Stars shine down on Doha Diamond League at Qatar SC Stadium
Some of the world’s top track and field stars were seen in action at the Qatar Sports Club during the Doha Diamond League meeting on Friday.
Two reigning Olympic and World champions — Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and Greek long jumper Miltiadis Tentoglou — were surprisingly beaten to second spots by their less-fancied rivals.
While the Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch pushed the Indian to second spot by just two centimetres, Jamaican Carey McLeod stunned the Greek with a stunning 8.52M leap on his fourth attempt.
However, Brazil’s 400M hurdler Alison dos Santos and American sprinter Kenny Bednarek both set new meeting records with dominant shows.
Dos Santos broke his own record in Doha (46.86sec) and set the fifth-fastest time of all times. The 23-year-old former world champion won by more than 1.5sec ahead of USA’s CJ Allen (48.39) and France’s Wilfried Happio (49.10).
“This is a very good way to start things, I’m very excited. It’s going to be a tough year, so to start in this fashion is very positive,” Dos Santos said after the win.
American Bednarek scorched to a world-leading 19.67sec in 200M. The 2022 world silver medallist smashed Noah Lyles’s six-year-old meeting record by 0.15sec. His compatriot Courtney Lindsey was a distant second in 20.01 while Kyree King (20.21) made it a US clean sweep.
“I feel great about the race. I knew I was in great shape. I just had to put it down on the track. I’m healthy, I’m stronger than ever, and I’m ready to go,” he said.
Olympic champion Steven Gardiner was a comfortable winner of the men’s 400m. The 28-year-old finished 0.31sec ahead of Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga.
Niraj Chopra, a clear fan favourite, was the cynosure of all eyes. He nearly overcame a foul start to snatch victory from Czech Republic’s Vadlejch, but it was not to be.
In the final round, Chopra gave an almighty heave of the spear, but fell just 2cms short of Vadlejch’s 88.38M throw.
Chopra, who again missed out on joining the elite 90M club, felt he could have done better.
“I’m satisfied with the result but I’m not satisfied with my effort. I think I can do something about this and maybe next competition I’ll throw farther,” he said.
Meanwhile, world indoor bronze medallist McLeod’s wind-assisted leap of 8.52M gave him long jump honours. Though it was his longest jump under any conditions, a 5.2M tailwind meant it would not be counted as a personal or meeting record.
Kenyan fans were left dancing in delight after world title-holder Mary Moraa held off Britain’s Jemma Reekie to win the women’s 800M by half a second in 1:57.91. Moraa was pushed all the way by Reekie, the world indoor silver medallist. Benin’s Noelie Yarigo was third in 1:58.70.
Beatrice Chebet, another Kenyan, was equally impressive in women’s 5000M. She unleashed a burst of speed with 200M to go to win in a world-leading 14:26.98.
Kenya’s Brian Komen won the men’s 1,500M race in 3:32.43.
In women’s pole vault, British world indoor champion Molly Caudery won on countback against reigning world champion Nina Kennedy of Australia after they both cleared 4.73.
Meanwhile, European bronze medallist Ditaji Kambundji came from behind to win the 100M hurdles in 12.49.
In the women’s 100M flat race, Britain’s Darryl Neita edged USA’s Tamari Davis to win by 0.01sec in a season’s best of 10.98.
Serbian teenager Angelina Topic won the women’s high jump with 1.94M, clearing all her bars up to and including that height on her first attempt.
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