400m hurdles champion Nicholas Bett to line up in Shanghai

Kenya's Nicholas Bett celebrates winning the final of the men's 400 metres hurdles athletics event at the 2015 IAAF World Championships at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium in Beijing on August 25, 2015. Bett will compete in the Shanghai Diamond League next week. PHOTO | OLIVIER MORIN |

What you need to know:

  • The two-time African bronze medallist will line up against six former Olympics and world medallists in the same race.
  • Olympic Games defending champion Michael Tinsley, who clocked 49.13 seconds, is among the competitors.
  • The race will provide a sneak preview of what to expect at the Rio Olympic Games in August.
  • Last year’s Diamond Race winner Bershawn Jackson, who won in six meetings, will also be on parade.

World 400m hurdles champion Nicholas Bett begins his 2016 season at the IAAF Shanghai Diamond League next week.

The two-time African bronze medallist will line up against six former Olympics and world medallists in the same race.

Olympic Games defending champion Michael Tinsley, who clocked 49.13 seconds, is among the competitors.

The race will provide a sneak preview of what to expect at the Rio Olympic Games in August.

Bett, 26, produced one of the shocks of the IAAF World Championships in Beijing last year when he won gold in the one-lap hurdles final with a Kenyan record of 47.79 seconds, a feat that put him on the apex as world number one for 2015.

“My season starts off with the Diamond League. I did not compete much in the series before but this year, the meetings will be important as a build-up for the Olympic Games where I hope to win another title,” said Bett in Eldoret.

He opted out of the series finals at last month’s Athletics Kenya Track and Field Championship in Eldoret.

WON SIX RACES

Other athletes to watch out in Shanghai are Puerto Rican Javier Culson (47.72), who has two world silver medals and LJ van Zyl (47.66), the 2011 world bronze medallist, who holds the South African record and was fourth in last season’s Diamond Race standings, is also in the mix.

Last year’s Diamond Race winner Bershawn Jackson, who won in six meetings, will also be on parade.