On Wednesday, the Diamond League unveiled the complete start list for the prestigious Meeting International Mohammed VI d’Athlétisme, taking place in Rabat, Morocco. This highly anticipated event will feature some of Canada’s most talented sprinters, including Olympic champions and national record holders.
Headlining the men’s 200m event are **Aaron Brown** and **Andre De Grasse**, both of whom showcased exceptional performances earlier this season. Brown and De Grasse, who claimed gold in the 4x100m relay at the Paris 2024 Olympics, are set to face a formidable lineup. De Grasse delivered a season-best time of 19.84 seconds at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix in April, with Brown finishing closely behind at 20.07 seconds. These impressive results mark their fastest performances since 2023, underscoring their readiness to compete at an elite level as they gear up for the season's challenges.
The men’s 200m field is notably competitive, featuring the likes of Botswana’s **Letsile Tebogo**, the reigning Olympic champion, and Jamaica’s **Bryan Levell**, who earned a bronze medal in the 200m at the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships. Also in the mix is American sprinter **Kenneth Bednarek**, the silver medalist from the same championships, which promises an exhilarating showdown among some of the fastest athletes in the world.
On the women’s side, Canadian sprinter **Audrey Leduc**, who holds the national records in both the 100m and 200m, is set to make her Diamond League debut in the women’s 200m. Leduc has already made waves this season, clocking a remarkable 11.10 seconds at the Grand Prix, marking the fastest time by a Canadian in 2026. She will be competing against Jamaica’s **Shericka Jackson**, the bronze medalist from the 2025 World Championships, who has been in outstanding form, winning two consecutive Diamond League races at impressive times of 22.07 seconds and 21.87 seconds.
In addition, **Savannah Sutherland**, the Canadian and NCAA record holder in the 400m hurdles, is poised to make her season debut in this discipline. Sutherland’s personal best stands at 52.46 seconds, although her last season concluded on an unfortunate note when she did not qualify for the world championship finals. She will face tough competition from **Anna Cockrell** of the U.S., who narrowly missed the podium in Tokyo, and Slovakia’s **Emma Zapletalová**, the bronze medalist in the event.
Moreover, Canada’s **Lucia Stafford** will compete in the 1,500m, marking her season debut, though this event will not be part of the Diamond League series. With such a talented roster representing Canada, the Meeting International Mohammed VI d’Athlétisme is set to be a remarkable showcase of sprinting prowess and athletic excellence.
As reported by runningmagazine.ca.
