Doha, Qatar, May 04—Two Diamond League Records were among the 7 yearly world leads (plus another outdoor leader) set in Doha, setting a high bar as the series kicked off its 14-meet ninth season.
Sandra Perković, the reigning world and Olympic discus champion, set the tone, getting the evening off with a bang after she launched her disc 234-2 (71.38) into Doha’s early-evening sky, a massive effort that broke her own DL Record and landed just an inch and a half shy of her Croatian Record set last year.
“This is great,” said Perković, who arrived as the world leader at 226-9 (69.13), a throw from early March. “To throw just 3cm from my national record shows that I’m in great shape. With the season just beginning, this has set me up well for the year.”
The men’s javelin proved to be another historic battle between Olympic champion Thomas Röhler, the winner here last year, and his German compatriot Johannes Vetter, the reigning world champion and this year’s list leader.
Vetter struck first with a 300-5 (91.56) bomb in the first round. Röhler, who opened with a subpar 264-7 (80.64), answered the call in the second stanza, at 301-1 (91.78), the second farthest throw of his career.
Vetter responded with 294-5 (89.74) in round two, but that would be the closest he’d come.
But they did get a scare in round 3 when a third German, Andreas Hofmann, reached 295-6 (90.08), a throw that would win most competitions. On this night, it merely rounded out a German podium sweep to mark the first time 3 men threw beyond 90m (or 2 over 300ft) in the same competition.
“Today was great, but it wasn’t easy,” Röhler said of his season’s debut. “I’ve been preparing well and knew I could throw that far. I was even able to take some risks today, and know that I’m in good physical shape.”
The triple jump was a near repeat of Christian Taylor’s classic ’15 duel with Pedro Pablo Pichardo. Neither sailed 18m this time around, but the Cuban came close, sailing 58-10¾ (17.95) in the third round to effectively seal the win.
Taylor wasn’t able to respond as he did then, but did manage a U.S.-leading 58-5¼ (17.81), also in the third round.
Mutaz Barshim, the Emirate’s biggest sporting star, dominated the high jump. Producing a clear slate through 7-6½ (2.30), the local hero needed a second try at 7-7¾ (2.33) before towering over 7-8¾ (2.36) on first attempt to seal the win. First-attempt success at 7-10½ (2.40) came next, but at that point, with eight jumps in the bag, fatigue began to creep in.
None of his three tries at a would-be meet record of 7-11¼ (2.42) were especially close, but he was nonetheless pleased with such early season success at a height which only a dozen other men have ever topped.
“I made some mistakes, but am very happy with the result and proud,” he said. “I was not fit to succeed in all the jumps, but still extremely happy at the end.”
Another Qatari, 22-year-old Abderrahmane Samba, produced the most warmly received track win in the 400H. The clear leader as the field entered the backstretch, Samba extended it between every barrier and never relented. He barely slowed as he powered down the home straight en route to a 47.57 PR, world lead and DL Record. His winning margin? 1.51 seconds ahead of Bershawn Jackson, who was forced to watch Samba break his 47.62 series standard, set at Lausanne ’10.
“I have a feeling this will be a great season for me, and all I want to do is run even faster,” said Samba, whose performance elevated him to spot No. 18 all-time.
Fifty minutes earlier, Steven Gardiner had been nearly as dominant in the flat 400. As the silver medalist at last year’s World Championships, the Bahamian’s 400m credentials were solid, and he put them on full display as he confidently cruised down the homestretch to a 43.87 win, clipping 0.02 from his own NR. It was also his second national record in the span of four weeks; on 7 April he clocked 19.75 in the 200.
Here, he crushed a solid field, with Qatar’s Abdalelah Haroun coming home a distant 2nd in 44.50. Isaac Makwala, the Commonwealth champion, was even further back, panting across the line in 44.92.
The effort didn’t leave Gardiner unscathed. A few minutes after the finish he was wheeled off the track on a stretcher, but signaling two thumbs up.
Making her break from a crowded field with about 100 meters to go, Caster Semenya cruised to a list-leading 3:59.92 victory in the 1500, pushing through the 4:00 barrier for the first time and lowering her own NR in the process.
“I think we definitely achieved what we came here for,” said Semenya, whose previous best was 4:00.71. “I want to maintain this momentum throughout the season, but will also make sure I continue to keep healthy.”
