DOHA, QATAR, May 05 — “All I do is the best I do and I’m excited to do it,” said Sha’Carri Richardson after stomping on some of the world’s best sprinters with a blazing 10.76 performance in the Doha Diamond League meet, the series’ kickoff meeting.
In winning a DL race for the first time, the 23-year-old Texas native further confirmed that she will be in the mix at the top of the 100 this season, just in case no one was convinced by her windy 10.57 in Florida last month.
Richardson had started from lane 6; to her left were TeeTee Terry (3), Dina Asher-Smith (4) and Worlds silver medalist Jamaican Shericka Jackson (5). At the gun, Teahna Daniels had the fastest reaction time (0.135) but DAS got away best. However, Jackson soon matched her stride, with Richardson lagging behind.
Steadily, Richardson caught up, and with 30 to go she led. No one could match her turnover and she crossed the line a half-stride ahead of world 200 titlist Jackson. Her time, 10.76, was her fastest legal clocking in 2 years and better than the PRs of all of her competitors save Jackson. It also took down the meet record of 10.80 that the late Tori Bowie set in ’16.
Behind her, Jackson clocked 10.85, with Asher-Smith 3rd in 10.98 and Terry 4th in 11.07. Some of Richardson’s prime U.S. competition was farther back: Daniels (6th in 11.18), USATF reigning champion Melissa Jefferson (7th in 11.19) and Abby Steiner (8th in 11.19).
“I’m blessed and thankful. I feel at peace,” Richardson said. She alluded to reports that she had been kept out of the 100 at the Gaborone CT meet after what had been initially announced as a clash between her and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. (In the end SAFP canceled, and Richardson, in the 200, got upset by Kayla White).
“I said it before, I had to be kicked out from another 100 race, so I had to do my best. Peace, love and life,” she added.
Four other Americans came away with wins. In the 200, Kenny Bednarek pulled ahead on the turn and looked poised to claim a victory over Fred Kerley, a lane to his outside. But Kerley switched gears once on the straight and lifted past Bednarek for a convincing 19.92–20.11 win. Canada’s Aaron Brown took 3rd in 20.20, ahead of Kyree King and Joe Fahnbulleh (both 20.29). Michael Norman was never in contention, finishing last in 20.65.
“I was happy with the competition,” said Kerley. “It was a good one. The guys gave me a fight.”
In the vault, Katie Moon came from behind with a clutch first-try clearance at 15-7¼ (4.76). That’s the bar where then-leader Sandi Morris got her first miss; she passed to the next height. Slovenia’s Tina Šutej cleared an outdoor PR-equaling 15-7¼ (4.76) on her second.
The bar moved up to 15-9¼ (4.81). All three missed their first tries. Moon made her second. Morris didn’t and would be 3rd. Šutej missed all three, making Moon the winner. Nursing a sore tendon, she declined any further attempts.
“I’m so happy with how it went,” said the Olympic and World champion. “It’s a classic first Diamond League meeting. I’m figuring it out, working my way through poles. I’m really happy that I came in first.”
In the 400H, Rai Benjamin hurdled to an impressive lead at halfway, but on the homestretch his form began to look a bit distracted. CJ Allen charged hard to challenge Benjamin, who recovered for the win in 47.78. Allen took 2nd, his PR 47.93 cutting 0.24 off his best that he set in finishing 4th at USATF last year.
The hometown favorite did not win the high jump, as world champion Mutaz Barshim struggled throughout, and could only top 7-4¼ (2.24) for 3rd. Instead, it was LSU alum JuVaughn Harrison who dominated, making every bar up to his winning 7-7¼ (2.32) on his first try.
Pedro Pichardo won the triple jump, reprising his WC victory over Burundi’s Hugues Fabrice Zango. Pichardo opened at a world-leading 57-11 (17.65), then on his second attempt reached the winning 58-9¼w (17.91). Zango got close with a round 3 leap of 58-4 (17.78), then in the final frame improved to 58-5¼ (17.81), a legal mark that will stand as world leader.
