Rudisha leads Kenya charge in final showdown

Meseret Defar will be seeking Ethiopia’s third 3,000m victory in a row but there is a strong chance victory could go to Ethiopian-turned-Turk Alemitu Bekele, the European 5,000m champion who finished within a whisker of Defar in Stockholm.

World 1,500m leader Anna Alminova and Portugal’s Sara Moreira represents Europe in this event while the likes of Iness Chenonge, Btissam Lakhouad and Shannon Rowbury can never be discounted.

Tirunesh Dibaba and Elvan Abeylegesse will renew their rivalry over the 5,000m. Dibaba has had a low-key season, but an undefeated one nonetheless, and will start in Split as the favourite. But World champion and world leader Vivian Cheruiyot is a potential surprise.

The biggest two names in the women’s 3,000m Steeplechase are undoubtedly African champion Milcah Chemos and European champion Yuliya Zarudneva. Chemos suffered a rare defeat to Zarudneva in Stockholm but the Russian lost out in London as the Kenyan caught her on the line.

Ethiopia’s Sofia Assefa – who recently beat Chemos in Brussels – and Jamaica’s Korine Hinds will also likely score good points. In the sprints, Africa has little to offer as the Americas and Europe tussle for supremacy.