Stars of the meet 2025

Bol looks to light up the track

The crowds will be out in force to see Femke Bol take on an international field in the 400m hurdles, the reigning world champion facing Panama’s Gianna Woodruff and France’s Louise Maraval, who have both run below 54 seconds. Bol took victory at the Rabat Diamond League last month in 52.46, the quickest season opener of her career. At the FBK Games in Hengelo last year, she won the 400m, clocking 50.02 despite cool and wet conditions, but with better weather forecast on Monday all eyes will be on Bol – and the clock – to see just how fast the Dutch superstar can go.

Shot put duel set to be among field highlights

Two-time world champion Chase Jackson is among the star names in a loaded women’s shot put, but the US athlete will have a battle on her hands against Dutch thrower Jessica Schilder, who launched a national record and world-leading effort of 20.47m at the Xiamen Diamond League in April, which Jackson surpassed a week later with 20.54m at the Shanghai/Keqiao Diamond League. USA’s Maggie Ewen is the third 20-metre thrower in the field.

Elsewhere in the field events, the men’s pole vault is loaded with quality, featuring three men – Ernest Obiena, Chris Nilsen and KC Lightfoot – who have gone over six metres, while Dutch vaulter Menno Vloon is sure to have lots of support from the crowd.

The men’s long jump features the in-form Liam Adcock of Australia, who leapt a world-leading 8.34m to win at the Rome Diamond League on Friday, along with four other men with personal bests over 8.20m.

The men’s discus features six men who have thrown beyond 70 metres, led by reigning Olympic champion Roje Stona of Jamaica, who will take on a loaded field that includes former world champion Kristjan Ceh and Olympic bronze medallist Matthew Denny.

Meanwhile in the women’s high jump, all eyes will be on Australia’s Nicola Olyslagers, the two-time Olympic silver medallist and reigning world indoor champion.

Tinch brings star power to sprint hurdle showdowns

It may still be early in the outdoor season, but one of the breakout stars so far has been US athlete Cordell Tinch, who blasted to victory at the Xiamen Diamond League in 12.87, moving joint-fourth on the world 110m hurdles all-time list. In Hengelo, the 24-year-old will take on an international field that includes Jamaica’s Omar McLeod, the 2016 Olympic champion, and Dylan Beard of USA, who has a best of 13.10.

Meanwhile, Nadine Visser will look to continue her strong start to the season and seal victory on home turf in a strong women’s 100m hurdles. After breaking the Dutch record outdoors last year, and again at 60m hurdles indoors in March to win European Indoor silver, Visser made a strong start to the outdoor season, recently finishing second at the Rabat Diamond League. Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska was just behind her that day and they will square off again in Hengelo, while South Africa’s Marione Fourie is also sure to feature after two third-place finishes at recent Diamond Leagues.

Rising star Laros steps down in distance

One of the most anticipated middle-distance events will be the men’s 800m. At last year’s FBK Games, Niels Laros underlined his vast potential by setting a world U20 and Dutch senior record over 1000m, winning in 2:14.37. Having gone on to finish sixth in the Olympic 1500m final at the age of just 19, Laros, now 20, steps down to the 800m where he has a best of 1:44.78. He will face a tough challenge, given the presence of five-time European medallist Mark English, who recently set the Irish record of 1:44.34. Also in the field is Laros’s fellow Dutchman, Samuel Chapple, the reigning European Indoor champion. Spain’s Elvin Josué Canales won bronze at the World Indoors in March and will also feature, along with Pieter Sisk of Belgium, Italy’s Catalin Tecuceanu and France’s Yanis Meziane, who all have personal bests of under 1:44.

Elsewhere in the distance action, the women’s 3000m steeplechase should be an intriguing contest, with Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai, the Tokyo Olympic champion and Paris Olympic silver medallist, leading the field. She will take on Kenya’s Jackline Chepkoech and Kazakhstan’s Daisy Jepkemei.

The women’s 800m features 10 women who have run below two minutes, led by USA’s Sage Hurta-Klecker.

Sprint stars set to shine

USA’s Anavia Battle has been in sparkling form in the early part of the season, winning three consecutive Diamond League races over 200m. Holding a best of 21.95 for the distance, she will prove tough to beat in the half-lap event in Hengelo. Local hero Lieke Klaver is sure to have lots of support in the same race, while Olympic 400m bronze medallist Natalia Bukowiecka of Poland is also in the line-up along with Australia’s rising star Torrie Lewis.

The men’s 100m, meanwhile, features Jamaica’s Yohan Blake and fellow sub-10 men Abdul Hakim Sani Brown, Ronnie Baker, Benjamin Richardson and Owen Ansah.

The men’s 400m will feature the in-form Busang Collen Kebinatshipi of Botswana and Brazil’s Matheus Lima, while the Dutch charge will be led by Liemarvin Bonevacia.