Elsewhere on the field, Kristjan Čeh produced a pair of 70-meter throws, topped by a first-round 232-7 (70.89) that handily beat Daniel Ståhl (220-3/67.14) and Sam Mattis (212-3/64.69). India’s Neeraj Chopra speared a world-leading 290-11 (88.67) on his opening javelin effort, just enough to beat Czech Jakub Vadlejch, who hit 290-9 (88.63) on his second.
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn powered to an impressive 12.48 win in the hurdles, with Alaysha Johnson (12.66) holding off Nia Ali (12.69) for runner-up. “I have things to work on,” said the Olympic champion. “There have been challenges I’m facing this year. I’m trying to get my mind back healthy and my body back healthy. I’m taking it one race at a time.”
Despite the heat (temps in the mid-80s at the start of the DL events), the distances delighted. In the women’s steeple, Winfred Yavi of Bahrain, the 4th-placer at the Worlds last summer, kicked best to record a 9:04.38 win over the PR 9:05.83 of Ethiopia’s Sembo Almayew. Faith Cherotich (9:06.43) and World Record holder Beatrice Chepkoech (9:06.90) also broke 9:10.
The men’s 3000 came in fast after rabbits led through 2K in 4:58.91. Ethiopians got the sweep with brilliant kicks, as Lamecha Girma’s 7:26.18 took down the meet record. He was followed by Selemon Barega (7:27.16) and Berihu Aregawi (7:27.61).
The meet concluded with another fine Faith Kipyegon performance over 1500. The world and Olympic champion, mindful it “was a little bit windy,” declined to follow the rabbited pace, instead waiting for the last lap. Kicking from the front, she unleashed a 58.7 closer that netted her the win and the world leader in 3:58.57. Ethiopians Diribe Welteji (3:59.34) and Freweyni Hailu (4:00.29) took the next two spots.
In 6th, 17-year-old Ethiopian phenom Birke Haylom lowered the World Youth (U18) Record to 4:01.86.
There’s now a 23-day break until the year’s second DL meet, in Rabat, Morocco, on May 28.
DOHA DL MEN’S RESULTS
Non-DL 100(1.0): 1. Jerome Blake (Can) 10.11.
200(0.3): 1. Fred Kerley (US) 19.92 (AL);
2. Kenny Bednarek (US) 20.11; 3. Aaron Brown (Can) 20.20; 4. Kyree King (US) 20.29; 5. Joe Fahnbulleh (Lbr) 20.29; 6. Andre De Grasse (Can) 20.35; 7. Alexander Ogando (Dom) 20.62; 8. Michael Norman (US) 20.65.
800: 1. Slimane Moula (Alg) 1:46.06; 2. Wyclife Kinyamal (Ken) 1:46.61; 3. Djamel Sedjati (Alg) 1:46.97; 4. Clayton Murphy (US) 1:47.96; 5. Moad Zahafi (Mor) 1:48.17; 6. Andreas Kramer (Swe) 1:48.18; 7. Mark English (Ire) 1:48.56;… rabbit—Erik Sowinski (US) (53.69).
3000: 1. Lamecha Girma (Eth) 7:26.18 (out WL);
2. Selemon Barega (Eth) 7:27.16 PR; 3. Berihu Aregawi (Eth) 7:27.61; 4. Soufiane El Bakkali (Mor) 7:33.87 PR; 5. Timothy Cheruiyot (Ken) 7:36.72 PR; 6. Getnet Wale (Eth) 7:36.81 PR; 7. Andreas Almgren (Swe) 7:37.05 NR; 8. Mohamed Amine Jhinaoui (Tun) 7:37.56 NR; 9. Ishmael Kipkurui (Ken) 7:39.84 PR; 10. Telahun Haile (Eth) 7:40.29; 11. Adel Mechaal (Spa) 7:41.42; 12. Matthew Ramsden (Aus) 7:47.71;… rabbits—Callum Davies (Aus) (2:30.01), Kyumbe Munguti (Ken) (4:58.91).