Marie-Josée Ta Lou staked an early season claim as the world’s top female sprinter. Pulling away from a 5-woman pack after 70m, the 2017 double dash silver medalist chiseled together an insurmountable cushion to take the win in 10.85, clipping 0.01 from her previous PR for another world lead.
Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria was the runner-up at 10.90, 0.03 ahead of double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson.
The women’s 100H was close. Running strong from the gun, Rio champion Brianna Rollins-McNeal built a visible lead over Kendra Harrison by the midway point. But the WR holder ate up that deficit over the final two barriers to take the win 12.53–12.58.
Meanwhile, Noah Lyles continued to impress. The 20-year-old American, injured most of last year, waited until the 200 field entered the top of the stretch before deciding to pounce, forging ahead to finish unthreatened in 19.83, another meet record and lifetime best, eclipsing the 19.90 he ran in Shanghai a year ago.
Jereem Richards of Trinidad was next in 19.99 with world champ Ramil Guliyev 3rd in 20.11.
DOHA DL MEN’S RESULTS
Diamond League I; Doha, Qatar, May 04—
200(1.3): 1. Noah Lyles (US) 19.83 PR (AL) (=12, x A);
2. Jereem Richards (Tri) 19.99; 3. Ramil Guliyev (Tur) 20.11; 4. Aaron Brown (Can) 20.18; 5. Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake (GB) 20.37; 6. Andre De Grasse (Can) 20.46; 7. Brandon Carnes (US) 20.56; 8. Rasheed Dwyer (Jam) 20.72.
400: 1. Steven Gardiner (Bah) 43.87 NR (WL) (=12, x W);
2. Abdalelah Haroun (Qat) 44.50; 3. Isaac Makwala (Bot) 44.92; 4. Gil Roberts (US) 45.22; 5. Baboloki Thebe (Bot) 45.58; 6. Mohammad Nasser Abbas (Qat) 45.76; 7. Vernon Norwood (US) 45.82; 8. Pieter Conradie (SA) 46.68.
800: 1. Emmanuel Korir (Ken) 1:45.21 (1:20.24); 2. Elijah Manangoi (Ken) 1:45.60; 3. Nicholas Kipkoech (Ken) 1:46.51; 4. Adam Kszczot (Pol) 1:46.70; 5. Ferguson Cheruiyot (Ken) 1:46.76; 6. Clayton Murphy (US) 1:47.22; 7. Antoine Gakeme (Bur) 1:47.25; 8. Jamal Al-Hayrani (Qat) 1:47.62; 9. Ebrahim Al-Zofairi (Kuw) 1:47.79; 10. Kipyegon Bett (Ken) 1:48.32;… rabbit—Bram Som (Hol) (51.76).
1500: 1. Taresa Tolosa (Eth) 3:35.07;
2. George Manangoi (Ken) 3:35.53 PR (WJL);
3. Justus Soget (Ken) 3:35.71; 4. Charles Simotwo (Ken) 3:36.40; 5. Bethwel Birgen (Ken) 3:36.54; 6. Abdelaati Iguider (Mor) 3:36.59; 7. Ryan Gregson (Aus) 3:37.00; 8. Collins Cheboi (Ken) 3:37.83; 9. Vincent Kibet (Ken) 3:38.11; 10. Jordan Williamsz (Aus) 3:40.06; 11. Fouad El Kaam (Mor) 3:40.91; 12. Corey Bellemore (Can) 3:41.34 PR; 13. Adam Ali Musaab (Qat) 3:41.90;… rabbits—Andrew Rotich (Ken) (55.65, 57.43 [1:53.08]), Bethwel Birgen (Ken) (2:52.75).
St: 1. Chala Beyo (Eth) 8:13.71; 2. Lawrence Kemboi (Ken) 8:15.07 PR (5:33.45); 3. Emmanuel Bett (Ken) 8:16.24 PR; 4. Barnabas Kipyego (Ken) 8:17.30; 5. Tesfaye Deriba (Eth) 8:17.51;
6. Albert Chemutai (Uga) 8:18.80 PR (WJL);
7. Hailemariyam Amare (Eth) 8:21.21; 8. Tolosa Nurgi (Eth) 8:24.11; 9. Mohammed Tindoufti (Mor) 8:24.80; 10. Justus Lagat (Ken) 8:26.17; 11. Clement Kemboi (Ken) 8:31.02; 12. Tesfaye Girma (Eth) 8:38.70; 13. Cleophas Kandie (Ken) 8:43.87;… rabbit—Hillary Yego (Ken) (2:43.99).
