Women’s 100m hurdles
Few can look past the event where current world-record-holder Tobi Amusan will take on the reigning world and Olympic champions in Danielle Williams and Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, with world indoor 60m hurdles champion Devynne Charlton adding to the mix.
Williams took a second world title in Budapest, edging out 2021 Tokyo Olympic champion Camacho-Quinn as the 2022 world champion Amusan was sixth. Charlton was fourth that day but has started 2024 in impressive fashion, twice breaking the world record indoors and winning her maiden world crown in Glasgow in March.
With Olympic bronze medallist Megan Tapper and world finalist Ditaji Kambundji also present, it’s a tantalizing prospect.
Women’s 200m
The rivalry between world 200m champion Shericka Jackson and 100m champion Sha’Carri Richardson will have a new chapter as the two line up in a compelling duel over the half lap.
Jackson edged the battle last time in Budapest, running the second fastest time in history of 21.41s but will be well aware of Richardson’s progression over the distance, one that saw her win bronze in that very same race, days after passing Jackson to take the 100m title.
Budapest fifth placer, Daryll Neita will aim to make the most of the eyes elsewhere.
Women’s 5000m
The field is led by former world-record-holder Letesenbet Gidey. The 2022 10,000m world champion, who still holds the world record over that distance, faces the exciting challenge of 2023 World Athletics Rising Star of the Year, world 3000m steeplechase bronze medalist Faith Cherotich, who competes for the first time at senior level over the distance.
European U23 cross-country champion Megan Keith is among the entries.
Women’s 3000m steeplechase
Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai takes on world-record-holder Beatrice Chepkoech over the barriers, though the competition doesn’t end there. 2022 world champion Norah Jeruto returns, Commonwealth Games champion Jackline Chepkoech broke nine minutes in 2023 and 2017 world champion Emma Coburn and two-time European champion Gesa Krause also features.
Women’s long jump
It’s an Olympic final many months early as six-time Diamond League final winner and reigning world champion Ivana Španović takes on the rest of the Budapest podium as well as a host of global medalists. Tara Davis-Woodhall recently took the world indoor crown to back up Budapest silver, with bronze from Hungary, Alina Rotaru-Kottmann, also in China. World indoor bronze medalist Fátima Diame and multiple world medalist Ese Brume complete an all-star cast.
Women’s shot put
Earplugs may be required in the women’s shotput as home favourite and Olympic champion Lijiao Gong takes on all but one of last year’s top eight in the Budapest World Championships, led of course by two-time world champion Chase Jackson.
Jackson has won the last three Diamond League finals and successfully defended her world crown in Hungary.
During her own period of dominance between 2017 and 2021, Gong took two world titles as well as Tokyo Olympic gold and, with her 2023 world bronze, has now won medals at eight successive world championships since 2009.
The athlete in form, however is Sarah Mitton, the 2023 world silver medallist took world indoor gold in Glasgow, beating Yemisi Ogunleye and Jackson to the title, and will aim to add another victory over those two in Shanghai.
With 2019 world bronze medallist Danniel Thomas-Dodd, 2021 Diamond League champion Maggie Ewen and 2023 world bronze medallist Jessica Schilder also in the field, plenty will have eyes on an early season win.
Women’s discus throw
It’s a Budapest rematch between world champion Laulauga Tausaga and three-time Diamond League and Olympic champion Valarie Allman, with home favourite Bin Feng also fighting for Shanghai supremacy. Feng was third in Budapest behind the pair with Jorinde van Klinken, fourth that day, also in the field.
Allman has won each of the last three Diamond League finals and 12 of her 14 appearances in 2023.
2019 world champion and two-time Diamond League final winner Yaimé Perez will aim to return to the sort of form that saw her win Olympic bronze in 2021.
Women’s javelin
All three of the Budapest podium will feature in Shanghai, with Haruki Kitaguchi leading the field. Kitaguchi took both the world and Diamond Leagues titles in a glittering 2023, with Flor Ruiz-Hurtado taking a maiden global silver in Budapest. Mackenzie Little, the bronze medallist from Hungary will hope to continue her ascent up the rankings in Shanghai.
Women’s 400m
Reigning world and Diamond League champion Marileidy Paulino takes on world indoor and outdoor bronze medalists respectively, Alexis Holmes and Sada Williams. Paulino, is one of only 13 women in history to have broken the 49 second barrier, and successfully defended her Diamond League crown in Eugene last September.