
Olympic champion Lyles to make 100m season debut at London Diamond League
Lyles runs his first 100m of 2025, headlining an afternoon featuring the cream of track and field athletes, winners of 75 medals between them from the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest and the 2024 Paris Olympics, across both individual and relay disciplines.
A sell-out crowd of 60,000 is expected at the London Stadium, home to Premier League club West Ham and the venue for a memorable athletics programme at the 2012 London Olympics.
AFP Sport looks at five stand-out events at the 11th leg of the 15-meet Diamond League circuit:
Tebogo admitted in Monaco that Lyles was the crowd pleaser and that when his face appears on posters, people want to come and see him.
The Botswanan, who won the 200m gold at last year's Paris Olympics as Lyles came third, was edged out in Monaco by the American, who clocked an impressive 19.88sec in his return to the track from a tendon injury.
Lyles said it had been tough watching early-season competition from home, but his comeback was timely with the World Championships in Tokyo on the horizon in September.
"I have a bye for the US Trials which makes it less stressful because it gives us the time to work on the races," Lyles said. "It gives us time to see what works and what doesn't and to be able to make moves from there."
The home nation will be represented by Louie Hinchliffe, world indoor champion Jeremiah Azu and world 100m bronze medallist Zharnel Hughes.
The Jamaican duo of Oblique Seville and Ackeem Blake, and South African Akani Simbine fill out the field in what should be a top-notch race.
Julien Alfred was in dominant form when she scorched to victory in the 100m in Monaco in 10.79sec.
It looked to be perfect preparation as athletes finetune their bodies, both mentally and physically, ahead of the world championships.
"The last week was not the best for me but it also showed me that I am not where I should be and that there are things that I still need to work on," Alfred said after winning in Monaco.
"The season is long but I don't have any trials so I will have time to work on the details. I took a step back and realise that I won't put any pressure on myself this year. I was listening to all that outside noise but I focus on just Julien right now."
Britain's Dina Asher-Smith, Daryll Neita and Amy Hunt will provide the competition, along with the sole American in the field, Brittany Brown.
The men's 1500m features a stellar cast of homegrown athletes, notably the last two world champions Jake Wightman and Josh Kerr.
That pair each outsprinted Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen for victory in Eugene in 2022 and Budapest a year later, respectively.
Ingebrigtsen was a late withdrawal from London, his team saying he "still needs a little more time to heal the injury he has been struggling with lately... he does not want to risk anything."
Further British hopes ride on the shoulders of Neil Gourley, George Mills and Elliot Giles, while it is Kenya's Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech who owns the fastest time of the season in 3:27.72.
There may be no local hero Keely Hodgkinson on the cards as the Olympic champion is still bidding to recover from injury, but the two-lap race is another loaded one.
Laura Muir, Jemma Reekie and Georgia Hunter Bell form a strong home trio.
The presence of Uganda's Halimah Nakaayi and Jamaican Natoya Goule-Toppin will ensure a rapid race.
All eyes will be on Kenya's world champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi, who heads a pack of runners hunting down David Rudisha's world record of 1:40.91.
Rudisha set that mark when he won gold at the London Olympics, but for the first time in more than a decade, there are a handful of middle distance stars seemingly capable of pushing their limits to the max.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Free Malaysia Today
2 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Childhood fan Mbeumo joins Man Utd re-build
Bryan Mbeumo thrived during his six-year spell at Brentford, netting 70 goals and supplying 51 assists in 242 matches. (Man Utd pic) LONDON : Cameroon winger Bryan Mbeumo said he 'grew up wearing' the Manchester United shirt on Monday after joining the club from Brentford on a deal until 2030, with an option for a further year. Mbeumo, 25, will reportedly cost the 20-time Premier League champions an initial £65 million (US$87 million) having scored 20 goals in 38 league games last season for the Bees. Tottenham, now managed by former Brentford boss Thomas Frank, were also chasing the France-born attacker before United's improved offer sealed the move. United's third bid, worth an initial £65m with £6m in add-ons, was accepted last week. 'As soon as I knew there was a chance to join Manchester United, I had to take the opportunity to sign for the club of my dreams,' Mbeumo said in a United statement. 'The team whose shirt I wore growing up. 'This is a massive club, with an incredible stadium and amazing fans, we are all really determined to challenge for the biggest trophies,' he added. United coach Ruben Amorim has signed two other players during this summer in an attempt to avoid a repeat of last season's catastrophic display. They lost to Tottenham in the Europa League final and a 15th-place finish in the top flight was their lowest since 1973-74. Wolves forward Matheus Cunha and teenage Paraguayan defender Diego Leon have also moved to Old Trafford. 'Primary target' Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee struggled as Amorim's main strikers last term. 'My mentality is to always be better than I was yesterday,' Mbeumo said. 'I know that I have the spirit and character to reach another level here learning from Ruben Amorim and playing alongside world-class players. Mbeumo blossomed in six years at Brentford, scoring 70 goals and providing 51 assists in 242 appearances in all competitions following his move from French club Troyes in 2019. 'There is always a right time for a player to move on and, for Bryan, that time is now,' Brentford director of football Phil Giles said. 'He has the opportunity to go to one of the biggest clubs in the world, and we are very happy for him,' he added. Mbeumo helped the Bees win promotion to the Premier League in 2021 and was instrumental in their impressive 10th-place finish in 2024-25. 'We are delighted to have secured another one of our primary targets ahead of the pre-season tour,' the Red Devils' director of football Jason Wilcox said. 'The experience in the US will be the perfect opportunity for Bryan to work with Ruben and his new team-mates as we prepare for an exciting season ahead,' he added. In terms of United outgoings, Marcus Rashford is set to leave his boyhood club for Barcelona and an announcement could come on Tuesday. Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia continue looking for new clubs and are not expected to fly to the US as part of the tour squad. United start their pre-season tour of the US on Sunday by facing West Ham before their opening game of the new Premier League season against Arsenal on Aug 17.


