With more exciting Diamond League action hitting the track in Oslo on Thursday, we highlighted four events to watch at the ExxonMobil Bislett Games:
 

Women’s 1500m

 

The women’s 1500m is shaping up to be one of the premier events of the day with No. 3-ranked 1500m runner in the world Dawit Seyaum leading the charge. The Ethiopian has charged onto the scene in 2015 first with a dominating win in 4:00 at the Doha Diamond League meeting and more recently with a 3:59 at the Golden Gala in Rome for a third-place finish against Jenny Simpson and Sifan Hassan. The 2014 1500m World Junior Champion has emerged on the international stage as a real threat despite being only 18-years old. 

 

Seyaum will be challenged by Faith Kipyegon of Kenya who recently finished second in the 5K at the Pre Classic with a new personal best of 14:31. Kipyegon was fifth in the 1500m at the 2013 World Championships and also holds a personal best of 3:56 from 2013, but has yet to debut in the 1500m distance this year. 

 

The Americans will bring the heat with Gabe Grunewald, Morgan Uceny and Heather Kampf. Grunewald is returning from a disappointing performance at the Pre Classic where she was unable to finish in the 5K, but also has a 4:07 1500m season’s best under her belt from the Hoka One One Middle Distance Classic. Uceny will enter the meet with a season’s best of 4:09 from last week’s Birmingham Grand Prix, and Kampf is returning from a huge personal best in the 1500m at the Golden Gala where she clocked a 4:04. 

 

Men’s Steeplechase

 

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Ezekiel Kemboi returns to take on the barriers in Oslo after clocking a world lead of 8:01 at the Pre Classic two weeks ago. He will be put to the test by fellow countrymen Jairus Kipchoge Birech, Conseslus Kipruto, and Paul Koech. Birech, an up and coming member of the steeplechase field recently finished second to Kemboi at the Pre Classic in 8:01.83, just inches away from Kemboi at the line. Kipruto and Koech will also return to toe the line in what is shaping to be a re-match of the intense Pre Classic steeplechase. 

 

The lone American in the field will be Donn Cabral, who was also part of the field at the Pre Classic where he clocked a season’s best mark of 8:19, which ties his personal best from 2012. Cabral has also clocked personal bests in the 5K and 10K this year, showing an increase in range for the New Jersey New York athlete. 

 

Women’s 5K

 

5K world leader Genzebe Dibaba will return to take on the distance in Oslo with a 14:19 season’s best behind her from the Pre Classic. It was an attempt watched around the world from Eugene as Dibaba attempted to break the world record in the outdoor 5K after shattering the mark in the indoor season. But the record remained safe with her winning time of 14:19. As seen from her past performances, Dibaba doesn’t step on the track unless she is planning on running out-of-this-world fast, and Oslo should be no exception. 

 

Men’s Dream Mile

 

The men’s dream mile will be a near re-match of the men’s mile at the Pre Classic weeks ago in a race that will include Ayanleh Souleiman, Asbel Kiprop, Silas Kiplagat, and Ronald Kwemoi. Souleiman, the 2014 World Indoor 1500m champion stole the show at the Pre Classic, taking down a stacked field in a world leading time of 3:51. He was followed by Matt Centrowitz, Kiprop, Kiplagat, Magut, and Kwemboi for the top six finishers. Kiprop, the 2008 Olympic 1500m champion holds a season’s best of 3:36 in the 1500m. Kiplagat, the World Championship silver medalist owns a season’s best of 3:35 in the 1500m from the Shanghai Diamond League meeting. 

 

A threatening addition to the field will be ageless wonder Bernard Lagat who has broken countless masters records in the 2015 season and continues to be a dangerous challenger on the world stage. This season, Lagat has earned season’s bests of 3:40 in the 1500m and more recently 13:14 in the 5K at the Pre Classic. He has yet to run a mile in the outdoor season, but was able to clock a 3:54 at Millrose in February. 

 

Tune in to catch all the action from the Oslo Diamond League meeting with live updates starting Thursday!