400H: 1. Rai Benjamin (US) 47.78; 2. CJ Allen (US) 47.93 PR; 3. Wilfried Happio (Fra) 49.12; 4. Khallifah Rosser (US) 49.25; 5. Trevor Bassitt (US) 49.52; 6. Sokwakhana Zazini (SA) 49.74; 7. Thomas Barr (Ire) 49.88.
Field Events
HJ: 1. JuVaughn Harrison (US) 7-7¼ (2.32); 2. Sang-hyeok Woo (SK) 7-5¼ (2.27); 3. Mutaz Essa Barshim (Qat) 7-4¼ (2.24); 4. Norbert Kobielski (Pol) 7-1¾ (2.18); 5. Shelby McEwen (US) 7-1¾; 6. Edgar Rivera (Mex) 7-1¾; 7. Thomas Carmoy (Bel) 7-½ (2.15);… nh—Django Lovett (Can), Tomohiro Shinno (Jpn).
TJ: 1. Pedro Pichardo (Por) 58-9¼w (17.91) (a-c WL) (57-11 [WL], 58-9¼w, f, p, p, 52-7½w) (17.65, 17.91w, f, p, p, 16.04w); 2. Hugues Fabrice Zango (BF) 58-5¼ (17.81) (WL) (55-2, 56-7½w, 58-4 [WL], f, 56-0, 58-5¼) (16.81, 17.26w, 17.78, f, 17.07, 17.81);
3. Andy Díaz (Cub) 58-4¾w (17.80) (56-½w, 58-4¾w, f, p, p, f) (17.08w, 17.80w, f, p, p, f); 4. Lázaro Martínez (Cub) 58-1¼w (17.71) (f, 58-1¼w, 53-9w, f, f) (f, 17.71w, 16.38w, f, f); 5. Yaming Zhu (Chn) 55-7½ (16.95); 6. Jah-Nhai Perinchief (Ber) 55-3¾w (16.86) (54-10¾/16.73); 7. Emmanuel Ihemeje (Ita) 55-3½ (16.85); 8. Donald Scott (US) 55-2w (16.81); 9. Christian Taylor (US) 54-2¾w (16.53) (53-4½/16.27).
DT: 1. Kristjan Čeh (Slo) 232-7 (70.89) (232-7, f, 226-2, 224-7, 231-11, f) (70.89, f, 68.95, 68.46, 70.70, f); 2. Daniel Ståhl (Swe) 220-3 (67.14); 3. Sam Mattis (US) 212-3 (64.69); 4. Matt Denny (Aus) 211-4 (64.42); 5. Lawrence Okoye (GB) 211-0 (64.31); 6. Simon Pettersson (Swe) 210-11 (64.30); 7. Alin Alexandru Firfirica (Rom) 206-7 (62.98); 8. Moaaz Mohamed Ibrahim (Qat) 203-2 (61.92); 9. Nicholas Percy (GB) 191-10 (58.49).
JT: 1. Neeraj Chopra (Ind) 290-11 (88.67) (WL) (290-11, 282-3, 280-5, f, 276-9, 283-10) (88.67, 86.04, 85.47, f, 84.37, 86.52);
2. Jakub Vadlejch (CzR) 290-9 (88.63) (280-6, 290-9, 284-3, f, 290-3, 278-1) (85.51, 88.63, 86.64, f, 88.47, 84.76); 3. Anderson Peters (Grn) 281-9 (85.88) (281-9, 274-6, 274-7, f, 269-9, 268-9) (85.88, 83.68, 83.69, f, 82.22, 81.93); 4. Julian Weber (Ger) 271-1 (82.62); 5. Andrian Mardare (Mol) 267-11 (81.67); 6. Keshorn Walcott (Tri) 266-7 (81.27); 7. Genki Dean (Jpn) 260-7 (79.44); 8. Curtis Thompson (US) 243-2 (74.13);… 3f—Oliver Helander (Fin), Julius Yego (Ken).
