with the South African surprising a world-class field of Justin Gatlin, Asafa Powell and Andre De Grasse at the season-opening 100m Diamond League in Doha.
Milnathort athlete Muir makes the short trip to Monaco from Padua, having won a 1,500m there last Sunday.
Dundee Hawkhill colleague McColgan and Scottish internationalist Steph Twell complete the line-up of GB athletes in the 3,000m, with the same trio contesting the World Championships 5,000m.
The trio will face world-class opposition in the shape of Hellen Obiri (Kenya), Shannon Rowbury (USA), Gelete Burka (Ethiopia) and Meref Bahta (Sweden).
Another Scot Chris O’Hare, the UK 1.500m champion, takes on American Matt Centrowitz – the current Olympic gold medallist – as well as a number of top Kenyans including world champion Asbel Kiprop.
If the early pace is slow O’Hare boasts a fast finish, ably demonstrated when winning the London Diamond League last month.
Another athlete famed for his final kick over the final 200m is Polish athlete Marcin Lewandowski, who was a winner at the recent European Team Championships.
Scottish 800m record holder Lynsey Sharp has an equally daunting task in the two-lap race as she faces Caster Semenya, Francine Niyonsaba and Margaret Wambui.
American Shamier Little, currently second in the 2017 rankings with 52.75 seconds, will start as favourite in the 400m hurdles.
Last year, however, it was Kinross athlete Eilidh Doyle who won her second Diamond League race of the season, having previously won in Doha.
The Pitreavie athlete has posted two Diamond League third places at Lausanne and Rabat recently and will be looking to improve on her season’s best of 54.36.
A repeat of her Scottish record 54.09 in Monaco last year would set her up nicely for the World Championships.
Other confirmed stars for the meeting include the likes of pole vault world record-holder Renaud Lavillenie, world and Olympic triple jump champion Caterine Ibarguen and Olympic steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto.