In the running world, a new season is always on the horizon. Almost exclusively, running seems to never stop. So when the Diamond League concludes another thrilling cycle on Friday, fans across the country will be fortunate enough to have cross country as a replacement. Put another way, it would be like having the Super Bowl this weekend, and then starting the college football season a few days later. It just doesn’t get better than this. 

Before we get ahead of ourselves, the finale in Brussels beckons. 16 more events will crown their Diamond Race winners, and some major names are in a fight for their lives to secure a title. A heated 1500m battle will conclude, an event that has been about as predictable as a slot machine in Vegas. A season of remarkable high jumps will also finish up in Brussels, as five men who have all cleared 2.40 meters in 2014 close out perhaps the most ridiculous year of Fosbury flops ever. If that’s not enough, Jenny Simpson and Shannon Rowbury will face off in the 3K just a week after the 1500m madness in Zurich left them bloody and bruised. Too much juiciness to handle, right? Luckily, we’ve got you covered. 

Men’s 1500m
Before we get into the meat and potatoes of this race, let’s talk about the surprising appearance of Galen Rupp on the Brussels starting list. We all figured Rupp’s track season ended in Zurich after a 3rd place in the 5k, but apparently a big 1500m PR was too tempting to pass up given his end of season fitness. In a field loaded with the best milers in the world, Rupp figures to smash his 3:34.75 on Friday. 

On to the contenders…

Just when we think we’ve figured this event out, something like Silas KIplagat’s performance in Birmingham makes us scratch our heads and question everything good in this world. The Diamond Race leader was 10th in Birmingham, the one blemish in an otherwise outstanding season, and somehow managed to stay atop the standings despite that dud in the UK. Kiplagat has run 3:27 this season, and had been the most consistent metric miler all season before his last race.

But Kiplagat looked terrible in Birmingham, and finished outside of the top-2 in a Diamond League event for the first time all year. Has over-racing pushed the Kenyan to the point of no return? If so, the rest of the Brussels field will swallow him up. 

Of course, the world’s best miler over the last five years will also line up in Brussels. Asbel Kiprop was a man among boys in Birmingham, and currently sits in 2nd place in the Diamond Race standings. Kiprop is untouchable when he is at his best, but sometimes he forgets the talent he possesses in those long legs, and makes tactical errors more common to a high schooler.
In a what have you done for me lately sport, Kiprop has been tough to gauge. There was the commanding victory in Birmingham, but then he ran the 800m in Zurich, finishing last. The 800m and 1500m are different animals, but Kiprop certainly knows how to keep us on the edge of our seats. 

Ayenleh Souleiman sits right behind Kiplagat and Kiprop in the Diamond Race. The pride of Djibouti beat Kiprop at the African Championships, and most recently was 2nd to Nijel Amos in a stacked 800m in Zurich. Souleiman’s performance in Switzerland makes him a tempting choice to steal the Diamond League title.

Our pick rests on the shoulders of Asbel Kiprop. He has the ability to dominate this field if he so chooses, and given the stakes that should be an easy choice. Of course, Kiprop will make it fun and he will kick for home over the last 100m en route to a 3:31 victory. 

Men’s High Jump
How good has the high jump been this year? Five men have jumped 2.40m or higher, which based off the all-time list is the equivalent in the 5K of five sub-12:48 performances. And these guys do this every two weeks. 

Bohdan Bondarenko and Mutaz Essa Barshim have been the stars all year, even if they haven’t improved on their matching 2.42m jumps from the New York Diamond League in June. Bondarenko leads Barshim in the Diamond Race, 16-12, but an interesting thing can happen if the 23-year old from Qatar beats Bondarenko. The two men would tie with points being doubled in the final, and thus the total number of victories would decide the winner. 

However, a win by Barshim would even up the number of victories between Bondarenko and Barshim, 3-3, and the Diamond Race would ultimately be decided by the winner on the day. So, even though Barshim sits four points behind the Ukranian star heading into Friday, he can claim the Diamond with a victory in Brussels. 

There is no event that’s more of a toss up than the men’s high jump. While either Bondarenko or Barshim should win, guys like Ivan Ukhov (Olympic champ), Derek Drouin, or Andriy Protsenko are capable of jumping 2.40 and stealing a victory in Brussels.

The Diamond Race is a two-horse show, however and we’ll take Barshim over Bondarenko in Brussels. Quite the comeback to take home the Diamond League title. 

Women’s 3K
After the epic 1500m finale in Zurich, who would have thought that we’d get to see Jenny Simpson and Shannon Rowbury go at it again a week later in Brussels. This time the distance will be 3K, and while neither woman has a shot at a Diamond title, bragging rights and revenge make this rematch worth watching. Rowbury has an impressive 8:31.38 PR, and both women are capable of running faster than that on Friday. Just stay on your feet this time, ladies.

In the battle for the Diamond, Mercy Cherono and Genzebe Dibaba remain as the only women left standing. The Diamond League has done a strange thing with this event, as this is technically the women’s 5k, but a majority of races have not actually been 5000m. In Birmingham, Mercy Cherono won the two mile in impressive fashion, clocking a Diamond League record of 9:11.49.

We can’t look past Cherono in this event. She’s run 8:21.14 this season, and was very dominant in her last outing. Expect her to do more of the same in Brussels.

Men’s 3K Steeple
Even though Jairus Kipchoge Birech has already locked up the steeple title, the race in Brussels is packed with drama. Three men, Ezekiel Kemboi, Brimin Kiprop Kipruto, and Paul Koech have all run under 8 minutes, and a fourth, Mahieddine Mekhissi Benabbad  has run 8:00.09. 

Evan Jäger will take another crack at his own American record of 8:06.81, which he scared in Oslo in June. It’s tough to imagine Jager going sub-8:06 in Brussels, however as his most recent attempt left him fried with 600m to go, running a 8:15.49 in Monaco. 

Since Birech has dominated all season, we’ll take him again in Brussels in 8:05. Let’s just hope that last barrier doesn’t give him any trouble.