Defending Olympic champions Andre De Grasse and Wayde van Niekerk are at the head of a strong field in the 200 and 400 meters at this year’s Bislett Games.
FAST: Wayde van Niekerk from South Africa is coming to the Bislett Games in mid-June. He is the reigning Olympic champion and world record holder in the 400 meters.
It can happen fast under traditional grand convention in the capital on June 15. In the 200 meters, six runners on the starting court have a personal record of under 20 seconds.
Over the doubles, five men will start with a best of under 44 seconds.
Canadian Andre De Grasse is the biggest star in the 200 meters. He is the reigning Olympic champion and has a personal best of 19.62.
OLYMPIC GOLD: Andre De Grasse becomes Olympic 200 meter champion in Tokyo in 2021.
Tokyo Olympic and World Cup silver medalist in Eugene, Kenny Bednarek of the US, clocked a best of 19.68. American Erriyon Knighton also has a personal best with 19.49. It was the fifth best time ever. Knighton took bronze in the final WC. Luxolo Adams of South Africa (19.82), Andrew Hudson of Jamaica (19.87) and Alexander Ogando of the Dominican Republic (19.91) are the others with the second best sub-20. Italian Filippo Tortu (20.10) is ranked as the best European runner in the Bislett starting field.
In the double distance, the starting list is headed by world record holder Wayde van Niekerk. He won Olympic gold with 43.03 in Tokyo.
American champion Allison had 43.70, while Grenada’s Kirani James ran 43.74. James has a track record of gold, silver and bronze from the Olympics and World Championships.
Zambia Muzala Samukonga (43.91) and Colombia’s Anthony Zambrano (43.93) were the others with bests of under 44 seconds.
Andre De Grasse has raced at Bislett before:
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