Fahnbulleh, Enekwechi, Yego, Bass top list of six Africans seeking to clinch Diamond League final ticket in Zurich

African athletes are among the world’s best athletes that will be at the Weltklasse Diamond League meeting in Zurich this Thursday for one last chance to earn points as they bid to qualify for the Wanda Diamond League Final in Brussels next week.

While some like Mary Moraa, Letsile Tebogo, faith Kipyegon, Marie Jose-Ta Lou-Smith, Cheruiyot Timothy, Bayapo Ndori, Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Akani Simbine, Emmanuel Eseme, and Beatrice Chebet (wild card) among a few others have already secured their tickets to the final, there are others that must do so when the train stops for the last time in Zurich.

Who are those who will be coming to Zurich to punch their tickets?

Reigning African double sprint champion, Joseph Fahnbulleh, tops the list of six Africans that will battle for the five slots still on offer and he stands a good chance of making it as he is fifth in the rankings with 16 points.

The Liberian’s only realistic challenger, Fred Kerley is further down in 13th with six points which means the best the American can get to is 14 points if he wins in Zurich.

Kerley’s rise can only affect Uganda’s Orogot Tarsis Gracious who will not be in Zurich but is currently ranked seventh with 13 points.

Nigeria’s Chukwuebuka Enekwechi is also on the verge of making it to his first ever Diamond League final. Fifth in the rankings with 13 points, the Nigerian only needs to finish at least sixth to punch his ticket and be among the six that will proceed from Zurich to Brussles.

Another man seeking the Diamond League ticket is Cheruiyot Reynold in the 1500m. The Kenyan is fifth with 14 points and a good showing in Zurich will make him one of the 10 athletes that will file out in Brussels.

Former World Javelin champion, Julius Yego will however need a miracle to win a ticket to the final as he is 10th in the rankings with just four points and with four spots still on offer.

Two of the slots are however not within the reach of the 35-year-old Kenyan as the duo of Chopra Neeraj of India and Julian Weber of Germany are on 14 points, two more than Yego can ever achieve if he wins in Zurich.

This means Yego is fighting to win just one of two realistic tickets and will battle with the trio of Felfner Arthur (nine points), Adrian Mardare (eight points), Dean Rodericki Denki (six points) who are all confirmed for Zurich.

For the women, Gina Bass will be hoping to become the second African woman that will in Brussels to compete in the 100m and she looks in a very good position to do that. The Gambian is on 17 points and sixth in the rankings which means she only needs to place among the first six to seal her spot.

In the women’s 800m, Sekgodiso Prudence of South Africa also looks in the best position to book the train to Zurich. She is seventh in the rankings with 16 points which means she only needs to finish among the best eight in Zurich to get the job done.