400H: 1. Abderrahmane Samba (Qat) 47.57 NR (WL) (17, x W; world’s fastest time since 6/26/10);
2. Bershawn Jackson (US) 49.08; 3. Kyron McMaster (IVB) 49.46; 4. Yasmani Copello (Tur) 49.95; 5. Cornel Fredericks (SA) 50.03; 6. Kerron Clement (US) 50.19; 7. Jack Green (GB) 50.22; 8. Kariem Hussein (Swi) 51.40.
Field Events
HJ: 1. Mutaz Essa Barshim (Qat) 7-10½ (2.40) (WL) (7-2½, 7-4¼, 7-5¼, 7-6½, 7-7¾ =outWL[2], 7-8¾ out WL, 7-10½, 7-11¼ [xxx]) (2.20, 2.24, 2.27, 2.30, 2.33 [2], 2.36, 2.40, 2.42 [xxx]);
2. Majed El Dein Ghazal (Syr) 7-7¾ (2.33); 3. Donald Thomas (Bah) 7-6½ (2.30); 4. Mateusz Przybylko (Ger) 7-4¼ (2.24); 5. Andrii Protsenko (Ukr) 7-4¼; 6. tie, Yu Wang (Chn) & Edgar Rivera (Mex) 7-2½ (2.20); 8. Hamdi Mahamat Alamine Saleh (Qat) 7-2½; 9. Jamal Wilson (Bah) 7-2½; 10. Tihomir Ivanov (Bul) 7-½ (2.15).
TJ: 1. Pedro Pablo Pichardo (Cub) 58-10¾ (17.95) (WL) (55-5½, 57-2¾ [WL], 58-10¾, 57-8¼, 57-6¼) (16.90, 17.44, 17.95, 17.58, 17.53);
2. Christian Taylor (US) 58-5¼ (17.81) (AL) (f, 56-10 [out AL], 58-5¼, 57-7¾, 54-7½, 58-½) (f, 17.32, 17.81, 17.57, 16.65, 17.69);
3. Alexis Copello (Aze) 56-5¾ (17.21); 4. Nelson Évora (Por) 55-11 (17.04); 5. Chris Benard (US) 55-7¾ (16.96); 6. Khotso Mokoena (SA) 55-6¼ (16.92); 7. Bin Dong (Chn) 54-7½ (16.65); 8. Max Heß (Ger) 54-2½ (16.52); 9. Rashid Ahmed Al-Mannai (Qat) 51-11¼ (15.83); 10. Jean-Marc Pontvianne (Fra) 51-¼ (15.55).
JT: 1. Thomas Röhler (Ger) 301-1 (91.78) (264-7, 301-1, f, 276-2, f, 281-2) (80.64, 91.78, f, 84.18, f, 85.70);
2. Johannes Vetter (Ger) 300-5 (91.56) (300-5, 294-5, f, 275-6, 278-2, 276-4) (91.56, 89.74, f, 83.97, 84.78, 84.24);
3. Andreas Hofmann (Ger) 295-6 (90.08) (257-11, 285-11, 295-6, 277-4, 286-6, f) (78.61, 87.14, 90.08, 84.54, 87.34, f);
4. Neeraj Chopra (Ind) 286-10 (87.43) NR; 5. Jakub Vadlejch (CzR) 284-4 (86.67); 6. Magnus Kirt (Est) 275-6 (83.97); 7. Ahmed Bader Magour (Qat) 274-7 (83.71); 8. Julius Yego (Ken) 264-11 (80.75); 9. Petr Frydrych (CzR) 262-8 (80.07); 10. Hamish Peacock (Aus) 250-10 (76.45).
[best-ever mark-for-place: 2–3] [first meet with 2 over 300ft or 3 over 90m]
DOHA DL WOMEN’S RESULTS
100(1.5): 1. Marie Josée Ta Lou (CI) 10.85 PR (WL);
2. Blessing Okagbare (Ngr) 10.90; 3. Elaine Thompson (Jam) 10.93; 4. Murielle Ahouré (CI) 10.96; 5. Carina Horn (SA) 10.98 NR; 6. Dafne Schippers (Hol) 11.03; 7. Mujinga Kambundji (Swi) 11.17; 8. Jura Levy (Jam) 11.29.
