USATF Los Angeles Los Angeles Grand Prix Event by Event Preview

Armand Duplantis will make an attempt to break his own world record in the men’s pole vault for the seventh time in his career at the USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix at the Drake Stadium. Duplantis won his first world gold medal on US soil in Eugene clearing the world record height of 6.21m and improved it by one cm with 6.22m in Clermont Ferrand last March.

Duplantis will renew his rivalry with his close friend Sam Kendricks, who won his second consecutive world outdoor gold medal beating the Swedish vaulter on countback with 5.97m, and Chris Nilsen, who won the Olympic silver medal in Tokyo and the World Championships in Eugene. Kendricks is making his come-back from a knee surgery which sidelined from competitions for most of last season.

Women’s pole vault: 

Olympic and world champion Katie Moon will face two-time world indoor champion Sandi Morris in the women’s pole vault. Moon won their first clash of the outdoor season at the Diamond League meeting in Doha with a world leading mark of 4.81m beating Morris, who finished third with 4.71m. 

The line-up also features Alysha Newman, Canadian record holder with 4.82m, and Gabriela Leon, NCAA champion in Eugene last year. 

Women’s 100 metres: 

Sha’Carri Richardson will be seeking another fast time in the women’s 100 metres after her impressive win in the first meeting of the Diamond League meeting in Doha in 10.76 over Sherika Jackson and Dina Asher Smith. The US star also ran a wind-assisted 10.57 in Miramar. On the track of the Drake Stadium Richardson will go head-to-head against three-time world medallist Marie Josée Ta Lou, who came very close to her African record clocking 10.78 in Eagle Rock a few weeks ago, and Aleia Hobbs, who set the national indoor record in the 60 metres with 6.94 at the US Indoor Championships in Albuquerque and clocked an outdoor seasonal best of 10.86 in Baton Rouge last April.

Men’s 100 metres: 

World indoor record holder Christian Coleman is seeking his second consecutive 100 metres in the Continental Tour Gold after beating Noah Lyles in a wind-assisted 9.78 at the Bermuda Grand Prix in Devonshire last Sunday. Coleman will face Eugene 2022 world silver medallist Marvin Bracy Williams and last year’s NACAC champion Ackeem Blake from Jamaica. 

Women’s 100 metres hurdles: 

World champion and world record holder Tobi Amusan from Nigeria will clash against Olympic gold medallist Jasmine Camacho Quinn from Puerto Rico. Amusan set the world record with 12.12…