Roman test for Russell

ROME, Italy:

Young Jamaican hurdler Janeive Russell faces another tough test as she hunts her second straight win on the Diamond League circuit with a strong field at today's Golden Gala Diamond League stop in Rome.

Circuit standout Kaliese Spencer is among the threats.

World Championships finalist Fredrick Dacres in the discus and national record holder Rusheen McDonald in the 400m sign off Jamaica's involvement in the meeting at Rome's Stadio Olimpico.

Here, American Justin Gatlin returns to the scene of his only victory over Usain Bolt in the 100m, looking for his fourth straight win in Rome.

After beating a strong field in Rabat, Russell comes into this meet as the second fastest woman in the world over the 400m hurdles with a time of 54.16.

The 22-year-old will face four-time Diamond Race winner and Commonwealth champion Kaliese Spencer.

World leader Georgeanne Moline and early-season pacesetters Eilidh Child, Cassandra Tate and Wenda Theron Nel all present what should be an explosive contest.

Elaine Thompson, who had a positive opening to her 200m campaign at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene last weekend with a 22.16 third place finish, will look to continue her unbeaten start in the 100m.

English Gardner -- the winner in Eugene, Michelle-Lee Ahye and Barbera Pierre provide the main challenge.

In the women's triple jump, Kimberley Williams, who had to skip the Doha Diamond League because of a hamstring concern, will have Shanieka Thomas for company. They will have to find something special to stop runaway Diamond Race leader Caterine Ibarguen, the only woman in the field to have jumped over 15m this season.

Dacres, whose 68.02m makes him the fourth best this season, will make his Diamond League debut with world leader Piotr Malachowski (68.15m).

McDonald has looked nothing like the man who ran 43.93 seconds at the World Championships and started the season in pretty poor condition, with fifth, seventh and eighth place finishes and a pedestrian 45.90 seconds his best effort to date.

Today, he faces world champion Wayde van Niekerk with Isaac Makwala and Deon Lendore being the other class athletes in the field.

Van Niekerk will also make his first major appearance in the event this season after posting 44.11 at a small South African meet almost a month ago