Left field

Inside Track: This league has not reached the diamond level yet

Might the Diamond League be snake-bitten in its initial season? Injuries and other setbacks have taken away a chunk of glitter from the initiative, which was to bring new fans and interest to the sport.

Out for the season apparently are two of the circuit’s biggest names, Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva and Ethiopian distance king Kenenisa Bekele.

World record holder Isinbayeva decided to take a break from the sport after failing to medal at the world indoor championships.

Then came word on Thursday that Olympic and world champion Bekele had ruptured a calf muscle, sidelining the world record holder until at least August if not for the season.

Inside Track: Waiting for the first sprint showdown

When will the Diamond League have its first sprint showdown?

That’s a frequent question from athletics followers whose appetites have been whetted by the fast early times of Asafa Powell, Tyson Gay and Usain Bolt.

We know, according to a Diamond League announcement, all three are scheduled to run a 100 metres in the August 27 Brussels meeting, but you can bet your ever-shrinking euro that Bolt and Gay will race in the same stadium before then.

Inside Track: Who gets the Diamond League dollars?

Times and distances won’t be the only figures athletes and their managers will be checking on the new Diamond League circuit which began on Friday in Doha.

The amount of money athletes earn from the 14-meeting global series, and how it compares to last season, also will be scrutinized.

Gay dips under 45 seconds for sprinting milestone

World silver medallist Tyson Gay’s name should be popping up on more Diamond League announcements after a milestone weekend.

The American became the first sprinter with personal bests under 10 seconds in the 100, 20 seconds in the 200 and 45 seconds in the 400 when he clocked a lifetime best 44.89 seconds for the longer distance at a meeting in Gainesville, Florida, on Saturday.

New athletics league could be gem for U.S.

For years even the most elite American track and field athletes needed to fly to Europe to compete in the big leagues of athletics.

That all changed Monday with the announcement that well-established meetings in New York City and Eugene, Oregon, will become a part of the IAAF Diamond League, a new 12-to-15 meet premier global series to be launched in 2010.