DOHA DL WOMEN
100(0.9): 1. Sha’Carri Richardson (US) 10.76 (WL, AL);
2. Shericka Jackson (Jam) 10.85; 3. Dina Asher-Smith (GB) 10.98; 4. TeeTee Terry (US) 11.07; 5. Zoe Hobbs (NZ) 11.08; 6. Teahna Daniels (US) 11.18; 7. Melissa Jefferson (US) 11.19; 8. Abby Steiner (US) 11.19.
400: 1. Marileidy Paulino (Dom) 50.51; 2. Shamier Little (US) 50.84; 3. Natalia Kaczmarek (Pol) 51.64; 4. Sada Williams (Bar) 52.05; 5. Candice McLeod (Jam) 52.43; 6. Stephenie Ann McPherson (Jam) 52.93; 7. Justyna Święty-Ersetic (Pol) 53.08; 8. Kyra Jefferson (US) 54.00.
1500: 1. Faith Kipyegon (Ken) 3:58.57 (out WL) (3:15.03);
2. Diribe Welteji (Eth) 3:59.34; 3. Freweyni Hailu (Eth) 4:00.29; 4. Jessica Hull (Aus) 4:00.90; 5. Abbey Caldwell (Aus) 4:01.15 PR;
6. Birke Haylom (Eth) 4:01.86 WYR (old WYR 4:02.25 Haylom ’22) (10, x WJ);
7. Hirut Meshesha (Eth) 4:02.25; 8. Axumawit Embaye (Eth) 4:03.40; 9. Konstanze Klosterhalfen (Ger) 4:05.63; 10. Cory McGee (US) 4:06.03; 11. Lemlem Hailu (Eth) 4:08.38; 12. Georgia Griffith (Aus) 4:15.49; 13. Angelika Cichocka (Pol) 4:17.75; 14. Winny Chebet (Ken) 4:24.21;… rabbit—Sarah Billings (Aus) (62.80, 67.10 [2:09.90]).
St: 1. Winfred Yavi (Bhr) 9:04.38 (WL); 2. Sembo Almayew (Eth) 9:05.83 PR (3, 6 WJ); 3. Faith Cherotich (Ken) 9:06.43 (x, 8 WJ);
4. Beatrice Chepkoech (Ken) 9:06.90 (6:06.46); 5. Maruša Mišmaš Zrimšek (Slo) 9:13.61 NR; 6. Zerfe Wondemagegn (Eth) 9:13.80; 7. Jackline Chepkoech (Ken) 9:17.15; 8. Mekides Abebe (Eth) 9:18.96; 9. Marwa Bouzayani (Tun) 9:25.37;
10. Emma Coburn (US) 9:29.41 (fell) (AL);
11. Peruth Chemutai (Uga) 9:31.71;… dnf—Valerie Constien (US);… rabbit—Doris Lengole Cherop (Ken) (2:58.90).
100H(1.1): 1. Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PR) 12.48; 2. Alaysha Johnson (US) 12.66; 3. Nia Ali (US) 12.69; 4. Megan Tapper (Jam) 12.76; 5. Tonea Marshall (US) 12.79; 6. Reetta Hurske (Fin) 12.92; 7. Michelle Jenneke (Aus) 13.00.
Field Event
PV: 1. Katie Moon (US) 15-9¼ (4.81) (out WL, AL) (14-7¼, 14-11, 15-2¼ [2], 15-5½, 15-7¼ [=out WL, AL], 15-9¼ [2]) (4.45, 4.55, 4.63 [2], 4.71, 4.76, 4.81 [2]);
2. Tina Šutej (Slo) 15-7¼ (4.76) = PR; 3. Sandi Morris (US) 15-5½ (4.71); 4. Roberta Bruni (Ita) 14-11 (4.55); 5. Katerína Stefanidi (Gre) 14-11; 6. Bridget Williams (US) 14-11; 7. Nina Kennedy (Aus) 14-7¼ (4.45); 8. Alysha Newman (Can) 14-7¼; 9. Wilma Murto (Fin) 14-1¼ (4.30).
