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The World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, is just under four weeks away, and the temperature will turn up today and Sunday as the world's top athletes continue their preparations with gigantic clashes at the Wanda Diamond League in Monaco and London.

Today, attention will focus on the Herculis Diamond League in Monaco at 1:40 p.m. Jamaica time, with the country's top rising star, 18-year-old Jaydon Hibbert, taking the spotlight when he competes in the men's triple jump.

It has been a dream season so far for Hibbert, who is unbeaten in his first year of competition at the University of Arkansas, where he has racked up several records.

Among this is Hibbert breaking the 38-year-old mark in the under-20 triple jump with 17.87 metres in May in Baton Rouge at the SEC Outdoor Championships, which is also the leading mark in the world among senior athletes.

Young Hibbert will face his sternest test in his first engagement against some of the world's best, with the three top triple jumpers squaring off in what should be an exciting showdown.

Hibbert will face No. 2, Hugues Fabrice Zango of Burkina Faso, whose season best is 17.82 metres, and No. 3, Andy Diaz Hernandez of Italy, whose season best is 17.75.

Shericka Jackson, following her second-place finish in the women's 100 metres behind the United States of America's (USA) Sha'Carri Richardson on Sunday in Poland before bouncing back to a win in the 200 metres on Tuesday in Hungary, will be involved in one mega clash at both meets.

Jackson, the second fastest woman in the 200 metres this season with 21.71 seconds, will clash today with world leader Gabrielle Thomas of the USA, whose season and personal best is 21.60 seconds, and Julien Alfred of St Lucia, with a season-best of 21.91 seconds.

Two days later, in London, Jackson will renew rivalry with Richardson in the women's 100 metres as she seeks to score a victory over the American after losing twice to her this season. Also, third-ranked Marie Josee Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast, with a season-best 10.75 seconds, will face the starter.

Following his first 100 metres win of the season at the Gyulai Istvan Memorial meet on Tuesday, Yohan Blake hopes to continue his winning form when he contests the event today.

He will again go up against training partner Ackeem Blake, and they will be joined by Kishane Thompson, who raced to 9.91 seconds in his preliminary round win two weeks ago at the Jamaica National Senior Championships before pulling out of the semi-finals.

Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya with a season-best 9.84 seconds, and Akani Simbine of South Africa, winner in a close finish at the Silesia Diamond League meet on Sunday, will also line up.

World leader in the women's long jump, Ackelia Smith, with 7.08 metres, will face a big test in the event today as she goes up against No. 2 ranked Tara Davis-Woodhall of the USA, whose best is 7.07 metres, and Yulimer Rojas of Venezuela, who is hoping to contest the event in Budapest to go with the triple jump.

LONDON

Like Monaco, London will also share the spotlight on Sunday, with more epic clashes expected.

Jamaica's national champion, Janieve Russell, with a season-best of 53.65 seconds, and Rushell Clayton, with 53.79, will be on show in the women's 400 metres hurdles. They line up against world leader the Netherlands' Femke Bol, with a best of 52.30 seconds, and the USA's Shamier Little, whose season best is 53.34 seconds.

Olympic Games champion Hansle Parchment, after a close second-place finish in the men's 110 metres hurdles on Tuesday in Hungary, will renew battle with Daniel Roberts of the USA and his compatriot, defending World Championships winner Grant Holloway.

Zharnel Hughes is having his best season to date and is the fastest man over the 100 metres this season with a best of 9.83 seconds. He will be in an enticing showdown in the men's 200 metres, where he recently ran a wind-aided 19.79 seconds.

Hughes will face the USA's duo of Noah Lyles and Erryion Knighton, the two fastest men over the distance this season, with 19.67 and 19.72 seconds, respectively. Botswana's Letsile Tebogo will join the fray with season best of 19.87 seconds.

In what is expected to be another thrilling contest, the men's 400 metres hurdles will showcase three of the best in the event, Karsten Warholm of Norway, Rai Benjamin of the USA and Alison dos Santos of Brazil. Warholm has a season-best of 46.52 seconds, Benjamin 46.62 and Santos, making his seasonal debut after recovering from injury, 46.29.