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Tribune News Network
Doha
In the presence of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President, Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), the fourth round and finale of this year’s Wanda Doha Diamond League concluded with some exceptional performances from world athletes at the Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium at Qatar Sports Club on Friday evening.
Providing home joy were Qatari athletes Mohamed Abbas and Mohamed Al Garni. While Abbas excelled in the men’s 400m race finishing 3rd with a personal best time of 45.96, Mohamed Al Garni was runners-up in the men’s 1500m B race clocking 3:44:30secs behind Morocco’s Ilyass El Ouali (3:43.66). American Kahmari Montgomery (45.55) topped the 400m race while Kuwait’s Yousef Karam was second in 45.96.
Among the star athletes to light up the Doha show was double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica who breezed to victory in the women’s 100m dash in 10.87secs ahead of multiple world medalist Marie-Josee Ta Lou (11.21) of Ivory Coast, and USAs Kayla White (11.25).
In the much-awaited women’s 3000m, it looked as though Hellen Obiri would register a rare defeat in the Qatari capital.
A day earlier, the world cross-country champion from Kenya had explained how Doha was one of her favourite cities to race in, having set her 3000m PB here in 2014 and retained her world 5000m title last year at the Khalifa International Stadium. But when world steeplechase champion Beatrice Chepkoech breezed into the lead with about 550 metres left in tonight’s 3000m race, Obiri kept her cool for another 200 metres before she unleashed her trademark kick for home, eventually winning in a world-leading 8:22.54.
The field of 15 women, loaded with world and Olympic medallists, Obiri led the pack and reached 2000m in 5:39.70, the pace having slowed slightly. Eight women were still in contention with two laps to go with Obiri, Chepkoech, Tirop and Kipkemboi still occupying the first four places.
Chepkoech made her move as she entered the home straight for the penultimate time, but Obiri responded with about 350 metres remaining, her head rocking and arms fighting, as is often her style at the end of races.
Tirop and Chepkoech made up some ground in the final stages, but Obiri held on to win in 8:22.54, the second-fastest time of her career behind the 8:20.68 African outdoor record she set on this very track six years ago.
In the sizzling pole vault competition, world record holder Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis of Sweden emerged on top with 5.82m –identical to that of his arch-rivals Sam Kendricks of the US and Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie. But while Duplantis cleared on his first try, Kendricks and Lavillenie needed three attempts. It meant the trio equaled the meeting record that had been set by Greek Konstantinos Filippidis back in 2013.
They were all unsuccessful at 5.92m; Duplantis saved his final effort for an attempt at 6m plus mark, but brought the bar down. Yet, he was all smiles having won.
“It’s been a fantastic season and I enjoyed sharing the moment tonight with the guys,” he said.
“We’ve not been able to see each other this season as we often do due to obvious reasons. Tonight’s win is for my sister who is celebrating her 18th birthday,” he added.
The expected three-way clash in the mens 110m hurdles didn’t quite materialise after USAs Freddie Crittenden was a non-starter and Frances Wilhem Belocian was disqualified for a false start. But US indoor champion Aaron Mallet put together the race of his life to win in a PB of 13.15 (0.3m/s). Swiss record-holder Jason Joseph was third in 13.40.
World silver medalist Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk saved her best for last in the long jump which proved doubly beneficial as the event adopted the last round counts format.
The Ukrainian leapt 6.91m (0.6m/s) to beat world bronze medalist Ese Brume and Khaddi Sagnia. Brumes superior final-round effort (6.68m) meant she finished ahead of Sagnia, even though the Swede had jumped farther (6.85m) earlier in the competition.
Ten days after winning at the Continental Tour Gold meeting in Zagreb, USAs Payton Chadwick notched up another victory in the women’s 100m hurdles. Cindy Ofili started well but faded over the final few barriers, while Taliyah Brooks finished strongly, but Chadwick held on to win in 12.78. Brooks was second in a PB of 12.86.
Earlier in the evening, Arthur Cisse took almost half a second off his PB to win the 200m in an Ivorian record of 20.23 in his first race over the distance since May 2018.
Since the start of 2019, Cisse has now set national records for 60m, 100m and 200m all of which had previously been held by Ben Youssef Meite, the only other Ivorian man to win at a Diamond League meeting.
As many as 117 athletes participated in Doha, 10 of whom had won medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics and 17 at the 2019 World Championships in Doha.
The organising committee made extraordinary efforts to ensure the competition was held with all health and safety precautions in place.
