PREVIEW: Alfred, Simbine and Lyles lead global athletics elite in Zurich

The excitement is building ahead of this season’s highlight, Weltklasse Zurich will host the grand finale of the Wanda Diamond League from Wednesday to Thursday.

Watch all the action on SS Variety 3, Africa 2, GOtv Africa 2 and Maximo 3 from 5:30pm.

TRACK HIGHLIGHTS

Julien Alfred headlines the women’s 100m, facing off against Dina Asher-Smith, and Tia Clayton.

Noah Lyles and Letsile Tebogo renew their rivalry in the men’s 200m. Lyles is chasing a record sixth Diamond League title.

Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Olympic 800m champion, takes on Marco Arop, the 2023 world champion, in a potential record-breaking showdown.

Femke Bol aims for her fifth Diamond League title in the women’s 400m hurdles, with world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone absent.

Karsten Warholm returns in the men’s 400m hurdles, adding more firepower to the track line-up.

FIELD HIGHLIGHTS

Armand Duplantis seeks his fifth straight Diamond League title in pole vault and may attempt to break his own world record of 6.29m.

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, reigning Olympic and world high jump champion, is chasing her fourth Diamond League crown.

Neeraj Choprafaces Anderson Peters and Julian Weber in a stacked men’s javelin field.

Chase Jackson and Sarah Mitton battle in women’s shot put.

Malaika Mihambo competes in the women’s long jump, while Thea LaFond leads the women’s triple jump.

SOUTH AFRICAN ATHLETES

Following the completion of the 14 league meetings in the series, six South African athletes have made the grade, booking their places in the final.

hree of the country's fastest men - national record holder Akani Simbine, former Olympic semifinalist Shaun Maswanganyi and junior sensation Bayanda Walaza - will line up in the men's 100m sprint.

Women’s 800m

Prudence Sekgodiso – World indoor champion, known for her tactical racing12.

Women’s 400m Hurdles

Zenéy van der Walt – Olympic semifinalist, facing off against Femke Bol and other top contenders.

Women’s Javelin

Jo-Ane du Plessis – Olympic silver medallist, with a season best of 62.77m.

STRONG AFRICAN CONTIGENT 

Kenya

Emmanuel Wanyonyi – Men’s 800m: Olympic champion and four-time Diamond League winner this season.

Edmund Serem – Men’s 3000m Steeplechase: Qualified early with dominant performances.

Beatrice Chebet – Women’s 5000m: Multiple Diamond League wins in Xiamen, Rabat, and Rome.

Botswana

Letsile Tebogo – Men’s 200m: Olympic champion, qualified for the final and chasing a Diamond Trophy.

Ethiopia

Samuel Firewu – Men’s 3000m Steeplechase: Early qualifier with strong form.

Algeria

Djamel Sedjati & Slimane Moula – Men’s 800m: Both are medal contenders in a stacked field.

Burkina Faso

Hugues Fabrice Zango – Men’s Triple Jump: Olympic medallist and consistent Diamond League performer.