Swiss star Audrey Werro plans to reach the halfway mark of Friday’s 800m in 55.5 seconds at Athletissima—exactly the same split she recorded in Paris when she ran 1:53.80, the third-fastest time in history and just half a second shy of Jarmila Kratochvílová’s world record of 1:53.28.
Werro has chosen Dutch 400m runner Myrte van der Schoot, coached by Laurent Meuwly, as her pacemaker. She will also benefit from the event’s Wavelight pacing system.
“I don’t want to put pressure on myself by focusing on the world record,” Werro told reporters on the eve of the meeting. “First of all, I want to enjoy the race. But Lausanne is a special meeting for me. My whole family and all my friends will be there. The race can still be very fast even without Keely Hodgkinson if the conditions are good and the pacemaker does her job.”
The Swiss athlete remains undefeated outdoors this season.
For comparison, Kratochvílová passed 400 metres in 56.83 seconds during her world-record run in Munich in 1983.
One of Werro’s main rivals will be Femke Broeders-Bol:
“This will be my first 800m in Lausanne, so it will be a completely new experience for me. It’s exciting to be part of a race where everyone is chasing a world record. Compared with the 400m hurdles, I enjoy having to spend less time working on pure speed in training. Maybe this change of event will even help extend my career.”
The 26-year-old Dutch athlete has made the move from the hurdles to the 800m this season.
Arop Feeling Strong Ahead of the 800m
After finishing second in Lausanne in 2024 with an outstanding 1:41.72, world champion Marco Arop returns with high ambitions.
“Unlike in Paris, where I wasn’t at my best, I’m now in peak shape and feeling very confident for Friday.”
The Canadian will once again line up against Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi of Kenya.
Important Tests for Tebogo and Jackson
In the men’s 200m, Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo views Lausanne as an important fitness test.
“I’ve just come through four to five weeks of training without racing. I’m not in 19.5-second shape right now, but I want to see how my body responds.”
On the women’s side, Amy Hunt, fresh from winning four gold medals at the European Championships in Birmingham, is still enjoying the momentum from that remarkable week.
“Seven races in seven days was incredible. It was also a real test of my mentality and my ability to recover.”
She will face Shericka Jackson, the second-fastest woman in history over 200m.
“The last few weeks have been a little difficult. I don’t have any particular expectations for tomorrow,” said the Jamaican. “I’m taking things step by step as I work towards getting back to the shape I had in June.”
Kambundji Returning from Injury
World 100m hurdles champion Ditaji Kambundji continues her comeback after a thigh strain.
“I did my best in Birmingham, where I finished fourth at the European Championships. Injuries are part of our sport. I’m not going to compare myself with where I was before.”
The Swiss hurdler says she is steadily improving as the season draws to a close.
Fisher Eyes Another Fast 5000m
World indoor record holder Grant Fisher hopes for ideal conditions in Lausanne.
“I’m hoping for a fast, consistent race with good momentum so we can finish even faster. In a year without World Championships or Olympic Games, the Diamond League and the Ultimate Championship in Budapest are our biggest goals. Winning in Paris gave me a lot of confidence.”
Ehammer and Pathirage Ready for More
Swiss long jumper Simon Ehammer is looking forward to another showdown with Olympic champion Miltiadis Tentoglou.
“I came back from Birmingham with a medal and a jump of 8.29m, so I’m happy, especially after dealing with a minor injury beforehand. Now I’m hoping for cool, rainy weather on Friday—a proper Swiss day,” he joked.
Meanwhile, Rumesh Pathirage, the 2026 world leader in the javelin with 92.62m, is preparing for only his fourth Diamond League appearance.
“This season has changed my life, both professionally and personally. Breaking through at this level has opened many doors.”
The Sri Lankan will face one of the strongest javelin fields of the season in Lausanne.