1500: 1. Caster Semenya (SA) 3:59.92 NR (out WL);
2. Nelly Jepkosgei (Ken) 4:00.99 PR; 3. Habitam Alemu (Eth) 4:01.41 PR; 4. Besu Sado (Eth) 4:01.75 (3:14.35);
5. Alemaz Teshale (Eth) 4:01.78 PR (WJL) (7, x WJ);
6. Gudaf Tsegay (Eth) 4:01.81; 7. Rabab Arrafi (Mor) 4:03.69; 8. Judy Kiyeng (Ken) 4:03.87 PR; 9. Eunice Sum (Ken) 4:05.38; 10. Winny Chebet (Ken) 4:05.76; 11. Linden Hall (Aus) 4:07.07; 12. Zoe Buckman (Aus) 4:07.25;… rabbit—Noélie Yarigo (Ben) (62.66, 68.39 [2:11.05]).
3000: 1. Caroline Kipkirui (Ken) 8:29.05 PR (WL);
2. Agnes Tirop (Ken) 8:29.09 PR (5:42.67 out WL); 3. Hyvin Jepkemoi (Ken) 8:30.51 PR;
4. Jenny Simpson (US) 8:30.83 (AL) (x, 6 A; non-Slaney: x, 3 A);
5. Letesenbet Gidey (Eth) 8:30.96 PR; 6. Lilian Rengeruk (Ken) 8:33.13;
7. Meskerem Mamo (Eth) 8:33.63 NJR (WJL) (3, 3 WJ); 8. Beyenu Degefu (Eth) 8:35.76 PR (4, 5 WJ);
9. Yasemin Can (Tur) 8:36.24 PR; 10. Norah Tanui (Ken) 8:37.09 PR; 11. Fotyen Tesfay (Eth) 8:47.73; 12. Eilish McColgan (GB) 8:48.03; 13. Aberash Minsewo (Eth) 8:51.93 PR (WYL); 14. Hellen Obiri (Ken) 8:53.65; 15. Sandra Tuei (Ken) 8:58.04; 16. Genevieve LaCaze (Aus) 9:31.14;… rabbit—Mary Kuria (Ken) (2:49.08).
100H(0.5): 1. Kendra Harrison (US) 12.53; 2. Brianna Rollins-McNeal (US) 12.58; 3. Sharika Nelvis (US) 12.75; 4. Jasmin Stowers (US) 12.77; 5. Danielle Williams (Jam) 12.82; 6. Isabelle Pedersen (Nor) 12.82; 7. Nadine Visser (Hol) 12.94; 8. Dawn Harper-Nelson (US) 13.21.
Field Events
PV: 1. Sandi Morris (US) 15-10½ (4.84) (14-10¾, 15-2¾, 15-6½ [3], 15-10½ [3], 16-5¼ [xxp]) (4.54, 4.64, 4.74 [3], 4.84 [3], 5.01 [xxr] [xxp]); 2. Holly Bradshaw (GB) 15-2¾ (4.64); 3. Katie Nageotte (US) 15-2¾; 4. tie, Nikoléta Kiriakopoúlou (Gre) & Ekateríni Stefanídi (Gre) 15-2¾; 6. Rosbeilys Peinado (Ven) 15-2¾; 7. Alysha Newman (Can) 14-10¾ (4.54); 8. Olga Mullina (Rus) 14-6¾ (4.44); 9. Emily Grove (US) 13-11 (4.24).
DT: 1. Sandra Perković (Cro) 234-2 (71.38) (WL) (misses millennium WR by 3cm) (219-1, 221-2, 234-2, 217-8, f, 219-9) (66.78, 67.41, 71.38, 66.34, f, 66.98);
2. Yaimé Pérez (Cub) 219-3 (66.82) (214-4, 219-3, 209-2, 212-8, 208-9, 215-6) (65.33, 66.82, 63.75, 64.82, 63.62, 65.68); 3. Denia Caballero (Cub) 209-4 (63.80); 4. Andressa de Morais (Bra) 209-2 (63.77); 5. Dani Stevens (Aus) 208-7 (63.59); 6. Gia Lewis-Smallwood (US) 192-8 (58.73); 7. Whitney Ashley (US) 191-8 (58.42).
