Flying South African Manyonga has held an iron grip on the Diamond Trophy since 2017, and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in last year’s dramatic Diamond League Final.
Rabat will be an opportunity for him to take a little revenge after being forced to abandon in Shanghai, which he holds the record, following gastric problems.
He will no doubt have one eye on the meeting record of 8.38m, which is currently held jointly by Morocco’s Yahya Berrabah and fellow South African Ruswahl Samaai.
Yet he will also have to face rising Cuban star Juan Miguel Echevarria, who stunned the world when he jumped a wind-assisted 8.83m at the Stockholm Diamond League last season.
Echevarria backed that up by jumping an (also wind-assisted) 8.92m in March this year, and is now a genuine contender to challenge for Mike Powell’s long-standing world record of 8.95m.
With Manyonga and Echevarria set to lock horns, it promises to be an explosive battle at the foot of the main stand at the Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium.
20 May, 2019
Rabat: Manyonga and Echevarria set for long jump showdown
