2026 Pietro Mennea Golden Gala Rome. previews – runblogrun

ROME (ITA). The Wanda Diamond League arrives in Europe, with the Pietro Mennea Golden Gala taking place in the Italian capital on Thursday. Three events make their DL season debuts, the men’s high jump and triple jump and the women’s 5000m, while both the short hurdles and the men’s 100m sprinters and shot putters will compete for the third time this season. The three reigning Olympic champions and the three reigning world champions are set to start in their respective championships. Several athletes are opening their summer or even season campaigns, including Melissa Jefferson-Wooden in the All-Star Battle against Julien Alfred. Star-studded fields also feature in the men’s 100m with Noah Lyles, long jump and shot put, as well as the women’s pole vault. Main stars Marcel Jacobs, Leonardo Fabbri and Nadia Battocletti against Ethiopia, and a mostly European showdown in the women’s 400m and 100m hurdles. The main session begins at 21:04 CET with the women’s 400m hurdles.

Brief event-by-event previews

Women

200 m. Three-time world champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden competes in her first individual race since Tokyo. She faces a field including Olympic 100m champion and world leader (21.86) Julien Alfred and world silver medalist Amy Hunt.

400 m. The field includes European champion Natalya Bukovecka, world champion Lourdes Gloria Manuel, European champion and silver medalist Liek Claver, Henriette Jaeger and Shanghai DL winner Nikisha Price. Can Keeley Hodgkinson challenge the 50-second barrier in her first Diamond League distance race?

1500 m. The wide-open field includes world indoor champion Georgia Hunter-Bell, competing for the first time since March. Australia’s Abby Caldwell, who won in Xiamen in 3:57.26, is also targeting back-to-back Diamond League wins. Nikki Hiltz with an outdoor opener. 2:39 1km pace to attack 3:57.

5000 m. Home favorite Nadia Battocletti is back on the field after a recent bout with the flu. The line-up includes a host of Ethiopians including Likina Amebau, Aleshig Baweke, Medine Eisa, Senayet Getachew and Freweini Hailu. Other notable participants include Olympic champion Winfred Yavy and European indoor 3000m champion Sarah Healey. Aiming for an Italian record of 8:37.5 in the 3000m.

100 m hurdles. Who will win with Masai Russell and Toby Amusan out? Nadine Visser has a season best of 12.47. Can 17-year-old Alecia Suko challenge the 13-second barrier in her Diamond League debut? Megan Simmonds was the fastest in China.

400 m hurdles. Can anyone stop Emma Zapletalova, who set a world-leading and Slovakian record of 52.82 in Rabat? She faces a slightly stronger field, including world silver medalist Jasmine Jones and former world record holder Dalila Muhammad.

Pole vault. Olympic champion Nina Kennedy aims to make it back-to-back wins in the Diamond League after her win in Rabat. 5 of the top 6 ranked runners are competing.

Men

100 m. The final race on the program pits the last two Olympic 100m champions, Noah Lyles and Marcel Jacobs, against world indoor champion Jordan Anthony and 200m Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo. Kenya’s Ferdinand Omaniala, however, is the athletic sprinter. Also Jeremiah Azu and Akem Blake.

800m (non-DL). Notable participants include Bryce Hoppel and Gabriel Tual, who won the European title at this track in 2024. World 1500m champion Isaac Nader descends the distance. Also Donovan Brazier and Shanghai winner Mark English. 1:16 pace for the Italian 600m record.

110 m hurdles. Can Jamal Britt make it five straight? He will face US teammate Trey Cunningham, who is making his season debut, and Japan’s Rachid Muratake, who has the fastest season best of 13.05. Also World Indoor Champion Jakub Szymanski.

High jump. The all-wide open field includes world bronze medalist Jan Steffela and world indoor silver medalist Eric Portillo. Can Matteo Cioli spring a surprise at home? Doroshchuk, the world indoor sports champion, came out late.

Long jump. Miltiadis Tentoglu will be targeting back-to-back Diamond League wins in a field including world indoor champion Gerson Balde, European champion Bozhidar Saraboykov and Tajai Gale, with the injured Mattia Furlani missing.

Triple jump. Can home favorite Andy Diaz pull off a win? He faces outdoor world leader Jordan Scott, who jumped 17.66m this year. Also Yasser Tricky and Lazaro Martinez to watch.

Shooting. Joe Kovacs will be looking for back-to-back wins after setting a world record of 22.58m in Rabat. He will face world champion and world indoor champion Ryan Crouser and Tom Walsh, as well as European champion Leonardo Fabbri and Xiamen winner Rajindra Campbell.

Javelin. The squad features a field including a 1-2-3 from Rabat in Anderson Peters, Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage and world champion Keshorn Walcott.