Doha
In the presence of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President, Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), the fourth round and finale of this year’s Wanda Doha Diamond League concluded with some exceptional performances from world athletes at the Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium at Qatar Sports Club on Friday evening.
Providing home joy were Qatari athletes Mohamed Abbas and Mohamed Al Garni. While Abbas excelled in the men’s 400m race finishing 3rd with a personal best time of 45.96, Mohamed Al Garni was runners-up in the men’s 1500m B race clocking 3:44:30secs behind Morocco’s Ilyass El Ouali (3:43.66). American Kahmari Montgomery (45.55) topped the 400m race while Kuwait’s Yousef Karam was second in 45.96.
Among the star athletes to light up the Doha show was double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica who breezed to victory in the women’s 100m dash in 10.87secs ahead of multiple world medalist Marie-Josee Ta Lou (11.21) of Ivory Coast, and USAs Kayla White (11.25).
In the much-awaited women’s 3000m, it looked as though Hellen Obiri would register a rare defeat in the Qatari capital.
A day earlier, the world cross-country champion from Kenya had explained how Doha was one of her favourite cities to race in, having set her 3000m PB here in 2014 and retained her world 5000m title last year at the Khalifa International Stadium. But when world steeplechase champion Beatrice Chepkoech breezed into the lead with about 550 metres left in tonight’s 3000m race, Obiri kept her cool for another 200 metres before she unleashed her trademark kick for home, eventually winning in a world-leading 8:22.54.
The field of 15 women, loaded with world and Olympic medallists, Obiri led the pack and reached 2000m in 5:39.70, the pace having slowed slightly. Eight women were still in contention with two laps to go with Obiri, Chepkoech, Tirop and Kipkemboi still occupying the first four places.
Chepkoech made her move as she entered the home straight for the penultimate time, but Obiri responded with about 350 metres remaining, her head rocking and arms fighting, as is often her style at the end of races.
Tirop and Chepkoech made up some ground in the final stages, but Obiri held on to win in 8:22.54, the second-fastest time of her career behind the 8:20.68 African outdoor record she set on this very track six years ago.
In the sizzling pole vault competition, world record holder Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis of Sweden emerged on top with 5.82m –identical to that of his arch-rivals Sam Kendricks of the US and Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie. But while Duplantis cleared on his first try, Kendricks and Lavillenie needed three attempts. It meant the trio equaled the meeting record that had been set by Greek Konstantinos Filippidis back in 2013.
They were all unsuccessful at 5.92m; Duplantis saved his final effort for an attempt at 6m plus mark, but brought the bar down. Yet, he was all smiles having won.
“It’s been a fantastic season and I enjoyed sharing the moment tonight with the guys,” he said.
“We’ve not been able to see each other this season as we often do due to obvious reasons. Tonight’s win is for my sister who is celebrating her 18th birthday,” he added.
The expected three-way clash in the mens 110m hurdles didn’t quite materialise after USAs Freddie Crittenden was a non-starter and Frances Wilhem Belocian was disqualified for a false start. But US indoor champion Aaron Mallet put together the race of his life to win in a PB of 13.15 (0.3m/s). Swiss record-holder Jason Joseph was third in 13.40.
World silver medalist Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk saved her best for last in the long jump which proved doubly beneficial as the event adopted the last round counts format.
The Ukrainian leapt 6.91m (0.6m/s) to beat world bronze medalist Ese Brume and Khaddi Sagnia. Brumes superior final-round effort (6.68m) meant she finished ahead of Sagnia, even though the Swede had jumped farther (6.85m) earlier in the competition.
Ten days after winning at the Continental Tour Gold meeting in Zagreb, USAs Payton Chadwick notched up another victory in the women’s 100m hurdles. Cindy Ofili started well but faded over the final few barriers, while Taliyah Brooks finished strongly, but Chadwick held on to win in 12.78. Brooks was second in a PB of 12.86.
Earlier in the evening, Arthur Cisse took almost half a second off his PB to win the 200m in an Ivorian record of 20.23 in his first race over the distance since May 2018.
Since the start of 2019, Cisse has now set national records for 60m, 100m and 200m all of which had previously been held by Ben Youssef Meite, the only other Ivorian man to win at a Diamond League meeting.
As many as 117 athletes participated in Doha, 10 of whom had won medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics and 17 at the 2019 World Championships in Doha.
The organising committee made extraordinary efforts to ensure the competition was held with all health and safety precautions in place.
