Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce faces big test from Britain's Dina Asher-Smith at 2019 London Anniversary Games
Home favourite Asher-Smith will line up against the Jamaican in the 100m at a star-studded IAAF Diamond League event in the 2012 Olympic stadium
Athletics
Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is enjoying top form following her return to competition after the birth of her son.
In her first major race this season, the 32-year-old tied for the world leading time of 10.73 seconds with Rio 2016 champion Elaine Thompson at the Jamaican trials.
She then powered to victory in the Diamond League 100m in Lausanne on July 5th, and picked up her third win at the Padua EA Classic meeting on Tuesday (16th July).
The dominant return has her excited for the season ahead, which culminates with the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Doha.
"A lot of (people) tend to believe that having a baby ends your career, well, having a baby just started mine" - Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce told GiveMeSport
Home star Dina Asher-Smith
The Jamaican faces home hero Dina Asher-Smith at the London Stadium, the venue of the only two-day IAAF Diamond League meeting on the 2019 calendar.
It will be the second time the two are meeting in a fortnight. Fraser-Pryce, a three-time world champion, beat the 23-year-old Britain sprint star who ran her season best time of 10.91 in Lausanne.
Asher-Smith said she's looking forward to running in front of her family and friends.
"I don’t get too nervous… It’s my job. I’m grateful. I am very lucky to have a passion for track and field." she told the pre-event press conference.
The pair will face 200m world champion Dafne Schippers and Ivorian Murielle Ahoure, the world indoor champion.
Jamaica's Elaine Thompson remains one of the favourites in the 200m.
She looks to repeat her double victory in both the 100m and 200m from Rio 2016 at the world championships in Doha later in 2019.
Kipyegon has extra motivation
Kenya's Faith Kipyegon produced an inspirational performance to win the 1500m at Prefontaine three weeks ago, a year after giving also birth.
(My child) has changed my life a lot. She acts as an extra motivation for me,” - Faith Kipyegon
“After being out for such a long time, you don’t exactly know where you are at, so it was great to test myself at the Prefontaine meeting. I’m feeling strong.” she told letsrun.com
It was the 2016 Olympic champion’s first race since her maternity break, just six months after she resumed training with her new coach Patrick Sang.
The Olympic silver medallist is the celebrated coach of the marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge.
Her devastating kick in the homestretch pushed her past Britain’s Laura Muir, who she will race again in London on Saturday.
Blake and De Grasse face off
The men’s 100m will see 2011 world champion Yohan Blake, South Africa’s Commonwealth gold medallist Akani Simbine and three-time Olympic medallist Andre de Grasse all vying for victory.
It will be a test of the Canadian's form ahead of the Pan American Games.
De Grasse has struggled with injury since he picked the three medals in Rio.
"There's a lot of new competition that has arisen.... but, I just want to be the best that I can be and try and bring back a medal for my country," he told Olympic Channel in London.
Also, competing at the 2012 Olympic stadium will be Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim.
The Rio 2016 silver medallist, who also won bronze in the same stadium in 2012, will be hoping for a victorious return to the Diamond League after a year plagued by an ankle injury.
Amos returns to Olympics track
Nijel Amos returns to the stadium where he ran his lifetime best, as David Rudisha set the 800m world record at London 2012.
After running the sixth fastest time of all time (1:41.89) in Monaco, the Botswanan broke the 45 second barrier over 400m in Padua on Tuesday (July 16).
He is the man to beat in a field that includes Kenya’s Emmanuel Korir and the reigning Commonwealth Games champion Wycliffe Kinyamal.
In the distance events, there is a strong field for the men’s 5000m that boasts [Hagos Gebrhiwet](Hagos Gebrhiwet), the star at the world championship Ethiopian trials.
If he starts, it will be interesting to see how he can push Kenyan teen sensation Rhonex Kipruto who will be making his 5,000m debut, and Norwegian European champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen.
[Sifan Hasan](Sifan Hasan) from the Netherlands lines up for the 5000m after her world mile record in Monaco and will face world champion over the distance Hellen Obiri who has struggled for form in recent weeks.
British Olympians Laura Weightman and [Eilish McColgan](Eilish Mc Colgan) are also listed to start.
Litsenbet Gidey, the winner at the 10,000m Ethiopian world championship trials could also return to track just three days after her qualifying run.
While the men's long jump in London this weekend doesn't count towards the Diamond League points chase, star athletes attending include Cuba’s top long jumper Juan Miguel Echevarria. who will use the event as a warm-up for the Pan American Games.
"When I make a mistake in a competition, I try to fix it in the next one, and by doing so the results are coming.
"I want people to identify with me and to be an inspiration," Echevarria told the Olympic Channel from his training base in Guadalajara, Spain.