Chorzów (Poland) (AFP) – World sprint champions Oblique Seville and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden head a stellar cast of elite track and field athletes who will take part in the Diamond League meet in Poland on Sunday. AFP Sport looks at four stand-out events in Silesia:
**Women’s 100m**
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Jefferson-Wooden will face stiff competition from US teammate Sha’Carri Richardson, Jamaican Tina Clayton, and St Lucia’s Olympic champion Julien Alfred. Jefferson-Wooden made her Diamond League debut in Poland and went on to match Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s meet record of 10.66 seconds last year. “I’m just looking forward to coming out here and seeing where I am,” the American said.
“We’re in the last part of the year now, I’ve been getting some really good training at home. I’m always happy to be able to come out here to Silesia and put on a show.” Alfred, unbeaten this season, said she felt “amazing.” “I’m looking forward to racing tomorrow,” she said of her first head-to-head over 100m with Jefferson-Wooden since last year’s Tokyo world championships, where the American won easily.
“The goal remains the same: to go out there and win, to just have fun. I’m just really focusing on myself and doing just what I came to do.” While Alfred beat her rival over 200m in Rome earlier this season, Jefferson-Wooden remains the world number one and is unbeaten over 100m since the Paris Olympics.
**Men’s 1,500m**
Jakob Ingebrigtsen chose to compete solely in the 5,000m at the European champs, which he won for a record-extending seventh continental gold. It was a timely return to form after the Norwegian spent much of the last two seasons struggling with injury. He had not run a single race indoors or outdoors in 2026 ahead of his stunning win in Birmingham. Ingebrigtsen has chosen the 1,500m for his return to Diamond League action. It is his first appearance in two years in the distance.
Portugal’s world champion Isaace Nader, Americans Cole Hocker and Hobbs Kessler, as well as the British duo of Jake Heyward and 2022 world champion Jake Wightman form a packed field. With two well-known pacemakers in the field, the race is guaranteed to be a rapid one. That could suit Stefan Nillessen, the Dutchman who claimed the European title with an astonishing change of pace down the home straight.
**Men’s 400m hurdles**
Karsten Warholm resumes hostilities with Brazil’s Alison dos Santos in the 400m hurdles. Warholm won a fourth European title in Birmingham, as well as a second gold as part of Norway’s 4x400m mixed relay quartet. “Dos Santos has been in incredible shape this year, and he’s beat me on a couple of occasions. So I think it is set up,” Warholm said.
“I think it also makes it a good chance for a little bit of redemption. But it will be tough. We just came from European champs and ran a relay and hurdles, but I feel like I’m recharged and ready to go with everything.” Warholm set a sensational meet record of 46.82 seconds last year. But Dos Santos is himself unbeaten in three races in Silesia, heralding what should be a scintillating showdown between the pair.
**Men’s 100m**
There might not be Noah Lyles or Letsile Tebogo, but the field for the blue riband event is incredibly deep. “It’s no different from a world championships, with semi-finals and a final,” said Jamaican Seville, with places up for grabs at the September 4-5 Diamond League finals in Brussels. There is a two-heat field in Silesia, with 14 of the current top 20 in the qualification standings on the start list.
While Trayvon Bromell, Jordan Anthony, and Gift Leotlela will all expect to qualify, others like Seville and Akani Simbine are under pressure, with the likes of Kenny Bednarek and Kayinsola Ajayi breathing down their necks.
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