Free Malaysia Today
2 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Howe says Newcastle players getting on with it amid Isak exit talk
Alexander Isak bagged 23 league goals last season for Newcastle. (EPA Images pic) SINGAPORE : Newcastle United's players are professionals who will not let ongoing speculation linking striker Alexander Isak with a move away from St James' Park affect their focus as they prepare for the Premier League season, manager Eddie Howe said. Isak, who bagged 23 league goals last season, only behind Liverpool talisman and Golden Boot winner Mohamed Salah (29), was left out of Newcastle's squad for their pre-season tour of Asia. The 25-year-old, capped 52 times for Sweden, joined Newcastle from Real Sociedad in 2022 and has since netted 62 times in 109 appearances across all competitions. After Newcastle's 3-2 defeat by Arsenal in Singapore yesterday, Howe told reporters the tour was 'business as usual' for the players. 'You don't get a chance when you come on to these tours to think of anything other than training, the next game, the level is so high that even in these games we have to be very well prepared,' he added. 'We have to try and be at our best. So naturally, I think we're going to miss a player of Alex's quality and the group are going to feel that. There's no denying that. 'And I can't sit here and claim that they (the players) won't. But they're a very professional group of players and they're doing brilliantly as far as I can see in terms of managing the situation.' Newcastle, who qualified for Champions League football after finishing fifth in the Premier League last season, are next in action against a K-League XI in South Korea on Wednesday.


Free Malaysia Today
2 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Arsenal seal swoop for Swedish international Gyokeres
Viktor Gyokeres scored a remarkable 97 goals in 102 matches for Sporting Lisbon. (AFP pic) LONDON : Arsenal on Saturday announced the signing of Swedish international striker Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon, bolstering their attacking options as they attempt to challenge for the Premier League title. The 27-year-old, who fired Sporting to the Portuguese title last season with 39 goals and netted a Champions League hat-trick against Manchester City, is reported to have signed a five-year deal in a transfer worth an initial £57.4 million (€65.7 million). Gyokeres' transfer, which could end up costing the north London club as much as £66.4 million with performance-related add-ons, takes Arsenal's close-season spending to the region of £200 million. 'To come here to a club on Arsenal's level, I think it's going to help me perform even better with all the amazing players in this team. I'm really excited to get going,' said Gyokeres. He becomes Mikel Arteta's sixth summer signing and follows defender Cristhian Mosquera (£13 million), midfielder Martin Zubimendi (£60 million), goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga (£5 million), midfielder Christian Norgaard (£10 million) and forward Noni Madueke (£48.5 million) in moving to the Emirates. 'I just felt that it was the right club for me,' said Gyokeres. 'When I was playing against Arsenal last season, I could really feel it was a very strong team and very difficult to play against.' Gyokeres will be expected to meet up with his new teammates in Arsenal's ongoing pre-season tour of Singapore and Hong Kong. The Gunners face Newcastle in the Singapore National Stadium on Sunday ahead of the concluding game of their tour, against Tottenham in Hong Kong on July 31. 'I always want to score,' added Gyokeres. 'To be a part of this club and to score in this kit and with this badge in front of all the supporters, I can't wait. It will be an amazing feeling.' Return to England Gyokeres moved to Brighton from Swedish side Brommapojkarna in January 2018 but spent time on loan at St Pauli and then Swansea and Coventry before making a permanent move to the Sky Blues in July 2021. After Coventry were beaten on penalties by Luton in the 2023 Championship final at Wembley, Gyokeres completed a £20.5 million switch to Sporting. He scored a remarkable 97 goals in 102 matches for the Portuguese side. 'I started here (in England), it feels like a long time ago. I think I've improved a lot since then. Now I want to prove myself for real and perform together with the team,' said Gyokeres. Arsenal spent the concluding months of last season without a recognised striker following long-term injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz. Even before then, Arsenal were in desperate need of a reliable scorer, and Arteta will hope his new signing can fire him to his first silverware since he won the FA Cup in 2020 and end the club's two-decade wait for a Premier League title. 'Viktor has so many qualities. He is a quick and powerful presence up front, with incredible goalscoring numbers at club and international levels,' said Arteta. 'We're excited about what Viktor brings to our squad and are looking forward to start working with him.' Arsenal's new sporting director Andrea Berta has wasted little time in strengthening a squad which has finished runners-up in the league for the past three seasons. Gabriel and Myles Lewis-Skelly have also put pen to paper on new contracts in the off-season, with a long-term extension for teenager Ethan Nwaneri believed to be all but completed.