Diamond Dash: Americans take to Rome plus Usain Bolt returns

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Many Americans will head to Rome, Italy tomorrow for the third Diamond League event of the season; the Samsung DL Golden Gala. This also marks the return of Usain Bolt to battle Asafa Powell and a strong field that includes the first white male under 10 seconds, Christophe Lemaitre, but doesn't include Tyson Gay.

On the distance side, Sara Hall will make her Diamond League debut in the steeple (with 2010 NCAA champ Bridget Franek) as she continues to make a strong push towards the new event that could lead to her best shot at an Olympic berth for London 2012. The always tough Christin Wurth-Thomas will take aim at an A-standard in the 1500 as well. On the mens side, Khadevis Robinson and Duane Solomon will take on a strong field (minus the injured David Rudisha and Abubaker Kaki) in the 800. Noticeably absent are any American men in the 5000 as many got the A-standard earlier in Melbourne, Australia.

The event will be live on Universal Sports at 2pm eastern time Thursday night (May 26) and also will be replayed Friday and many times this weekend. Universal Sports also has an awesome web package where you can get live and repeat views of all 14 Diamond League meets for $24.99.

Here are the Americans in the field:

• Monzavous Edwards (100)
• J-Mee Samuels (100)
• Shawn Crawford (200)
• David Neville (400)
• Greg Nixon (400)
• Jamaal Torrance (400)
• Khadevis Robinson (800)
• Duane Solomon (800)
• Kerron Clement (400h)
• Johnny Dutch (400h)
• Justin Gaymon (400h)
• Angelo Taylor (400h)
• Derek Miles (Pole Vault)
• Christian Cantwell (Shot)
• Reese Hoffa (Shot)
• Cory Martin (Shot)
• Adam Nelson (Shot)
• Ryan Whiting (Shot)
• Allyson Felix (200)
• Bianca Knight (200)
• LaShauntea Moore (200)
• Consuella Moore (200)
• Sanya Richards-Ross (200)
• ChaRonda Williams (200)
• Debbie Dunn (400)
• Allyson Felix (400)
• Francena McCorory (400)
• Sanya Richards-Ross (400)
• Christin Wurth-Thomas (1500)
• Bridget Franek  (Steeple)
• Sara Hall  (Steeple)
• Danielle Carruthers (100h)
• Ginnie Crawford (100h)
• Dawn Harper (100h)
• LoLo Jones (100h)
• Kellie Wells (100h)
• Funmi Jimoh (Long Jump)
• Brittney Reese (Long Jump)
• Becky Breisch (Discus)
• Aretha Thurmond (Discus)
• Kara Patterson (Javelin)

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